I just wanna play the darned thing!
Click The Above Banner To Join Wayne's Blues and MIDI Performer's Group Forum!
Welcome to The 90 Day Harmonica Challenge!
This page is under construction. However, you can
download the ZIP file and get the entire package.
Included are the MP3 backing tracks and jam tracks,
text sheets for each exercise. And a schedule guide
so you know what order to work on each exercise, and
which ones to do together.
When you download the ZIP, put it in a new folder
named Harp Challenge. Unzip it in that folder. The files
are zipped in folders so when you open the 1st folder,
everything is organized.
You're welcome to contact me if you have any questions or comments.
Enjoy! Wayne
Click here to download the ZIP.
Left Click to "SAVE", Right Click to "SAVE AS"!
Click Here Harp Challenge Files.zip Click Here
WARNING: I don't pull punches. If you're thin skinned, if you get offended easily, you really
aren't going to like me much. I hope I don't offend. It's not my goal. MY goal is to help lead
you to greatness!
Also, you need to do this right away! Go to v-picks.com and order a 1980 pick! More info below.
But these picks will greatly improve your articulation, and help you play much cleaner, and FASTER!
If you play clean, and edgy tunes, I suggest you buy 2 1980's. One with, one without the GHOST EDGE!
The ghost edge gives you a bit of a raspy or gritty tone. Very cool for Rock and Blues!
They're only 4 bucks. Just order one. I promise you, give it two weeks and you'll never use a different
brand! Tell Vinni Wayne Reed sent you! Click the link now and get it ordered!
If you want to know how much a V-Pick will improve your picking speed, articulation and TONE,
you can click over to this true story. Then click back. Up to you.
My V-Pic Story
"So, will this tutorial REALY help me become a better player, and a better musician?"
I'm glad you asked that question. How could I possibly know if I'm capable of helping you
become a better player, and a better musician? Maybe you're a better player than I am right
now. Maybe your skill sets are sharper than mine. Well, even if they are, even if you can play
rings around me, this tutorial will help you. Unless you're stuck in a rut that you're content
being stuck in. Or unless you consider yourself the best already.
But I'm betting you're none of the above, and truly want to become a great player and musician.
If so, then YES this tutorial will help you on your journey to greatness! And people will notice!
But let's make sure before you waste a lot of time. Here's what I want you to do. Download the
following MP3 and .txt file. The text file is a basic chord chart of the MP3. The MP3 is a Lydian
Mode basic backing track.
Open the text and the MP3. You'll see it's in an easy key, and a simple progression. Mainly . . .
G ' ' ' A ' ' ' . Fire up your amp, strap on your favorite guitar. And play the jam track. And play a
sweet 2 minute and 45 second solo over the track. Jam, man! Have some fun with it.
If you're a brave soul, RECORD YOURSELF. Turn on the recorder BEFORE you start! So you don't
fool yourself later. When you're done, have a listen. And pretend all of your family and friends are
right there with you, listening.
Download these two files. Right click on the links and select "save contents".
Lydian_G_Jam.mp3
Lydian_G_Jam_Chord_Chart.txt
How'd you do? Are you happy with what you played? Were you creative enough? Sound sweet?
Did you notice any places where you badly clashed with the track? Any places where you were
just lost? No idea what to play? Did you fiddle around through half of the track before you were
able to comfortably jam along with any level of confidence? Did you find yourself saying . . .
"What's going on with those chords? Why can't I find the right notes or scales to fit over them?"
Now it's my turn to ask you a question. Would you like to be a better player? And a better musician!
Then read on. Because my answer to your question is a resounding YES!
While you read the text below in preparation to taking the challenge (begin your lessons) you
might start getting the feeling that this is going to be too hard. Or too advanced. But trust me,
it is not! The entire lesson, the entire 90 days is based around a handful of notes! G, C#, F# and B.
Let me de-mystify the whole thing. This is as hard as it gets . . .
So you have the notes, the TAB, and a backing track for it all!
Daily Log Sheets! This will help you keep track of where you are. If you have some Office skills,
you can edit the Excel sheet. Each day just copy the previous day, paste it below, and edit in the
current updated info. If not, you can print out the blank copy and just use it as a guide. But using
the LOG will help a lot! You could print out a week, 14 copies at a time. Keep them like a notebook.
Why 14 copies? You do all of the exercises 2 times. Method 1 the Method 2. Your "picking" progress
and your "sweeping" progress will be different.
The daily tasks are filled in so you know what files to work on in order.
It looks like this . . . Example with day 1 and day 21 filled in . . .
If you don't have any Microsoft Office software you can download OpenOffice for free. All Office files
will open and work in Open Office
Here is the Daily Log in Excel, Word and Notepad. Zipped, or you can DL each one.
All Log Sheet Formats Zipped
DAILYCHART_EXAMPLE.jpg
DailyLogSheet.xlsx Excel Format
DailyLogSheet.docx Word Format
DailyLogSheet.txt Notepad Format
OK, almost ready to start! Just one more "confirmation" before we start your
"Journey To Greatness"!
Did you make a conscientious decision to follow my suggestions to the "T"? For sure?!?
Well, why haven't you ordered your V-Pick 1980 yet? Seriously. You gotta either do this, on don't.
No, I don't benefit from you buying V-Picks! But . . . YOU will!
Click HERE and go order it now. I'll wait . . . .
OK, got it? Good. Let's go!!!
**********************************************************
The Lesson . . . Tritones are SO Sweet & Sour!
Tritones are very cool. Albeit, extremely dissonant. They will spruce up your playing in different music
genre' like Heavy Rock/Metal, Jazz, Blues and Ambient music. Learning how to use them in your own
style is important if you want to develop some creativity in your solos and fills. And the exercises I put
together here will also help you develop some great articulation, as well as help you play some pretty fast riffs.
A tritone is the interval that sits directly between an octave. For example, if you’re playing a G in one octave,
and another G in the octave above, the note in the middle is a C#. On guitar, play any note. (But not on the G string).
Now play the note one string up, and one fret higher. G on the 3rd fret, string 6, and C# on the 4th fret, string 5.
The C# is a tritone above G. Or the note between the 4th and 5th notes of the major scale.
Blues and Jazz players use tritones all the time. They might not even know they are tritones. We always just say
"Play me a blue note!" There is a trione in the Blues Scale. Play a Pentatonic scale and add the blue note.
OK, you got me. Jazz players know it's a tritone!
Once you get familiar with these exercises, you'll start to hear places to use them. And you'll immediately think
of songs that use them. Songs you might have tried to play, but couldn't quite figure out what scale was being played.
For those who are a bit more familiar with basic theory, another way to look at a tritone is an augmented/raised
4th, or diminished/flatted 5th.
(C D E F G A B C) F is the 4th in C. G is the 5th. Sharp the 4th, or flat the 5th, you have F#.
F# is a tritone above, and below C.
So how is this going to help you become a better player? And fast! Because the fingering of a tritone
scale is symmetrical. EZPZ! You're going to develop some fantastic skills by working these exercises!
