Pro Level Guitar

Timing 101 lesson 1

Sean Clancy — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:28:40 +0000

Here is a lesson on getting a good sense of time. The first audio describes the process and gives examples, what to listen for, and loads of tips. Timing is often the arch-enemie of guitar players. Most guitarists cannot do this exercise (and possible even some drummers!), so I’ve broken it down really simply so that you can develop a great sense of time (the difference between hacks and pros)!

Here’s the first audio which contains the tips, examples and explains how to develop the sense of rock solid time

lesson 101 timing

This 2nd audio is your practice exercise.

lesson 101 timing exercise

The e-book “Guitar Virtuosity for the Everyday Man” (only available for purchasers of the full Guitar Freak Workstation) has this explained more at length and also has a visual guide of the lesson). This is a good audio supplement to that!

No related posts.

Wecome to Guitar Freak Workstation

Sean Clancy — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:11:39 +0000

Guitar Freak Workstation with SightReader Master Extreme!
Featuring:
Try it out for 10 days – all the features with no strings attached!!!!!!!!

Auto updater now lets you get the latest version (free for all purchasers!)

Version 5.0.0 out now (Hot, Hot, Hot new features) – February 10th 2010

Like you, I’m frustrated by the lack of guitar books, tools and software products that fail to deliver on their promises. All these tolls I’ve created are to save hours and hours of drawing chord diagrams, buying sheet music and books to train my ear and read music – not to mention the thousands of dollars and time going to a jazz music school! I’ve complied a software product and a lesson guide that I would use if I wanted to get good in the least amount of time.

I also have a background in Rock and won several awards and contests as a guitar player, so I’ve included the latest hot techniqes – as well as fun and useful topics such as writing your own songs and learning music from the radio!

So I present…

Guitar Freak Workstation with SightReader Master Extreme

The ultimate guitar and bass (4, 5 and 6 string) practice tool.

“Guitar Virtuosity for the Everyday Man” – A complete lesson plan in printable e-book form with over hundreds of hours of structured lessons to take you from novice to a jazzer and every style between.

Continually being updated with new features and free upgrades for every customer!

You will learn to Solo over chord progressions (you can create your own) and in any key (a feature that you can’t with even band in-a-box!)
Learn how to play every chord in 15 different positions and the choice of scales for that chord as they surround each shape
Use the Transcriber feature to slow down your music files without changing the pitch! Learning songs or hot licks just got easier!
Use the Ability Trainer to record yourself from any input to your computer, slow your playig to 1/2 speed to check your technique or speed it up to set new speed goals for yourself (Great for shredders)!
Use the real world ear trainer to super charge your ear!

o You will learn how to track bass movement (to hear what chords are happening)

o You will learn how to sing any degree over a bass note (and therefore recognize what that interval sounds like over a current bass note)

o You will learn how to hear every interval from well-known reference melodies.

o You will learn to spot interval jumps in melodies (for writing down licks or learning them fast in a high pressure situation)

Supercharge your ear with 4 different methods of Perfect Pitch Training
Learn to read music as easily as tablature – completely customizable options (which can saved) means you can set any rhythm (even 5’s), scale or key base, notes on the fret board, ties, chord symbols, chord notation everything to really help you read music (finally!)
See every possible position on the fret board of a shape you like – see how it morphs to fits the scale as you move it up and down the fret board.
Use a better metronome than you ever known – features include bass note player for you to take all your chords and licks through 12 keys – a time splitter to hear how any number of notes will sounds over a beat or bar.
Save every graphic to the Workpage and create printouts with graphics and text for yourself. Save them for later reference.
You will learn what a chord or scale or both look all over the fret board
You will learn theory – how to recognize chords and scales on the stave, notes and degrees in chords and scales, guide tones also a flash card note recognition feature.
Learn to recognize chords and scales by simply hearing them – every music school student needs this.
“Guitar Virtuosity for the Everyday Man” – A complete lesson plan in printable e-book form. Over 188 pages of lesson that take you from beginner to jazz/fusion and every style between.

