For this week, I thought I'd focus more on an actual lesson style post. I'm still not really quite sure what direction this blog is going to go in (thoughts on musical subjects with the occasional lesson or vice versa) so if anyone is out there reading, please let me know what interests you more!
I wanted to showcase how I string together arpeggio shapes to come up with some pretty scary runs. The sample for today will be a lick I've been using live to start off the solo from the Dark Empire song Humanity Dethroned, the title track from our 2nd album. The lick as a whole encompasses nearly 4 full octaves, so the effect is pretty dramatic. Before getting started, I should note that I tune down one whole step on a 7 string guitar (ADGCFAD). You don't need a 7 string to play this lick, but I will be referring to the notes as they sound in pitch, not by position.
Humanity Dethroned Lick Guitar Pro 6 File
Humanity Dethroned Lick PDF file
I start off with a 3 octave B minor tapped arpeggio that skips from the low E to the D and then the high E string, before returning back to the D and then up again to the high E. This type of pattern was inspired by Guthrie Govan and is a really great, versatile way of running through triad arpeggios that sounds similar to, but much more flowing than the typical sweep arpeggio shape. When doing these types of string skips its really important to slow things down and really check on your muting technique. I use my right hand palm to cover up strings lower than the one I'm currently playing and my left hand index finger to mute the higher strings. The notes between skips should sound fluid; try to avoid any "hiccups" or breaks in the line. Ultimately, this should sound like its all on one really long guitar string.
Next, I slide up a position, which puts me right in line to do a 2nd inversion B minor descending sweep shape, but instead of sweeping it, I just perform it with hammer-ons-from-nowhere. Again, really be sure to separate and articulate the notes as you descend down; you don't want to have any note bleed between strings. Taking it really slow is the key.
Once I've descended the 2nd inversion shape, I transition up again to do another string skipping tapping arpeggio shape, this time a Bmin7. Normally, I would tap the root on the high E string, but instead I "expand" my left hand into a wide-form shape so that I'm grabbing the root note (B) on the high E string with my 4th finger, so I can tap the minor 3rd (D) at the 24th fret. I would suggest practicing each of these 3 sections one at a time until you're confident with each individually, then connect them to form the entire Bm arpeggio run.
Next, I go straight into an A# diminished 7th arpeggio descending in groups of 3 notes, using a Greg Howe style "tap/pull/hammer" pattern. Next, I move this down an inversion and finish off with a descending B Harmonic minor scale. even though I am switching to a scalar 3 note per string pattern, I still tap the top note, because I find this allows for the smoothest transition out of (or into) the tapped arpeggio style licks.
Thats it for now. I hope you've learned something new from working on a lick such as this. If you're interested in setting up a free trial Skype webcam lesson with me, don't hesitate to Email me.
And of course, if you haven't, be sure to "like" the Dark Empire Facebook Page and check out our new album "From Refuge to Ruin" on Nightmare Records and iTunes.
Until next time!
Matt
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Saturday, September 22, 2012
The value of music... plus the solo for "Lest Ye Be Judged"
Greetings guitar friends! Today I'm going to start off expressing my thoughts on the value of music and the value of musicians. Its pretty clear we live in a world today where it has become pretty common place to take the arts for granted, largely because of the internet and the immediate access we all have to it. I've known people to download dozens and dozens of albums from torrent sites without batting an eyelash.
Back in my senior year of high school, I was asked to present a debate for my government class to argue over. The Napster issue happened to be in the headlines, and being an issue that hit close to home (wanting to be a professional musician and all), I chose this for the topic and to argue against illegal downloading. My entire class argued against me, stating that downloading "helps musicians get noticed" and that "all their money is made from touring anyway" and "it won't hurt the industry." Flash forward 10 years later and, for better or worse, I was right and my classmates were wrong. The numbers prove it; illegal downloading has hurt the music industry.
But instead of berating those of you who may download illegally (perhaps you've even downloaded my music illegally! ;-) ), I'd instead like to talk about the value we place on music. Obviously, music is very dear to us. In the metal subculture in particular, the music represents more than just sound waves to its fan base. It's a way of life. It moves us, strengthens us, and without it, many of us might even lose a sense of ourselves.
Music has to come from somewhere, though. That "somewhere" is the mind of a skilled musician, and this is why for centuries they have been celebrated for their craft. But think for a moment what makes something valuable and how we express desire for that value. If the music of a band or artist is to be considered of worth, it needs to be treated as such. A precious gemstone is cherished because its beauty cannot be found in a simple pebble on the side of the road. If we are to show the artists that move us and speak to us that their music has worth and value, we cannot treat their work as that of a common rock. To reduce the beauty of music to a commodity that can simply be taken up and cast aside is to devalue that beauty. When you pay an artist for their work, you are telling them that their work is of value to you, that their creative output is that shiny gemstone in your CD case (or mp3 player or hard drive), and without it, your world would be a lesser place. When you treat an artists work as a commodity, you are telling them that their work is no more special to you than any of the other pieces of gravel out there that you couldn't care less about.
When an artist feels their work has no value, what incentive do they have to share their work with others?
We are already seeing the devaluation of music stretch beyond that of paying for recorded audio. There is downloading of recording software and audio plugins, and its slowly becoming more and more common for venues to try to get live music for free. As a guitar teacher, I can only imagine that there will come a time when I'll be told I should be teaching for free as well.