Dexterity! Articulation! Creativity! And once you get through the exercises, CONFIDENCE! Because you
will be playing EVERYTHING you do better! Chords, songs, riffs, solos, everything will be improved.
IN JUST 90 DAYS!
OK, here's some helpful stuff to help you get a handle on Tritones.
This tutorial, this CHALLENGE, is LOADED with how to's! As well as backing tracks!
By the way, if you're looking for a "shortcut to greatness", you came to the wrong place!
But this IS the place to be if you're willing to put 15 minutes to 30 minutes a day into this,
and THEN you will be on your way to greatness! You'll be doing easy things, over and over,
and your skill sets will dramatically improve. Guaranteed!
If you're really just starting out, and don't have a handle on theory yet, you can
go to my MidKar.com site and there are a TON of tutorials! From how to make MIDIS,
to a copy of an article I wrote for a publication way back when, taking you from the
very beginning, all the way through basic theory in an easy to understand, 11 page
study. 11 pages, with pix n stuff! EZPZ! You'll know more about theory just reading
this article than most of the people you ever met! NOTE: The article was written for
a harmonica publication. But most of the text applies to ALL instruments!
You can just skip the harp stuff!
NOTE: If you haven't read the theory article yet, and you're here now . . . I hope it's because
you found this page before you went to Wayne's Corner! That page clearly says . . .
"Read the article BEFORE moving on to the 90 day Challenge"
Honestly, if you don't like following instructions, don't want to do things as suggested,
this might be a waste of time for you. But if you're willing to do as I suggest, and you hit
this challenge head on, expecting greatness . . . you're going to amaze yourself!
Seriously! Ever wish you could shred? Greece lightning speed playing some cool scales!
Well, that's just ONE of the benefits of nailing these exercises! Yes, part of each exercise is
dedicated to sweep picking!
Go to the MidKar.com Technical Links Page. Scroll down to "MIDI Technical Links". Scroll down to
"Music Theory" and click which ever format you like. Then READ IT!
I suggest making a folder and keeping all of the attached files handy.
OK, here we go!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This is a Lydian Mode progression exercise using Tritones in the mix. It uses TABS
and notation to show you 3 exercises.
If you work on this, a little each day, and do it like I suggest below, you will gain
3 important things!
1). You'll have some new tools to use with your playing. Once you're comfortable
with the scale patterns, you'll soon find a lot of places to use them! And people are
going to notice a change in your playing!
2). Overall, you'll notice a significant change in your articulation, AND your speed
playing EVERYTHING, not just these exercises!!! And again, people will notice!
3). You're going to notice a bit of new confidence! You can apply the ideas used in
the midi files I post here to ANY scales you want to work on!! And again . . .
PEOPLE WILL NOTICE!
Lydian is a fantastic mode to work in! You can make some beautiful ambient music,
as well as some pretty intense metal/edgy music! At the bottom of this post I listed
some songs I know use Lydian Mode and/or tritones.
The Downloads: Download each of these files and put them in a handy folder
for quick (and frequent) reference.
DL the ZIPS.zip if you know how to work with ZIPs. Or . . .
DL all files in the list (if you didn't DL the ZIP file)
Lydian_G1_3_Patterns.jpg
tritone1withtabs.jpg
Lydian_G1.MID
Lydian_E1.MID
1_Lydian_G1_85-115bpm.MID
2_Lydian_G1_100-148bpm.MID
3_Lydian_G1_136-196bpm.MID
4_Lydian_G1_160-210bpm.MID
5_Lydian_G1_185-236bpm.MID
6_Lydian_G1_220-280bpm.MID
7_Lydian_G1_256-316bpm.MID
8_Lydian_G1_288-346bpm.MID
9_Lydian_G1_388-448bpm.MID
1_Lydian_G1_85-115bpm_Transpose.MID
2_Lydian_G1_100-148bpm_Transpose.MID
3_Lydian_G1_136-196bpm_Transpose.MID
4_Lydian_G1_160-210bpm_Transpose.MID
5_Lydian_G1_185-236bpm_Transpose.MID
6_Lydian_G1_220-280bpm_Transpose.MID
7_Lydian_G1_256-316bpm_Transpose.MID
8_Lydian_G1_288-346bpm_Transpose.MID
9_Lydian_G1_388-448bpm_Transpose.MID
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Melodic Practice
There are 2 "for fun" backing trax. One in G, one in E. Lydian G1.mid & Lydian E1.mid
These will be your warm up before hitting the DRILLS!
Start with Lydian_G1.MID. 3rd fret, one finger per fret. The scale uses 4 frets, one note per string.
This is critical from the get go! Finger 1 on fret 3 on the 6th string. Finger 2 on fret 4 5th
string, etc. (Key of E, start at the 12th fret, and do the same patterns.)
Print out, or open on your PC tritone1withtabs.jpg It looks like this . . .
The track has 3 patterns, played 4x each. The attached Lydian_G1_3_Patterns.jpg show
the notes for the 3 patterns.
HOMEWORK! Remember the theory article you read about 3 times BEFORE starting this challenge?
Well, time to put it to work. You said you wanted to achieve greatness. Time to become a better musician!
Look at the two pattern/notation sheets you just opened. The 1st one has full tab, including a picture of a fretboard.
The 2nd, more involved sheet has NO TAB! You need to tab it out.
There are two measures played before you start playing. And the actual scale is played in the backing track
so you know you're playing it correctly.
I have no idea where you all are skill wise. But I don't think anyone will get through
the full 3 minute exercise the first few times without messing up some. And that's PERFECT!
If you nail it right away, I didn't help you much.
It'll take some time to get through it correctly, start to finish. Probably weeks. Just spend
a few minutes a day on it. Maybe run through it 3 times. It'll get easier and easier, I promise!
OK, that's the FUN part. Now for the work out!
The above melodic exercise is for fun. You can start with it each practice session,
BUT I suggest only running through it ONE TIME! For fun! Then jump to the DRILLS!
Then come back to the melodic exercise for more fun! And you'll fly through it!
There are 18 midi files for drills, but don't panic! You only work on TWO AT A TIME!
Here is a practice layout to follow. Just switch out the file names for the ones you move up to,
as you progress.
NOTE: I strongly suggest you use a FIRM pick! Fairly pointed. Many of the pros (Carlos Santana,
Billy Gibbons, Phil Keaggy, Johnny Hiland, Vernon Reid, Derek St Holmes, Brad Whitford, Orianthi &
Ranger Doug Green (and the late Ed King, and Walter Becker) use v-picks by Vinni Smith.
v-picks.com I strongly suggest buying a 1980 pick!
It'll take you about 2 weeks to get used to it. It's THICK! But your playing will improve a ton using
one of these picks! 3 sided. And they last a LONG TIME! Plus, you're never gonna drop this pick
while you're playing!
