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Metal Rhythm in 6 weeks is the latest installment from UK Guitarist Andy James and Lick Library, in a slight deviation from the usual formula this course is spread over 6 DVDs, 1 for each week, the first 3 weeks introduce techniques that will be applied to the performance pieces in the following 3 weeks. I’ll break down each DVD below:

In DVD 1 Andy covers picking rhythms using down picking and alternate picking he also introduces palm muting and using the left hand to mute. The DVD starts out with some simple exercises using basic rhythm patterns and then he moves on to introducing triplets all mainly using a simple E5 power chord but he also goes through some different chords used in metal rhythm using the b5, 9th and 6th. The DVD concludes with a series of exercises over backing tracks using some advanced picking rhythm patterns played on different beats of the bar to help improve your timing and feel for playing and off the beat. As a bonus Andy also takes you through a few pedals that he uses for the video to get his metal tone.

DVD 2 introduces even more chord possibilities using Drop D tuning which will help you create more interesting sounding progressions, these extended chords are also incorporated into playing chords from both a natural minor and harmonic minor scale (or Phrygian Dominant mode). Once again Andy has created backing tracks to put the lessons into context, in this case there are 3 metal backing tracks that Andy illustrates with examples for you to learn. Theses examples are quite a fast tempo so if you are a complete beginner undertaking this course don’t expect to get up to speed straight away, you may have to practice playing riffs half time at first.

By the end of DVD 3 you will be at the half way mark and if you are keeping up with Andy you should already have enough knowledge to write some killer riffs. Week 3 introduces Drop C# Tuning, not sure why C# and not C which is much more common but Andy seems to prefer it and uses it in his band Sacred Mother Tongue. The first section of the DVD looks at odd rhythms over a 4/4 beat, this is quite a hard concept to grasp if you are new to learning music so really it is about listening and copying and getting used to hearing these odd rhythms so that you become more comfortable with them. The next section moves on to riffs using arpeggiated chords, again the riffs are played at quite a pace but the idea is to get you thinking about using this technique when writing your own riffs and it sounds killer when you get up to the speed of Andy. The DVD concludes with a performance track using all the techniques covered so far to mark the halfway point, this track is pretty full on I didn’t expect anything this advanced for the halfway point but its a really great goal to aim for.

DVD 4 uses Eb tuning (bet you wish you didn’t have a double locking trem by now!) and breaks down a complete song focussing on the various techniques covered. The track starts out pretty basic but immediately moves into some fast triplet patterns that will test if you have been practicing the picking examples from the earlier DVDs! All the riffs in this track are based around what you have learned in previous weeks but put into the context of a full length instrument, of course there is a backing track included on the DVD for you to play along to once you are up to speed with all the riffs. The lack of tabs will mean having to follow along with Andy’s instruction to get each part right however.

DVD 5, ok by now you should be on your way to being a heavy metal riff-master and things get even heavier in the week 5 performance using the Drop C# tuning. There isn’t much point me going in to too much detail here, week 5 is similar to week 4 in that Andy breaks down a complete track for you, again the backing track is included for you to jam along to once you have mastered all the riffs and all the techniques used have been covered in weeks 1-3.

DVD 6, the final week in the program again uses a performance of a track Andy has written to use the techniques already covered. This track is the probably most difficult of the performances which makes sense as it is the final week. There are lots of position shifts, syncopated rhythms and fast picking all using Drop C# tuning.

Some of the simple concepts shown in this series are things that you would never know as a learning guitar player unless you are shown and having such an arsenal of lessons like this will definitely speed up the learning process and give you the tools and knowledge to play your favourite Metal riffs and write your own. I would say that this course is definitely aimed at the intermediate guitarist, that is someone who can already play basic chords and is confident picking individual notes in a scale as the examples get quite involved by week 2. Of course all of the examples are shown at a slow tempo and you don’t have to get up to speed straight away, you take it at your own pace, that’s the whole point of getting these DVDs! The only thing missing are tabs so you will have to be happy learning by watching and listening.

Check out http://www.licklibrary.com for details on how to order this DVD series.