I also think that part of being an artist in this day is to find ways to work within the system. It's clear that music listeners have become accustomed now to being able to hear, or "sample" an artists work before paying for it. For this reason, I think more artists need to embrace streaming media as that means of "trying before you buy." Whether its YouTube, an artists own Soundcloud or Reverb Nation page, etc. streaming media allows the listener to hear your worth while still being able, as an artist, to offer them something more with a proper sale (downloadable content at higher quality... CDs are on their way out, but I'm sure more tangible collectable items and merchandise can be offered in conjunction with digital downloads in the future, as they are with CDs). For this reason, I'm 100% fine with my music being uploaded to YouTube. I say this because I am confident in what Dark Empire has to offer the metal world, and as long as fans are educated as to why it is important to show an artist that their work is valuable to them, I have nothing to fear from my music being available on streaming media.
So, the moral of the story, kids... if you like an artist, support them! Oh, and here's the PDF file and Guitar Pro file for the solo from the Dark Empire tune, Lest Ye be Judged, from our new album, From Refuge to Ruin:
Lest Ye Be Judged PDF
Lest Ye Be Judged Guitar Pro 6
Hey look, I'm giving this out for *free*!! ;-). Interested in learning more about how to compose your own solos and licks like this yourself? Email me at mmoliti@mac.com if you might be interested in webcam (Skype) guitar lessons!
And of course, Dark Empire's From Refuge to Ruin is available at these fine internet locations:
Direct from our label, Nightmare Records
Amazon.com
iTunes
Until next time!
Matt
Back in my senior year of high school, I was asked to present a debate for my government class to argue over. The Napster issue happened to be in the headlines, and being an issue that hit close to home (wanting to be a professional musician and all), I chose this for the topic and to argue against illegal downloading. My entire class argued against me, stating that downloading "helps musicians get noticed" and that "all their money is made from touring anyway" and "it won't hurt the industry." Flash forward 10 years later and, for better or worse, I was right and my classmates were wrong. The numbers prove it; illegal downloading has hurt the music industry.
But instead of berating those of you who may download illegally (perhaps you've even downloaded my music illegally! ;-) ), I'd instead like to talk about the value we place on music. Obviously, music is very dear to us. In the metal subculture in particular, the music represents more than just sound waves to its fan base. It's a way of life. It moves us, strengthens us, and without it, many of us might even lose a sense of ourselves.
Music has to come from somewhere, though. That "somewhere" is the mind of a skilled musician, and this is why for centuries they have been celebrated for their craft. But think for a moment what makes something valuable and how we express desire for that value. If the music of a band or artist is to be considered of worth, it needs to be treated as such. A precious gemstone is cherished because its beauty cannot be found in a simple pebble on the side of the road. If we are to show the artists that move us and speak to us that their music has worth and value, we cannot treat their work as that of a common rock. To reduce the beauty of music to a commodity that can simply be taken up and cast aside is to devalue that beauty. When you pay an artist for their work, you are telling them that their work is of value to you, that their creative output is that shiny gemstone in your CD case (or mp3 player or hard drive), and without it, your world would be a lesser place. When you treat an artists work as a commodity, you are telling them that their work is no more special to you than any of the other pieces of gravel out there that you couldn't care less about.
When an artist feels their work has no value, what incentive do they have to share their work with others?
We are already seeing the devaluation of music stretch beyond that of paying for recorded audio. There is downloading of recording software and audio plugins, and its slowly becoming more and more common for venues to try to get live music for free. As a guitar teacher, I can only imagine that there will come a time when I'll be told I should be teaching for free as well.
I also think that part of being an artist in this day is to find ways to work within the system. It's clear that music listeners have become accustomed now to being able to hear, or "sample" an artists work before paying for it. For this reason, I think more artists need to embrace streaming media as that means of "trying before you buy." Whether its YouTube, an artists own Soundcloud or Reverb Nation page, etc. streaming media allows the listener to hear your worth while still being able, as an artist, to offer them something more with a proper sale (downloadable content at higher quality... CDs are on their way out, but I'm sure more tangible collectable items and merchandise can be offered in conjunction with digital downloads in the future, as they are with CDs). For this reason, I'm 100% fine with my music being uploaded to YouTube. I say this because I am confident in what Dark Empire has to offer the metal world, and as long as fans are educated as to why it is important to show an artist that their work is valuable to them, I have nothing to fear from my music being available on streaming media.
So, the moral of the story, kids... if you like an artist, support them! Oh, and here's the PDF file and Guitar Pro file for the solo from the Dark Empire tune, Lest Ye be Judged, from our new album, From Refuge to Ruin:
Lest Ye Be Judged PDF
Lest Ye Be Judged Guitar Pro 6
Hey look, I'm giving this out for *free*!! ;-). Interested in learning more about how to compose your own solos and licks like this yourself? Email me at mmoliti@mac.com if you might be interested in webcam (Skype) guitar lessons!
And of course, Dark Empire's From Refuge to Ruin is available at these fine internet locations:
Direct from our label, Nightmare Records
Amazon.com
iTunes
Until next time!
Matt
Friday, September 21, 2012
First post!
Welcome to anyone reading to my very first post on my very first blog! I'm not really sure what to make for an introduction... Why did I make a blog? First, I figured this would be a good outlet to get some of my teaching information out to a wider audience. I'll try to post a short lesson or lick every so often, or if enough people are reading, any lesson requests someone might have. Remember, I'm available for private lessons on Skype, so be sure to shoot me an email at mmoliti@mac.com or skype message me at MetalMattMoliti for any inquiries on that.
The second thing I plan on using this blog for is for any music related musings, be it related to my band, Dark Empire, any other musical work I might be involved in, or just random thoughts I feel like sharing.
So thats about it then. Until next time!
The second thing I plan on using this blog for is for any music related musings, be it related to my band, Dark Empire, any other musical work I might be involved in, or just random thoughts I feel like sharing.
So thats about it then. Until next time!
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