V-Picks. They sound great! And you'll never drop a pick while playing again! I have a dozen
different V-pick styles. And I LOVE them!
You will actually do ALL of the exercises below TWO TIMES! Do them all using Method 1.
Then start over. (INCLUDING THE WARM UPS) This time do them ALL using Method 2.
Method 1: Alternate Picking! This will be awkward because it's one note per string.
But this will help you with EVERYTHING you ever do in the future! Pick down, up,
down, up, string to string!
Method 2: SWEEP! Pick DOWN on all notes EXCEPT THE LAST NOTE! Pick
UP on the last note and position your hand so the pick is in place to pick down on
string 6 to begin the next iteration!!!
A little awkward at first. But it gets
easier and easier as you get into the faster tempo exercises.
Using Method 1 . . .
1). Warm up with Lydian G1.mid 3X, & Lydian E1.mid once or twice. 3X if you want.
2). Now the DRILLS! Open 1_Lydian_G1_85-115bpm.MID. The first time you do this
drill, just play around with it. Get familiar with it. Start it over a bunch of times. But from
then on, you start it. Stop when you mess up! Don't just keep hammering it. STOP
it when you mess up. Start the track over gain. Play it till you mess up again. STOP IT!
Start it up again (from the beginning) Just play it 3X. It might only be a minute or so.
That's OK. You'll get farther and farther each time you go back to it
3). Then open 1_Lydian_G1_85-115bpm_Transpose.MID This exercise is like the 1st except you
move up one fret each time you finish a pattern. So at tempo 1, you play the pattern starting
on the 3rd fret, then repeat on the 4th fret, etc. Each time you start a new tempo (there's a 2
measure break between each tempo change) you go back to the 3rd fret start point.
Do this one the same way. Play till you mess up. Start over. Do it 3X.
Don't "fret" it if you're confused now. When you see the tabs, and hear the backing tracks, it'll all clear up.
You practice these TWO different ways! You work on one a few times through. You keep
going until you mess up. Then STOP! Don't force yourself to get through it to the end!
Just go until you mess up. Then switch to the other method and do the same thing
until you mess up. You can do this, back and forth between methods a few times a day.
Mess up, stop. Switch methods. Mess up, stop. Go back to the other method, etc.
Or do it all using Method 1, then do it all again with Method 2. Either way is fine.
Each time you work on it (or maybe every other time) you'll get farther into it. In time,
you'll play the whole thing, start to finish. When you can do that using BOTH methods,
move on to the next track. But . . . NOT BEFORE!!!
You start with "1 Lydian G1 85-115bpm". It'll take a while before you nail it! And DON'T
move on to other tracks until you can play the entire "1" track, beginning to end with no
issues! NAIL IT! It'll be a bit boring at first, because although it seems slow, you'll fumble
your way through it for a while. Then one day you'll "get it"! When you can play it correctly,
CLEAN, smooth . . . using BOTH methods, moved on to #2.
With one exception, each set of 9 tracks is identical! Same exact thing. The only thing that
changes between the 9 tracks is the start and finish speed, BPM!
#1 starts at a slow, grueling 85 beats per minute, and each 4 times through the pattern, the
tempo moves up a bit, finishing at a comfortable 115 BPM.
#2 starts off at 100 BPM. Because you nailed the 1st one, this one will seem SLOW . . . at first!
It progresses up to 148 BPM. NAIL IT before you move on!
#3 does the same thing, starting at 136 BPM, finishing at a quick 196 BPM! And so on.
NOTE: As you move on to the faster tracks, it will start getting more difficult to do the alternate
picking. But stick with it! And as it gets faster, the sweeping will actually get easier and easier!
I promise you . . . If you spend 90 days working on this, at the end of that time, even if you're
only a 3rd of the way through it all . . . You, and everyone who hears you play will notice a
HUGE difference in EVERYTHING you play!
Essentially, you will have become a much better musician! Or your money back! LOL
Enjoy!
PS: What's after the 90 days? You keep going! You're not going to get close to finishing
all of the exercises in 90 days. But you know that big improvement you just experienced?
The NEXT 90 days will boost your performance skill levels again!
And PEOPLE WILL NOTICE!
Do a quick Web search for songs that use tritones. You'll find a TON! Gospel, Blues, Jazz,
Ambient, Heavy Metal and Heavy Rock. TV Theme songs, and more. Here are a few examples . . .
Tritones in Heavy Metal
Black Sabbath - Black Sabath main hook
Seasons in the Abyss - Slayer main hook
Refuse / Resist - Sepultura main hook and in solo
War Nerve - Pantera main hook
Falling Away From Me - Korn main hook
Deliverance - Opeth main hook
As I Am - Dream Theater main hook
Wayne (Reed) Knazek ~ Email Me Here! ~ My personal Web site
Click The Above Banner To Join Wayne's Blues and MIDI Performer's Group Forum!
Welcome to The 90 Day Harmonica Challenge!
This page is under construction. However, you can
download the ZIP file and get the entire package.
Included are the MP3 backing tracks and jam tracks,
text sheets for each exercise. And a schedule guide
so you know what order to work on each exercise, and
which ones to do together.
When you download the ZIP, put it in a new folder
named Harp Challenge. Unzip it in that folder. The files
are zipped in folders so when you open the 1st folder,
everything is organized.
You're welcome to contact me if you have any questions or comments.
Enjoy! Wayne Click here to download the ZIP.
Left Click to "SAVE", Right Click to "SAVE AS"!
Click Here Harp Challenge Files.zip Click Here
WARNING: I don't pull punches. If you're thin skinned, if you get offended easily, you really
aren't going to like me much. I hope I don't offend. It's not my goal. MY goal is to help lead
you to greatness!
Also, you need to do this right away! Go to v-picks.com and order a 1980 pick! More info below.
But these picks will greatly improve your articulation, and help you play much cleaner, and FASTER!
If you play clean, and edgy tunes, I suggest you buy 2 1980's. One with, one without the GHOST EDGE!
The ghost edge gives you a bit of a raspy or gritty tone. Very cool for Rock and Blues!
They're only 4 bucks. Just order one. I promise you, give it two weeks and you'll never use a different
brand! Tell Vinni Wayne Reed sent you! Click the link now and get it ordered!
If you want to know how much a V-Pick will improve your picking speed, articulation and TONE,
you can click over to this true story. Then click back. Up to you.
My V-Pic Story
"So, will this tutorial REALY help me become a better player, and a better musician?"
I'm glad you asked that question. How could I possibly know if I'm capable of helping you
become a better player, and a better musician? Maybe you're a better player than I am right
now. Maybe your skill sets are sharper than mine. Well, even if they are, even if you can play
rings around me, this tutorial will help you. Unless you're stuck in a rut that you're content
being stuck in. Or unless you consider yourself the best already.
But I'm betting you're none of the above, and truly want to become a great player and musician.
If so, then YES this tutorial will help you on your journey to greatness! And people will notice!