o Learn the latest shred techniques,

How to learn music by ear (even if you only remember the music).

o It also covers composition and writing you own music and stealing ideas from multi-grammy award winning producers!

o Learn everything that you ever wanted to know – but in a clear and easily understandable way!

o Use in conjunction with Guitar Freak Workstation for better results in less time

o Learn how to truly play fast so it sounds good!

o Separated into basic rhythm, basic soloing, advanced rhythm, and advanced soloing. It features a foundation course that will set you up for life.

o Shows you how to set up a practice diary to get to where you want to go.

o Learn the notes on your fret board

o For beginners, it shows how to play barred chords – and learn how to play every chord you can find.

o Covers timing – the guitarist’s arch nemesis. Having good time is the difference between hacks and great guitarists.

o A complete list of melodic devices from jazz university that even beginners can use to spice up their solo playing – easily shown on the fret board.

o Using quick chords, you’ll learn how to play EVERY chord ever in 15 positions.

o You will learn all sorts of different strumming patterns for jazz, Latin, Dixieland, Tango etc…

o You will learn how to play funk rhythms and have a really great strumming arm (which is always in-time)

o You will learn how to fit melodic devices together to make monster licks! You can learn also how to make your own jazz licks that work well.

Add any new chords or scales that you discover to Guitar Freaks Library.
Highly graphic interface makes learning and setting controls easy!
Includes 3 free e-books

o Learn to Burn – The Guitar Speed Manual

o How to be awesome at Jazz Chords (Finally!). Also a supplemental e-book called “How to Play 12 different jazz chord shapes while only knowing the E and A shape barre chords”

o Joe Pass – Play Jazz phrases Instantly – just add fingers

Friendly and personal customer support for each purchaser

Windows only

(xp user: Download MS framework 3.5 for free. Required to run GFW. Click here to download)

This software can be registered for SightReader Master only $60 (USD) or All incredible features of Guitar Freak Workstation for $95 (USD). If you purchase SightReader Master Extreme, you can upgrade to fully activated GFW at any time inside the software for the extra $35.

SightReader Master Extreme only

Fully Activated Guitar Freak Workstation (includes SightReader Master Extreme and e-books)

Related posts:
Bass Invertor Don't Worry you Bass Players - the Invertor is...
Advanced Metronome One that not only functions as a normal metronome, but...
QuickChords One of the most powerful features I want in some...

The Main Window – Gateway to Music

Sean Clancy — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:15:24 +0000

Here is the Main Window where you access all your tests and access new music skills.

Here you can change the tuning from normal tuning to drop tuned to Eb (Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix and Yngwie all tune to Eb)

You can also access the tuner for a tuning reference and also the various e-books available as bonuses for purchases.

Also available is the Very popular E-book “Guitar Virtuosity for the Everyday Man” – a lesson by lesson e-book which will take a complete beginner all the way to advanced jazz and all the stages between.

There is an inbuilt browser to check for updates and for useful links (including free useful software and others to complete your music practice area)

If you’re a user of SightReader Master Extreme, you can use the menu at the top to upgrade to the fully activated Guitar Freak Workstation.

Related posts:
Bass Invertor Don't Worry you Bass Players - the Invertor is...
Advanced Metronome One that not only functions as a normal metronome, but...
QuickChords One of the most powerful features I want in some...

SightReader Master Extreme

Sean Clancy — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:16:24 +0000

Do a search on sight-reading software for guitar or bass – and you’ll only find some flash-card software or one other, more interesting software called “SightReader for guitar”, “SightReader Master”or SightReader for Bass.

Well, I’m glad to say that I have nothing to do with the flash-cards, but these other downloads are programs that I created!

The difficulty is not finding the notes – or playing the rhythms – but doing them both at the same time!

Right now, I’ve culminated all that programming experience into my wish-list for guitar/bass software.