You can win this DVD set as part of the Guitar Noize 3rd Birthday Bonanza giveaway, click here for details on how to enter.

Rock House Method recently expanded their already massive collection of instructional DVD’s with legendary heavy metal guitarist and more recently Jazz maestro Alex Skolnick to create an instructional course sharing his knowledge called “Jazz Guitar - breaking the traditional barriers”. This course has a lot of material in it, so much so that it spans 3 DVD discs! Of course the DVD’s also come with a PDF TAB booklet so you can follow along with all the examples and also iPod ready versions of all the lessons and lifetime membership for online lesson support at rockhousemethod.com.

The most original part of this course is that Alex brings in his trio members from the Alex Skolnick Trio to play the backing for each example after he has explained it so that you can play the examples yourself with a proper backing. In some cases the Bass player and drummer then repeat the example with Alex removed, this is usually for rhythmic chord examples that way you can concentrate on what you are playing rather than hearing Alex’s playing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this done before and it is a really cool feature.

The first Disc has 12 lessons starting with very basic blues based chord progressions so only focussing on the I-IV-V chords and which notes to use with each chord. Alex takes you through various embellishments and variations using the basic triad shapes and then adding the minor 3rd or the 6th or the 4th for example. The DVD finishes by expanding the chord progression with turnarounds and licks for you to use again based around the triads.

Disc 2 takes the I-VI-II-V progression used in the final examples of disc 1 and introduces rhythm changes and extended licks to help you solo over these changes. There is a little more theory introduced with this disc, first with the chord scale and then using Modes over the progression. Alex also introduces the diminished arpeggio and shows you how this can be substituted with the a regular 7th arpeggio. The examples advance in various forms such as an example where you play up a triad and then down the mode, which is exactly how it sounds you ascend with the triad arpeggio and then descend with the mode of each chord (ie. I - Ionian, V - Mixolydian) and then swapping to up the mode, down the triad. This is a nice way of expanding your knowledge of how chords and scales relate and how to easily solo over jazz changes. This idea is expanded by extending the triad with a 7th to make a full arpeggio. The disc wraps up with extended chord voicings adding the 9th, 11th and 13th to chords and various voicings.

Disc 3 takes everything you have learned so far and expands it further again with extended patterns to play over the Minor II-V-I progression and introducing how to apply Chromatics into your solos using well known melodies to illustrate each example which is a nice way to remember each technique. In this DVD you also have a breakdown of the jazz standard Autumn Leaves with an analysis of the chord progression and then composing a lead over the changes which Alex explains in great detail. Alex also breaks down his arrangement of the Scorpions track “Still Loving You” and how he translated it into a Jazz composition which is a really helpful way of helping you understand chord substitutions and arranging for Jazz. The Disc concludes with a look at some popular Jazz rhythm styles such as Bossa Nova, waltz and ballad and then finally with a couple of Alex’s own Jazz licks for you to steal!

This all sounds like a lot, and it is, but everything is taken at a nice gentle pace so as not to completely baffle you as you work your way through the lessons. Of course the beauty with a DVD course is that you can take these lessons as slowly as you need and with such an involved genre such as Jazz that is just as well because as a rock player it is definitely something that takes work to understand.

http://www.rockhousemethod.com
Alex Skolnick Official Site - http://www.alexskolnick.com
The Alex Skolnick Trio MySpace page - http://www.myspace.com/alexskolnicktrio

The Fretlight guitar learning system has been around for a long time with its built-in lighted learning system cleverly hidden under the fretboard. It connects to a PC or Mac computer and the free software allows you to light up songs, riffs, chords, scales, or even take an interactive lesson. Now the FG-411 Basic has been released which caters to beginner players with an inviting platform featuring updated design and enhanced technology.

Features include a built-in interactive lighted learning system and advanced software that illuminates on the fretboard songs, riffs, chords and scales, showing users where to place their fingers in order to hit the right notes, as well as one humbucker pickup and one volume control giving a warm, rich tone when plugging into a standard guitar amplifier. Available for purchase at www.fretlight.com, the FG-411 Basic comes in Jet Black and retails for $289.99 (MSRP).