But let's make sure before you waste a lot of time. Here's what I want you to do. Download the
following MP3 and .txt file. The text file is a basic chord chart of the MP3. The MP3 is a Lydian
Mode basic backing track.
Open the text and the MP3. You'll see it's in an easy key, and a simple progression. Mainly . . .
G ' ' ' A ' ' ' . Fire up your amp, strap on your favorite guitar. And play the jam track. And play a
sweet 2 minute and 45 second solo over the track. Jam, man! Have some fun with it.
If you're a brave soul, RECORD YOURSELF. Turn on the recorder BEFORE you start! So you don't
fool yourself later. When you're done, have a listen. And pretend all of your family and friends are
right there with you, listening.
Download these two files. Right click on the links and select "save contents".
Lydian_G_Jam.mp3
Lydian_G_Jam_Chord_Chart.txt
How'd you do? Are you happy with what you played? Were you creative enough? Sound sweet?
Did you notice any places where you badly clashed with the track? Any places where you were
just lost? No idea what to play? Did you fiddle around through half of the track before you were
able to comfortably jam along with any level of confidence? Did you find yourself saying . . .
"What's going on with those chords? Why can't I find the right notes or scales to fit over them?"
Now it's my turn to ask you a question. Would you like to be a better player? And a better musician!
Then read on. Because my answer to your question is a resounding YES!
While you read the text below in preparation to taking the challenge (begin your lessons) you
might start getting the feeling that this is going to be too hard. Or too advanced. But trust me,
it is not! The entire lesson, the entire 90 days is based around a handful of notes! G, C#, F# and B.
Let me de-mystify the whole thing. This is as hard as it gets . . .
So you have the notes, the TAB, and a backing track for it all!
Daily Log Sheets! This will help you keep track of where you are. If you have some Office skills,
you can edit the Excel sheet. Each day just copy the previous day, paste it below, and edit in the
current updated info. If not, you can print out the blank copy and just use it as a guide. But using
the LOG will help a lot! You could print out a week, 14 copies at a time. Keep them like a notebook.
Why 14 copies? You do all of the exercises 2 times. Method 1 the Method 2. Your "picking" progress
and your "sweeping" progress will be different.
The daily tasks are filled in so you know what files to work on in order.
It looks like this . . . Example with day 1 and day 21 filled in . . .
If you don't have any Microsoft Office software you can download OpenOffice for free. All Office files
will open and work in Open Office
Here is the Daily Log in Excel, Word and Notepad. Zipped, or you can DL each one.
All Log Sheet Formats Zipped
DAILYCHART_EXAMPLE.jpg
DailyLogSheet.xlsx Excel Format
DailyLogSheet.docx Word Format
DailyLogSheet.txt Notepad Format
OK, almost ready to start! Just one more "confirmation" before we start your
"Journey To Greatness"!
Did you make a conscientious decision to follow my suggestions to the "T"? For sure?!?
Well, why haven't you ordered your V-Pick 1980 yet? Seriously. You gotta either do this, on don't.
No, I don't benefit from you buying V-Picks! But . . . YOU will!
Click HERE and go order it now. I'll wait . . . .
OK, got it? Good. Let's go!!!
**********************************************************
The Lesson . . . Tritones are SO Sweet & Sour!
Tritones are very cool. Albeit, extremely dissonant. They will spruce up your playing in different music
genre' like Heavy Rock/Metal, Jazz, Blues and Ambient music. Learning how to use them in your own
style is important if you want to develop some creativity in your solos and fills. And the exercises I put
together here will also help you develop some great articulation, as well as help you play some pretty fast riffs.
A tritone is the interval that sits directly between an octave. For example, if you’re playing a G in one octave,
and another G in the octave above, the note in the middle is a C#. On guitar, play any note. (But not on the G string).
Now play the note one string up, and one fret higher. G on the 3rd fret, string 6, and C# on the 4th fret, string 5.
The C# is a tritone above G. Or the note between the 4th and 5th notes of the major scale.
Blues and Jazz players use tritones all the time. They might not even know they are tritones. We always just say
"Play me a blue note!" There is a trione in the Blues Scale. Play a Pentatonic scale and add the blue note.
OK, you got me. Jazz players know it's a tritone!
Once you get familiar with these exercises, you'll start to hear places to use them. And you'll immediately think
of songs that use them. Songs you might have tried to play, but couldn't quite figure out what scale was being played.
For those who are a bit more familiar with basic theory, another way to look at a tritone is an augmented/raised
4th, or diminished/flatted 5th. (C D E F G A B C) F is the 4th in C. G is the 5th. Sharp the 4th, or flat the 5th, you have F#.
F# is a tritone above, and below C.
So how is this going to help you become a better player? And fast! Because the fingering of a tritone
scale is symmetrical. EZPZ! You're going to develop some fantastic skills by working these exercises!
Dexterity! Articulation! Creativity! And once you get through the exercises, CONFIDENCE! Because you
will be playing EVERYTHING you do better! Chords, songs, riffs, solos, everything will be improved.
IN JUST 90 DAYS!
OK, here's some helpful stuff to help you get a handle on Tritones.
This tutorial, this CHALLENGE, is LOADED with how to's! As well as backing tracks!
By the way, if you're looking for a "shortcut to greatness", you came to the wrong place!
But this IS the place to be if you're willing to put 15 minutes to 30 minutes a day into this,
and THEN you will be on your way to greatness! You'll be doing easy things, over and over,
and your skill sets will dramatically improve. Guaranteed!
If you're really just starting out, and don't have a handle on theory yet, you can
go to my MidKar.com site and there are a TON of tutorials! From how to make MIDIS,
to a copy of an article I wrote for a publication way back when, taking you from the
very beginning, all the way through basic theory in an easy to understand, 11 page
study. 11 pages, with pix n stuff! EZPZ! You'll know more about theory just reading
this article than most of the people you ever met! NOTE: The article was written for
a harmonica publication. But most of the text applies to ALL instruments!
You can just skip the harp stuff!
NOTE: If you haven't read the theory article yet, and you're here now . . . I hope it's because
you found this page before you went to Wayne's Corner! That page clearly says . . .
"Read the article BEFORE moving on to the 90 day Challenge"
Honestly, if you don't like following instructions, don't want to do things as suggested,
this might be a waste of time for you. But if you're willing to do as I suggest, and you hit
this challenge head on, expecting greatness . . . you're going to amaze yourself!
Seriously! Ever wish you could shred? Greece lightning speed playing some cool scales!
Well, that's just ONE of the benefits of nailing these exercises! Yes, part of each exercise is
dedicated to sweep picking!
Go to the MidKar.com Technical Links Page. Scroll down to "MIDI Technical Links". Scroll down to
"Music Theory" and click which ever format you like. Then READ IT!
I suggest making a folder and keeping all of the attached files handy.
OK, here we go!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This is a Lydian Mode progression exercise using Tritones in the mix. It uses TABS
and notation to show you 3 exercises.
If you work on this, a little each day, and do it like I suggest below, you will gain
3 important things!