This site is where the only guitar/bass sight-reading software is available.And this new feature is embedded in Guitar Freak Workstation.

I wanted sight-reading software that should:

Be able to choose single notes or chords (that I have selected)

choose options to suit my current level of ability – whether I’ve ever read music or not – maybe show the names of the notes or chords if needed

I control the tempo

I choose how often certain notes (whole, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16ths, triplets of all of those, groups of 5 etc…) would appear

I choose how often rests would happen – if at all.

I choose (popular request) what scale the notes would come from

I choose exactly where on the fretboard I want the chords and/or single notes come from – I want to see the fretboard during the process so I know where to find the notes.

I want to control whether ties happen and how often.

I choose 4/4, 3/4 or 6/8 time.

I want a help file that teaches me important tips on reading music, charts and the like.

I want to learn to read up to four bars ahead - across and down the page.

Large enough so that I can see it clearly and resemble what I’ll see in written music.

(Advanced) I want to have accompanying chords and bass notes to appear at the top of the music so I can practice playing chords with the single note at the top (use this often if you want work on cruise ships – $$$)

I want to hear the notes as I play along to see if I match up with them.

For my instrument – guitar or bass (4, 5 or 6 string)

It’s got to look like music!!!

Don’t get me wrong, I still make use of guitar pro or powertab (which is free) for transcribing music and I read tab well – but now I – and you too, can read music just as well!

Related posts:
Bass Invertor Don't Worry you Bass Players - the Invertor is...
Advanced Metronome One that not only functions as a normal metronome, but...
QuickChords One of the most powerful features I want in some...

SightReader Master Options

Sean Clancy — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:26:38 +0000

Using The SightReader Master Extreme Options page, you can select your level exactly!

Including

The scale

The Notes on the fretboard

The range of notes

The interval distance between notes (or random)

Ties

Accidentals

Chords

Swing or straight 8ths (swing for jazz)

Backing chords

Note groupings

Related posts:
Bass Invertor Don't Worry you Bass Players - the Invertor is...
Advanced Metronome One that not only functions as a normal metronome, but...
QuickChords One of the most powerful features I want in some...

Note Groupings for SightReader

Sean Clancy — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:56:14 +0000

Here is the 2nd page if the SightReader Master Extreme Options.

Here you can choose note groupings – how often rests will happen – and how often each grouping will appear.

You are also able to save a selection and recall them at any time.

There is every combination up to 16th notes triplets and also groups of 5 as well!

Related posts:
Bass Invertor Don't Worry you Bass Players - the Invertor is...
Advanced Metronome One that not only functions as a normal metronome, but...
QuickChords One of the most powerful features I want in some...

Transcriber

Sean Clancy — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:44:40 +0000

The Trancriber

An extremely useful tool for any musician – the transcriber will slow down any mp3’s or wave files that you have in your music collection! This way you can learn any fast passages by slowing it down up to 50% of the original speed – while keeping it at the same pitch.

File

From here you can open any or your music files – or you can access any recent files you may have opened

Sliders

You can set the sliders to repeat a section of the music. Using the loop button (Pressing the L key activates or deactivates this function) you can play it once or loop it.

If you want Transcribe to recall the sliders, click the “Make Bookmark” button and you can enter in some text to describe your selection. Every time you load this file, those markers will be available to you.

Hotkeys allow you to easily speed up in increments of 5% faster or slower – helping you nail that looped selection until your playing at the right tempo – or faster!

The included help file gives you tips on transcribing!

Guitar Freak Workstation is your one-stop software for getting hot on Guitar or bass!

Related posts:
Bass Invertor Don't Worry you Bass Players - the Invertor is...
Advanced Metronome One that not only functions as a normal metronome, but...
QuickChords One of the most powerful features I want in some...

Ability Trainer

Sean Clancy — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:48:49 +0000

The Ability Trainer – new with version 4.7

What’s it for?

