Favorite JP era?

[lonewolf74]

Thanks... I own a copy of Rock Discipline, but I almost never break it out because it's on VHS and I haven't been motivated enough to convert it to DVD.

The few times I've watched it, I've just gotten bored trying to do the exercises, because I just haven't been able to translate them into anything usable in my actual playing. I can "hear" mentally the types of licks I want to play, but just can't seem to translate those thoughts to movement of fingers.

I don't know if this is because I'm right-brained vs. left-brained, or because I just haven't applied myself enough. For instance, even though I'm an engineer by degree and vocation, I just can't seem to wrap my head around music theory - even though I'm guessing that it could be a key that would unlock more than a few doors. I can memorize scale patterns, but only as patterns (which finger, how many frets to jump) and not as notes.

Anyway... maybe it's time for me to dust off the old tape again and start watching sections of it, no matter how boring they may seem.

 

[rlarino]

Thanks... I own a copy of Rock Discipline, but I almost never break it out because it's on VHS and I haven't been motivated enough to convert it to DVD.

The few times I've watched it, I've just gotten bored trying to do the exercises, because I just haven't been able to translate them into anything usable in my actual playing. I can "hear" mentally the types of licks I want to play, but just can't seem to translate those thoughts to movement of fingers.

I don't know if this is because I'm right-brained vs. left-brained, or because I just haven't applied myself enough. For instance, even though I'm an engineer by degree and vocation, I just can't seem to wrap my head around music theory - even though I'm guessing that it could be a key that would unlock more than a few doors. I can memorize scale patterns, but only as patterns (which finger, how many frets to jump) and not as notes.

Anyway... maybe it's time for me to dust off the old tape again and start watching sections of it, no matter how boring they may seem.

what sort of engineer?

<-- electrical engineer


if you were able to get an engineering degree then you should be able to handle music theory... it definitely sounds like you are not applying yourself because once you know a little music theory and can play some scales you should be able to play some melodies...

since you can hear melodies in your head why don't you try programming them into a midi sequencer or something (it may be much easier to translate your melodic ideas to a sequencer on your computer using a mouse and being able to audition pitch and easily manipulate timing rather than playing the melody on a guitar from your head)

then once you've got the melody out of your head and into midi that you can manipulate it much more... easily slow it down and start learning it note for note on the guitar...

 

[matragon]

Everything ...

I have all DT and LTE cd's but my favourite JP's (with DT) - is "Live At Budokan" DVD ... simply because i can SEE everything they do on stage ... smiles, tricks, fingers ... You know ... a little bit different kind of perception ...

 

[lovedaebmm]

We cant get any JP solo stuff here in sydney

 

[rlarino]

eh, are you sure? JP and his wife sell the cd (sound mind music)... you can buy it directly from them:

Suspended Animation -

or if for some odd reason they won't ship it to you (which i think is unlikely) you could buy a copy off ebay... just make sure you are buying an authentic copy... support JP not some pirate a hole

 

[greenwizard]

Thanks... I own a copy of Rock Discipline, but I almost never break it out because it's on VHS and I haven't been motivated enough to convert it to DVD.

The few times I've watched it, I've just gotten bored trying to do the exercises, because I just haven't been able to translate them into anything usable in my actual playing. I can "hear" mentally the types of licks I want to play, but just can't seem to translate those thoughts to movement of fingers.

I don't know if this is because I'm right-brained vs. left-brained, or because I just haven't applied myself enough. For instance, even though I'm an engineer by degree and vocation, I just can't seem to wrap my head around music theory - even though I'm guessing that it could be a key that would unlock more than a few doors. I can memorize scale patterns, but only as patterns (which finger, how many frets to jump) and not as notes.

Anyway... maybe it's time for me to dust off the old tape again and start watching sections of it, no matter how boring they may seem.

Part of being able to "translate those thoughts to movement of fingers" is ensuring that your fingers are capable of that translation. A lot of the first part of Rock Discipline works on that. I mostly run through his warmups and they've done me a lot of good. The first string-skipping exercise that just runs through major bar chords has made a world of difference for me and I highly recommend it.
As for learning theory, you definitely have to apply yourself, but the most important thing is being patient. Every time you work on theory you get a little bit better. I'm in the same boat as you pretty much, I'm great at all the patterns and tying them together but I don't really know what notes I'm playing. But I do know the name of the root note of the scale I'm in and when I'm playing that, as well as the fifth. I'm working on getting all the thirds (major and minor) and I figure I'll gain a lot more knowledge about the fretboard that way. It's a slow process but I know it'll be worth it.
If you want to learn DT stuff just learn a bit at a time. I definitely can't play "In the name of God" but I know the introduction. When I learned it, the faster runs were difficult for me but I kept going and got better. Now I can tackle more difficult bits.
You're an engineer, you must be smart. And you're an EB fan so you must be even smarter. Give yourself time and I'm sure you'll get it!
Greenwizard

 

[MatrixAndyR]

Train of Thought IMO. SoC and ITNOG are great. After that probably SDOIT, Glass Prison FTW!

 

[lonewolf74]

Guys,

Thanks for the encouragement. It's just frustrating feeling as though I have reached a physical and mental plateau in my playing. (I acknowledge that a large part of this is that I don't dedicate enough time to practicing.)

Sounds like the only thing to do at this point is to set aside some time for the grunt work of teaching my fingers the muscle memory they need, and teaching my brain the hard way to somehow grasp musical theory beyond mere memorization.

Let me know if you can think of any other things that have helped move you along through the rough spots on the journey to guitar mastery.

Oh, and to answer the prior question: I have engineering degrees in Chemical and Industrial engineering.

 

[dep]

dt... everywhere they go old fans follow, new ones attracted.

whether with/out KM/ DS/ JR.
with KM they went melodious, symphonic and classic
with DS they went lil fusion, futuristic and jazzy
with JR they became amazingly weird and sophisticated

to me all era are good. there are new things there and those make us never really get tired or bored.

but honestly... i really miss their music style on I&W & AWAKE. they have so many variation in those 2 great era. in I&A they play from such song as 'wait for sleep' to 'metropolis pt I.' and in awake from the 'silent man' to 'caught in a web.'

but now they go too heavy and metal since ToT.

yet what can i do. they're still my (musically) god anyway

i also like JP's work at necromicon song, purple rain song, G3 and LTE.
but i think it's enough with LTE (with all respect to mr. TL). considering 3/4 of DT instrumentalists are joined in LTE i'm afraid that this can... you know... about the feeling.... the commitment... the concentration etc. they got JR already and the search is over so what else?

any of you guys can predict what JP/DT's next era's gonna be?

 

[73h Nils]

You can never predict how they'll sound. Just assume lots of notes and go from there

New solo album is what JP wants to do next, from what I remember.

 

[dep]

You can never predict how they'll sound. Just assume lots of notes and go from there

New solo album is what JP wants to do next, from what I remember.

yeah considering his new routine with G3 he got to do another solo. G3 fans already enough with suspended animation and they demand something new.

guys have y'all heard LTE 3 without JP. lost the touch!