1). You'll have some new tools to use with your playing. Once you're comfortable
with the scale patterns, you'll soon find a lot of places to use them! And people are
going to notice a change in your playing!
2). Overall, you'll notice a significant change in your articulation, AND your speed
playing EVERYTHING, not just these exercises!!! And again, people will notice!
3). You're going to notice a bit of new confidence! You can apply the ideas used in
the midi files I post here to ANY scales you want to work on!! And again . . .
PEOPLE WILL NOTICE!
Lydian is a fantastic mode to work in! You can make some beautiful ambient music,
as well as some pretty intense metal/edgy music! At the bottom of this post I listed
some songs I know use Lydian Mode and/or tritones.
The Downloads: Download each of these files and put them in a handy folder
for quick (and frequent) reference.
DL the ZIPS.zip if you know how to work with ZIPs. Or . . .
DL all files in the list (if you didn't DL the ZIP file)
Lydian_G1_3_Patterns.jpg
tritone1withtabs.jpg
Lydian_G1.MID
Lydian_E1.MID
1_Lydian_G1_85-115bpm.MID
2_Lydian_G1_100-148bpm.MID
3_Lydian_G1_136-196bpm.MID
4_Lydian_G1_160-210bpm.MID
5_Lydian_G1_185-236bpm.MID
6_Lydian_G1_220-280bpm.MID
7_Lydian_G1_256-316bpm.MID
8_Lydian_G1_288-346bpm.MID
9_Lydian_G1_388-448bpm.MID
1_Lydian_G1_85-115bpm_Transpose.MID
2_Lydian_G1_100-148bpm_Transpose.MID
3_Lydian_G1_136-196bpm_Transpose.MID
4_Lydian_G1_160-210bpm_Transpose.MID
5_Lydian_G1_185-236bpm_Transpose.MID
6_Lydian_G1_220-280bpm_Transpose.MID
7_Lydian_G1_256-316bpm_Transpose.MID
8_Lydian_G1_288-346bpm_Transpose.MID
9_Lydian_G1_388-448bpm_Transpose.MID
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Melodic Practice
There are 2 "for fun" backing trax. One in G, one in E. Lydian G1.mid & Lydian E1.mid
These will be your warm up before hitting the DRILLS!
Start with Lydian_G1.MID. 3rd fret, one finger per fret. The scale uses 4 frets, one note per string.
This is critical from the get go! Finger 1 on fret 3 on the 6th string. Finger 2 on fret 4 5th
string, etc. (Key of E, start at the 12th fret, and do the same patterns.)
Print out, or open on your PC tritone1withtabs.jpg It looks like this . . .
The track has 3 patterns, played 4x each. The attached Lydian_G1_3_Patterns.jpg show
the notes for the 3 patterns.
HOMEWORK! Remember the theory article you read about 3 times BEFORE starting this challenge?
Well, time to put it to work. You said you wanted to achieve greatness. Time to become a better musician!
Look at the two pattern/notation sheets you just opened. The 1st one has full tab, including a picture of a fretboard.
The 2nd, more involved sheet has NO TAB! You need to tab it out.
There are two measures played before you start playing. And the actual scale is played in the backing track
so you know you're playing it correctly.
I have no idea where you all are skill wise. But I don't think anyone will get through
the full 3 minute exercise the first few times without messing up some. And that's PERFECT!
If you nail it right away, I didn't help you much.
It'll take some time to get through it correctly, start to finish. Probably weeks. Just spend
a few minutes a day on it. Maybe run through it 3 times. It'll get easier and easier, I promise!
OK, that's the FUN part. Now for the work out!
The above melodic exercise is for fun. You can start with it each practice session,
BUT I suggest only running through it ONE TIME! For fun! Then jump to the DRILLS!
Then come back to the melodic exercise for more fun! And you'll fly through it!
There are 18 midi files for drills, but don't panic! You only work on TWO AT A TIME!
Here is a practice layout to follow. Just switch out the file names for the ones you move up to,
as you progress.
NOTE: I strongly suggest you use a FIRM pick! Fairly pointed. Many of the pros (Carlos Santana,
Billy Gibbons, Phil Keaggy, Johnny Hiland, Vernon Reid, Derek St Holmes, Brad Whitford, Orianthi &
Ranger Doug Green (and the late Ed King, and Walter Becker) use v-picks by Vinni Smith.
v-picks.com I strongly suggest buying a 1980 pick!
It'll take you about 2 weeks to get used to it. It's THICK! But your playing will improve a ton using
one of these picks! 3 sided. And they last a LONG TIME! Plus, you're never gonna drop this pick
while you're playing!
V-Picks. They sound great! And you'll never drop a pick while playing again! I have a dozen
different V-pick styles. And I LOVE them!
You will actually do ALL of the exercises below TWO TIMES! Do them all using Method 1.
Then start over. (INCLUDING THE WARM UPS) This time do them ALL using Method 2.
Method 1: Alternate Picking! This will be awkward because it's one note per string.
But this will help you with EVERYTHING you ever do in the future! Pick down, up,
down, up, string to string!
Method 2: SWEEP! Pick DOWN on all notes EXCEPT THE LAST NOTE! Pick
UP on the last note and position your hand so the pick is in place to pick down on
string 6 to begin the next iteration!!!
A little awkward at first. But it gets
easier and easier as you get into the faster tempo exercises.
Using Method 1 . . .
1). Warm up with Lydian G1.mid 3X, & Lydian E1.mid once or twice. 3X if you want.
2). Now the DRILLS! Open 1_Lydian_G1_85-115bpm.MID. The first time you do this
drill, just play around with it. Get familiar with it. Start it over a bunch of times. But from
then on, you start it. Stop when you mess up! Don't just keep hammering it. STOP
it when you mess up. Start the track over gain. Play it till you mess up again. STOP IT!
Start it up again (from the beginning) Just play it 3X. It might only be a minute or so.
That's OK. You'll get farther and farther each time you go back to it
3). Then open 1_Lydian_G1_85-115bpm_Transpose.MID This exercise is like the 1st except you
move up one fret each time you finish a pattern. So at tempo 1, you play the pattern starting
on the 3rd fret, then repeat on the 4th fret, etc. Each time you start a new tempo (there's a 2
measure break between each tempo change) you go back to the 3rd fret start point.
Do this one the same way. Play till you mess up. Start over. Do it 3X.
Don't "fret" it if you're confused now. When you see the tabs, and hear the backing tracks, it'll all clear up.
You practice these TWO different ways! You work on one a few times through. You keep
going until you mess up. Then STOP! Don't force yourself to get through it to the end!
Just go until you mess up. Then switch to the other method and do the same thing
until you mess up. You can do this, back and forth between methods a few times a day.
Mess up, stop. Switch methods. Mess up, stop. Go back to the other method, etc.
Or do it all using Method 1, then do it all again with Method 2. Either way is fine.