Well, I’m going to be honest – I use it for speed.

1. I record myself playing something tricky and then slow it down to half speed to make sure that the quality of my tricky lick sounds just as clean as if I played it at that speed – if not – time to practice it until it does!

2. I’ll play something cleanly and then speed up my run to see what my lick would sound like if it was faster – this sets me a goal to aim for in speed and clarity (if you know what it should sound like faster and clean – and it really works!

Number 2 is exactly what Yngwie Malmsteen did to get his incredible speed. You may have read in an article that he would record something in the studio and when he got home, the tape recorder at home played a little faster than the tape recorder in the studio – inspiring him to get it faster with the same quality of the speed up original.

Of course, with the digital realm at hand, you don’t have to wait between trips – you can do it right here!

Also, this is a good way to see if you can play a song from top to bottom without any accompaniment. What about your jazz comping or rhythm playing – is it as even as you think? It’s really hard to play and hear yourself at the same time – this tool will soon become your best friend!

Related posts:
Bass Invertor Don't Worry you Bass Players - the Invertor is...
Advanced Metronome One that not only functions as a normal metronome, but...
QuickChords One of the most powerful features I want in some...

QuickChords

Sean Clancy — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:58:12 +0000

One of the most powerful features I want in some guitar software is to be able to intertwine chords and scales seamlessly.

This feature is possible in Guitar Freak Workstation only!

You can select 15 different chords voicings for every chord you have in your software (as well as the ones you’ve added.

You can then, with a click of a button, see every scale that will work over that chord. A combobox become available and you can see the each chord with the white scale notes around it!

Click on any of the 15 shapes and see that chord or scale enlarged. Play the scale, the chord or both simultaneously with a button.

Click on the enlarged shape and you’ll see all the notes involved (great for practically apliable theory!)

You can also choose any scale and then see what chords will work over that scale. Great for composing!This means

If you can play a chord, you can use the scale notes to add notes to the chord(making it a little more interesting)

You can pinpoint the notes in the scales that are chord tones and resolve on them – more meaning-full solos!

No box shapes!

Play a chord tone on the strong beats (1,2,3 or 4) and any other scale note on the “ands” or other timing subdivisions that aren’t 1,2,3 or 4 and you have yourself a hot lick that works well over that chord

Will definitely break you out of a rut.

You can choose whether to play a chord or scale at any time!!!!

The chords are the shapes that Grammy award winning guitarists use.

Highly graphical interface – if you’ve ever seen chord grids before, you’ll recognize the shapes!

Print the shapes out on your local printer!

Related posts:
Bass Invertor Don't Worry you Bass Players - the Invertor is...
Advanced Metronome One that not only functions as a normal metronome, but...
SightReader Master Extreme The only software that really teaches guitarists and bass players...

The Invertor

Sean Clancy — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:22:50 +0000

The Invertor – a revolution on the fretboard!

" rel="nofollow">

The Invertor is a powerful new feature never before seen in guitar software!

It will allow you to choose any scale or chord – in a any key. This will display on a fretboard.You can then click notes on the fretboard until you create a shape – it can be a sweep, a whole scale, a chord – whatever shape you like.Using 5 options you can hear this shape played

* All once – like a chord.
* Ascending (it will play all the notes from lowest to highest notes – at the speed you choose)
* Descending (same as above but going down)
* Ascending and then descending
* Descending and then ascending

Then – with a click on a button or hotkey, this shape will move up one note in the scale or chord.

It’s still in the scale but the next inversion up.

You can move shapes up and down the scale – so you scales and chords stay in the scale but you can play them anywhere on the fretboard!

Check out the video on the right to see it in action!

Freaks – Alan holdworth uses this wayout method to create his unique chord shapes (he did it the long way around – not in software)

Related posts:
Bass Invertor Don't Worry you Bass Players - the Invertor is...
Advanced Metronome One that not only functions as a normal metronome, but...
QuickChords One of the most powerful features I want in some...