The USB connects directly from guitar to computer for plug-and-play experience,  The New Fretlight Studio – recently upgraded, free software for the PC includes:

Video Player – take beginner to advanced interactive video lessons
Improviser – improvise solos to 100+ backing tracks while notes light up on fretboard
M-Player – download and jam to hundreds of popular songs; slow down a song or riff and customize a loop point to correspond with ability level
Lesson Player – complete beginner to advanced text lessons

Mac software compatibility (free software for the Mac including M-Player, Improviser and Lesson Player as outlined above)

There is an extensive library of additional lessons, songs and videos and a Fretlight Video Riff of the Week which includes a free downloadable video that teaches a new classic riff or chord progression every week featuring well-known artists.

GuitarInstructor.com is giving you not only a free blues rock licks lesson (with on screen TAB) with Troy Stetina (author of Fretboard Mastery & Speed Mechanics) which is a great demonstration of the content available on GuitarInstructor.com, but they are are also giving away a free jam track for one of my favourite Stevie Ray Vaughan songs “Cold Shot”, click here for the free jam track.

This jam track, like all of our audio play-along songs, was professionally recorded, mixed, and mastered, to provide the highest possible audio quality and thus the most realistic jamming experience outside of having Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon in the room with you! The version presented here contains no guitar, thus allowing you to step into the mighty shoes of the Texas Tornado.

You can win this Rock House Method DVD as part of the Guitar Noize 3rd Birthday Bonanza giveaway, click here to enter!

Jeff Loomis has established himself as one of the great heavy metal shredders with a long career as Nevermore axeman and recently with his excellent solo album release “Zero Order Phase”. Rock House Method have created an instructional DVD that encapsulates Jeff’s astonishing fretboard dexterity and somehow crammed all of this into a 2 DVD set. The great thing about Rock House Method DVD’s is they include ipod ready versions of the instruction videos on the DVD so you don’t have to do any compressing yourself. This DVD also includes the TAB for all the examples as a PDF rather than a hard copy, this means you can easily print out the examples if you want.

DVD 1 covers the Harmonic Minor Scale, The Whole Tone Scale, Diminished Scale and Arpeggios and the Lydian Dominant b2 scale. Each of these examples is put into context using licks and riffs taken from one of Jeff’s tracks which helps players not only see how the scales and arpeggios can be used in a solo but provide building blocks and inspiration to create your own. Jeff also introduces his incredible sweep picking technique and adds tapped arpeggios into the mix too. Just a note Jeff plays a 24 fret 7-String guitar (his signature Schecter) so some of these examples aren’t possible if you have a 22 fret 6-String guitar, but you can always shift them down 2 frets and miss the bottom string, and the 7-String usage is pretty sparse.

DVD 2 mainly concentrates on Arpeggio pattern and complete solos from various Loomis tracks such as “Jato Unit” and “Miles Of Machines” from his solo album and those solos alone should keep you going for a long time with just about every technique in the DVD covered in the solos!

If you are a rock or heavy metal guitar player who wants to take their playing to the next level this is a fantastic set of DVD’s, there is enough material in this release to help you work on various techniques and picking speed for years. Most guitarists will never achieve the kind of virtuosic skill level of Jeff Loomis but at least you can apply the techniques that he uses in your own music. This is a colossal release for Rock House Method which will appeal to a lot of guitarists and Rock House now offer their catalogue as an On Demand service making it even easier to get instructional videos direct to your computer!

http://www.rockhousemethod.com/
http://www.jeffloomis.com/

I’m a big fan of Jamtrackcentral.com (formerly BluesJamTracks.com), not only do they have a huge collection of amazing backing tracks to jam along to but they also have guest solo videos from the likes of Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, Guthrie Govan and Alex Hutchings. JamTrackCentral also offer some free downloads to whet your appetite and their new Guitar Heroes section goes one step further by analysing legendary guitar players’ solos so that you can absorb the techniques and theory used so that you can apply them to your own playing. So far the guitarists covered are Jeff Beck, Alex Lifeson and Steve Howe.

Check out the free downloads here.