Each time you work on it (or maybe every other time) you'll get farther into it. In time,
you'll play the whole thing, start to finish. When you can do that using BOTH methods,
move on to the next track. But . . . NOT BEFORE!!!
You start with "1 Lydian G1 85-115bpm". It'll take a while before you nail it! And DON'T
move on to other tracks until you can play the entire "1" track, beginning to end with no
issues! NAIL IT! It'll be a bit boring at first, because although it seems slow, you'll fumble
your way through it for a while. Then one day you'll "get it"! When you can play it correctly,
CLEAN, smooth . . . using BOTH methods, moved on to #2.
With one exception, each set of 9 tracks is identical! Same exact thing. The only thing that
changes between the 9 tracks is the start and finish speed, BPM!
#1 starts at a slow, grueling 85 beats per minute, and each 4 times through the pattern, the
tempo moves up a bit, finishing at a comfortable 115 BPM.
#2 starts off at 100 BPM. Because you nailed the 1st one, this one will seem SLOW . . . at first!
It progresses up to 148 BPM. NAIL IT before you move on!
#3 does the same thing, starting at 136 BPM, finishing at a quick 196 BPM! And so on.
NOTE: As you move on to the faster tracks, it will start getting more difficult to do the alternate
picking. But stick with it! And as it gets faster, the sweeping will actually get easier and easier!
I promise you . . . If you spend 90 days working on this, at the end of that time, even if you're
only a 3rd of the way through it all . . . You, and everyone who hears you play will notice a
HUGE difference in EVERYTHING you play!
Essentially, you will have become a much better musician! Or your money back! LOL
Enjoy!
PS: What's after the 90 days? You keep going! You're not going to get close to finishing
all of the exercises in 90 days. But you know that big improvement you just experienced?
The NEXT 90 days will boost your performance skill levels again!
And PEOPLE WILL NOTICE!
Do a quick Web search for songs that use tritones. You'll find a TON! Gospel, Blues, Jazz,
Ambient, Heavy Metal and Heavy Rock. TV Theme songs, and more. Here are a few examples . . .
Tritones in Heavy Metal
Black Sabbath - Black Sabath main hook
Seasons in the Abyss - Slayer main hook
Refuse / Resist - Sepultura main hook and in solo
War Nerve - Pantera main hook
Falling Away From Me - Korn main hook
Deliverance - Opeth main hook
As I Am - Dream Theater main hook
Wayne (Reed) Knazek ~ Email Me Here! ~ My personal Web site
Welcome to The 90 Day Harmonica Challenge!
This page is under construction. However, you can
download the ZIP file and get the entire package.
Included are the MP3 backing tracks and jam tracks,
text sheets for each exercise. And a schedule guide
so you know what order to work on each exercise, and
which ones to do together.
When you download the ZIP, put it in a new folder
named Harp Challenge. Unzip it in that folder. The files
are zipped in folders so when you open the 1st folder,
everything is organized.
You're welcome to contact me if you have any questions or comments.
Enjoy! Wayne Click here to download the ZIP.
Left Click to "SAVE", Right Click to "SAVE AS"!
Click Here Harp Challenge Files.zip Click Here
WARNING: I don't pull punches. If you're thin skinned, if you get offended easily, you really
aren't going to like me much. I hope I don't offend. It's not my goal. MY goal is to help lead
you to greatness!
Also, you need to do this right away! Go to v-picks.com and order a 1980 pick! More info below.
But these picks will greatly improve your articulation, and help you play much cleaner, and FASTER!
If you play clean, and edgy tunes, I suggest you buy 2 1980's. One with, one without the GHOST EDGE!
The ghost edge gives you a bit of a raspy or gritty tone. Very cool for Rock and Blues!
They're only 4 bucks. Just order one. I promise you, give it two weeks and you'll never use a different
brand! Tell Vinni Wayne Reed sent you! Click the link now and get it ordered!
If you want to know how much a V-Pick will improve your picking speed, articulation and TONE,
you can click over to this true story. Then click back. Up to you.
My V-Pic Story
"So, will this tutorial REALY help me become a better player, and a better musician?"
I'm glad you asked that question. How could I possibly know if I'm capable of helping you
become a better player, and a better musician? Maybe you're a better player than I am right
now. Maybe your skill sets are sharper than mine. Well, even if they are, even if you can play
rings around me, this tutorial will help you. Unless you're stuck in a rut that you're content
being stuck in. Or unless you consider yourself the best already.
But I'm betting you're none of the above, and truly want to become a great player and musician.
If so, then YES this tutorial will help you on your journey to greatness! And people will notice!
But let's make sure before you waste a lot of time. Here's what I want you to do. Download the
following MP3 and .txt file. The text file is a basic chord chart of the MP3. The MP3 is a Lydian
Mode basic backing track.
Open the text and the MP3. You'll see it's in an easy key, and a simple progression. Mainly . . .
G ' ' ' A ' ' ' . Fire up your amp, strap on your favorite guitar. And play the jam track. And play a
sweet 2 minute and 45 second solo over the track. Jam, man! Have some fun with it.
If you're a brave soul, RECORD YOURSELF. Turn on the recorder BEFORE you start! So you don't
fool yourself later. When you're done, have a listen. And pretend all of your family and friends are
right there with you, listening.
Download these two files. Right click on the links and select "save contents".
Lydian_G_Jam.mp3
Lydian_G_Jam_Chord_Chart.txt
How'd you do? Are you happy with what you played? Were you creative enough? Sound sweet?
Did you notice any places where you badly clashed with the track? Any places where you were
just lost? No idea what to play? Did you fiddle around through half of the track before you were
able to comfortably jam along with any level of confidence? Did you find yourself saying . . .
"What's going on with those chords? Why can't I find the right notes or scales to fit over them?"
Now it's my turn to ask you a question. Would you like to be a better player? And a better musician!
Then read on. Because my answer to your question is a resounding YES!
While you read the text below in preparation to taking the challenge (begin your lessons) you
might start getting the feeling that this is going to be too hard. Or too advanced. But trust me,
it is not! The entire lesson, the entire 90 days is based around a handful of notes! G, C#, F# and B.
Let me de-mystify the whole thing. This is as hard as it gets . . .
So you have the notes, the TAB, and a backing track for it all!
Daily Log Sheets! This will help you keep track of where you are. If you have some Office skills,
you can edit the Excel sheet. Each day just copy the previous day, paste it below, and edit in the
current updated info. If not, you can print out the blank copy and just use it as a guide. But using
the LOG will help a lot! You could print out a week, 14 copies at a time. Keep them like a notebook.
Why 14 copies? You do all of the exercises 2 times. Method 1 the Method 2. Your "picking" progress
and your "sweeping" progress will be different.
The daily tasks are filled in so you know what files to work on in order.
It looks like this . . . Example with day 1 and day 21 filled in . . .
If you don't have any Microsoft Office software you can download OpenOffice for free. All Office files
will open and work in Open Office
Here is the Daily Log in Excel, Word and Notepad. Zipped, or you can DL each one.
All Log Sheet Formats Zipped
DAILYCHART_EXAMPLE.jpg
DailyLogSheet.xlsx Excel Format
DailyLogSheet.docx Word Format
DailyLogSheet.txt Notepad Format
OK, almost ready to start! Just one more "confirmation" before we start your
"Journey To Greatness"!
Did you make a conscientious decision to follow my suggestions to the "T"? For sure?!?
Well, why haven't you ordered your V-Pick 1980 yet? Seriously. You gotta either do this, on don't.
No, I don't benefit from you buying V-Picks! But . . . YOU will!
Click HERE and go order it now. I'll wait . . . .
OK, got it? Good. Let's go!!!
**********************************************************
The Lesson . . . Tritones are SO Sweet & Sour!
Tritones are very cool. Albeit, extremely dissonant. They will spruce up your playing in different music
genre' like Heavy Rock/Metal, Jazz, Blues and Ambient music. Learning how to use them in your own
style is important if you want to develop some creativity in your solos and fills. And the exercises I put
together here will also help you develop some great articulation, as well as help you play some pretty fast riffs.
A tritone is the interval that sits directly between an octave. For example, if you’re playing a G in one octave,
and another G in the octave above, the note in the middle is a C#. On guitar, play any note. (But not on the G string).
Now play the note one string up, and one fret higher. G on the 3rd fret, string 6, and C# on the 4th fret, string 5.
The C# is a tritone above G. Or the note between the 4th and 5th notes of the major scale.
Blues and Jazz players use tritones all the time. They might not even know they are tritones. We always just say
"Play me a blue note!" There is a trione in the Blues Scale. Play a Pentatonic scale and add the blue note.
OK, you got me. Jazz players know it's a tritone!
Once you get familiar with these exercises, you'll start to hear places to use them. And you'll immediately think
of songs that use them. Songs you might have tried to play, but couldn't quite figure out what scale was being played.
For those who are a bit more familiar with basic theory, another way to look at a tritone is an augmented/raised
4th, or diminished/flatted 5th. (C D E F G A B C) F is the 4th in C. G is the 5th. Sharp the 4th, or flat the 5th, you have F#.
F# is a tritone above, and below C.
So how is this going to help you become a better player? And fast! Because the fingering of a tritone
scale is symmetrical. EZPZ! You're going to develop some fantastic skills by working these exercises!
Dexterity! Articulation! Creativity! And once you get through the exercises, CONFIDENCE! Because you
will be playing EVERYTHING you do better! Chords, songs, riffs, solos, everything will be improved.
IN JUST 90 DAYS!
OK, here's some helpful stuff to help you get a handle on Tritones.
This tutorial, this CHALLENGE, is LOADED with how to's! As well as backing tracks!
By the way, if you're looking for a "shortcut to greatness", you came to the wrong place!
But this IS the place to be if you're willing to put 15 minutes to 30 minutes a day into this,
and THEN you will be on your way to greatness! You'll be doing easy things, over and over,
and your skill sets will dramatically improve. Guaranteed!
If you're really just starting out, and don't have a handle on theory yet, you can
go to my MidKar.com site and there are a TON of tutorials! From how to make MIDIS,
to a copy of an article I wrote for a publication way back when, taking you from the
very beginning, all the way through basic theory in an easy to understand, 11 page
study. 11 pages, with pix n stuff! EZPZ! You'll know more about theory just reading
this article than most of the people you ever met! NOTE: The article was written for
a harmonica publication. But most of the text applies to ALL instruments!
You can just skip the harp stuff!
NOTE: If you haven't read the theory article yet, and you're here now . . . I hope it's because
you found this page before you went to Wayne's Corner! That page clearly says . . .
"Read the article BEFORE moving on to the 90 day Challenge"
Honestly, if you don't like following instructions, don't want to do things as suggested,
this might be a waste of time for you. But if you're willing to do as I suggest, and you hit
this challenge head on, expecting greatness . . . you're going to amaze yourself!
Seriously! Ever wish you could shred? Greece lightning speed playing some cool scales!
Well, that's just ONE of the benefits of nailing these exercises! Yes, part of each exercise is
dedicated to sweep picking!
Go to the MidKar.com Technical Links Page. Scroll down to "MIDI Technical Links". Scroll down to
"Music Theory" and click which ever format you like. Then READ IT!
I suggest making a folder and keeping all of the attached files handy.
OK, here we go!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This is a Lydian Mode progression exercise using Tritones in the mix. It uses TABS
and notation to show you 3 exercises.
If you work on this, a little each day, and do it like I suggest below, you will gain
3 important things!
1). You'll have some new tools to use with your playing. Once you're comfortable
with the scale patterns, you'll soon find a lot of places to use them! And people are
going to notice a change in your playing!
2). Overall, you'll notice a significant change in your articulation, AND your speed
playing EVERYTHING, not just these exercises!!! And again, people will notice!
3). You're going to notice a bit of new confidence! You can apply the ideas used in
the midi files I post here to ANY scales you want to work on!! And again . . .
PEOPLE WILL NOTICE!
Lydian is a fantastic mode to work in! You can make some beautiful ambient music,
as well as some pretty intense metal/edgy music! At the bottom of this post I listed
some songs I know use Lydian Mode and/or tritones.
The Downloads: Download each of these files and put them in a handy folder
for quick (and frequent) reference.
DL the ZIPS.zip if you know how to work with ZIPs. Or . . .
DL all files in the list (if you didn't DL the ZIP file)
Lydian_G1_3_Patterns.jpg
tritone1withtabs.jpg
Lydian_G1.MID
Lydian_E1.MID
1_Lydian_G1_85-115bpm.MID
2_Lydian_G1_100-148bpm.MID
3_Lydian_G1_136-196bpm.MID
4_Lydian_G1_160-210bpm.MID
5_Lydian_G1_185-236bpm.MID
6_Lydian_G1_220-280bpm.MID
7_Lydian_G1_256-316bpm.MID
8_Lydian_G1_288-346bpm.MID
9_Lydian_G1_388-448bpm.MID
1_Lydian_G1_85-115bpm_Transpose.MID
2_Lydian_G1_100-148bpm_Transpose.MID
3_Lydian_G1_136-196bpm_Transpose.MID
4_Lydian_G1_160-210bpm_Transpose.MID
5_Lydian_G1_185-236bpm_Transpose.MID
6_Lydian_G1_220-280bpm_Transpose.MID
7_Lydian_G1_256-316bpm_Transpose.MID
8_Lydian_G1_288-346bpm_Transpose.MID
9_Lydian_G1_388-448bpm_Transpose.MID
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Melodic Practice
There are 2 "for fun" backing trax. One in G, one in E. Lydian G1.mid & Lydian E1.mid
These will be your warm up before hitting the DRILLS!
Start with Lydian_G1.MID. 3rd fret, one finger per fret. The scale uses 4 frets, one note per string.
This is critical from the get go! Finger 1 on fret 3 on the 6th string. Finger 2 on fret 4 5th
string, etc. (Key of E, start at the 12th fret, and do the same patterns.)
Print out, or open on your PC tritone1withtabs.jpg It looks like this . . .
The track has 3 patterns, played 4x each. The attached Lydian_G1_3_Patterns.jpg show
the notes for the 3 patterns.
HOMEWORK! Remember the theory article you read about 3 times BEFORE starting this challenge?
Well, time to put it to work. You said you wanted to achieve greatness. Time to become a better musician!
Look at the two pattern/notation sheets you just opened. The 1st one has full tab, including a picture of a fretboard.
The 2nd, more involved sheet has NO TAB! You need to tab it out.
There are two measures played before you start playing. And the actual scale is played in the backing track
so you know you're playing it correctly.
I have no idea where you all are skill wise. But I don't think anyone will get through
the full 3 minute exercise the first few times without messing up some. And that's PERFECT!
If you nail it right away, I didn't help you much.
It'll take some time to get through it correctly, start to finish. Probably weeks. Just spend
a few minutes a day on it. Maybe run through it 3 times. It'll get easier and easier, I promise!
OK, that's the FUN part. Now for the work out!
The above melodic exercise is for fun. You can start with it each practice session,
BUT I suggest only running through it ONE TIME! For fun! Then jump to the DRILLS!
Then come back to the melodic exercise for more fun! And you'll fly through it!
There are 18 midi files for drills, but don't panic! You only work on TWO AT A TIME!
Here is a practice layout to follow. Just switch out the file names for the ones you move up to,
as you progress.
NOTE: I strongly suggest you use a FIRM pick! Fairly pointed. Many of the pros (Carlos Santana,
Billy Gibbons, Phil Keaggy, Johnny Hiland, Vernon Reid, Derek St Holmes, Brad Whitford, Orianthi &
Ranger Doug Green (and the late Ed King, and Walter Becker) use v-picks by Vinni Smith.
v-picks.com I strongly suggest buying a 1980 pick!
It'll take you about 2 weeks to get used to it. It's THICK! But your playing will improve a ton using
one of these picks! 3 sided. And they last a LONG TIME! Plus, you're never gonna drop this pick
while you're playing!
V-Picks. They sound great! And you'll never drop a pick while playing again! I have a dozen
different V-pick styles. And I LOVE them!
You will actually do ALL of the exercises below TWO TIMES! Do them all using Method 1.
Then start over. (INCLUDING THE WARM UPS) This time do them ALL using Method 2.
Method 1: Alternate Picking! This will be awkward because it's one note per string.
But this will help you with EVERYTHING you ever do in the future! Pick down, up,
down, up, string to string!
Method 2: SWEEP! Pick DOWN on all notes EXCEPT THE LAST NOTE! Pick
UP on the last note and position your hand so the pick is in place to pick down on
string 6 to begin the next iteration!!!
A little awkward at first. But it gets
easier and easier as you get into the faster tempo exercises.
Using Method 1 . . .
1). Warm up with Lydian G1.mid 3X, & Lydian E1.mid once or twice. 3X if you want.
2). Now the DRILLS! Open 1_Lydian_G1_85-115bpm.MID. The first time you do this
drill, just play around with it. Get familiar with it. Start it over a bunch of times. But from
then on, you start it. Stop when you mess up! Don't just keep hammering it. STOP
it when you mess up. Start the track over gain. Play it till you mess up again. STOP IT!
Start it up again (from the beginning) Just play it 3X. It might only be a minute or so.
That's OK. You'll get farther and farther each time you go back to it
3). Then open 1_Lydian_G1_85-115bpm_Transpose.MID This exercise is like the 1st except you
move up one fret each time you finish a pattern. So at tempo 1, you play the pattern starting
on the 3rd fret, then repeat on the 4th fret, etc. Each time you start a new tempo (there's a 2
measure break between each tempo change) you go back to the 3rd fret start point.
Do this one the same way. Play till you mess up. Start over. Do it 3X.
Don't "fret" it if you're confused now. When you see the tabs, and hear the backing tracks, it'll all clear up.
You practice these TWO different ways! You work on one a few times through. You keep
going until you mess up. Then STOP! Don't force yourself to get through it to the end!
Just go until you mess up. Then switch to the other method and do the same thing
until you mess up. You can do this, back and forth between methods a few times a day.
Mess up, stop. Switch methods. Mess up, stop. Go back to the other method, etc.
Or do it all using Method 1, then do it all again with Method 2. Either way is fine.
Each time you work on it (or maybe every other time) you'll get farther into it. In time,
you'll play the whole thing, start to finish. When you can do that using BOTH methods,
move on to the next track. But . . . NOT BEFORE!!!
You start with "1 Lydian G1 85-115bpm". It'll take a while before you nail it! And DON'T
move on to other tracks until you can play the entire "1" track, beginning to end with no
issues! NAIL IT! It'll be a bit boring at first, because although it seems slow, you'll fumble
your way through it for a while. Then one day you'll "get it"! When you can play it correctly,
CLEAN, smooth . . . using BOTH methods, moved on to #2.
With one exception, each set of 9 tracks is identical! Same exact thing. The only thing that
changes between the 9 tracks is the start and finish speed, BPM!
#1 starts at a slow, grueling 85 beats per minute, and each 4 times through the pattern, the
tempo moves up a bit, finishing at a comfortable 115 BPM.
#2 starts off at 100 BPM. Because you nailed the 1st one, this one will seem SLOW . . . at first!
It progresses up to 148 BPM. NAIL IT before you move on!
#3 does the same thing, starting at 136 BPM, finishing at a quick 196 BPM! And so on.
NOTE: As you move on to the faster tracks, it will start getting more difficult to do the alternate
picking. But stick with it! And as it gets faster, the sweeping will actually get easier and easier!
I promise you . . . If you spend 90 days working on this, at the end of that time, even if you're
only a 3rd of the way through it all . . . You, and everyone who hears you play will notice a
HUGE difference in EVERYTHING you play!
Essentially, you will have become a much better musician! Or your money back! LOL
Enjoy!
PS: What's after the 90 days? You keep going! You're not going to get close to finishing
all of the exercises in 90 days. But you know that big improvement you just experienced?
The NEXT 90 days will boost your performance skill levels again!
And PEOPLE WILL NOTICE!
Do a quick Web search for songs that use tritones. You'll find a TON! Gospel, Blues, Jazz,
Ambient, Heavy Metal and Heavy Rock. TV Theme songs, and more. Here are a few examples . . .
Tritones in Heavy Metal
Black Sabbath - Black Sabath main hook
Seasons in the Abyss - Slayer main hook
Refuse / Resist - Sepultura main hook and in solo
War Nerve - Pantera main hook
Falling Away From Me - Korn main hook
Deliverance - Opeth main hook
As I Am - Dream Theater main hook
Wayne (Reed) Knazek ~ Email Me Here! ~ My personal Web site
