Chops builder

[PLEXIBLE]

Any love for Frank Gambale's Chops builder instructional DVD? I've used his Monster licks and Speed picking instruction for years and have learned alot.

[Dickie Fredericks]

I have both. Meh... they are OK I guess. I love Frank but I never really got anything out of the DVD's

The way he and Zucker for that matter play scales with the up/down/down thing is totally foriegn to me. So I skipped it on the vids and in Jacks book. I dont need to play linear scales at blazing speed.

[Lucidology]

I played along with it for awhile a few years back ...
but really didn't find it all that useful in the long run ...

With that being said... I'm a huge fan of Gambale and have learned a great deal from him
about the application of jazz theory ... even more then I have sweep picking ...
Though at one I really did get into sweep picking ... something I don't use too much anymore ...

However, everyonce in a while I get carried away with it ...
as I did somewhat in this youtube video:

Shamelessly Wanking Santana (http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=276682)

[jimfog]

I came to the realization while working on this stuff.....I don't really ENJOY the sound of sweep-picking, mostly. It's impressive....and ok in very, very small doses.....but that's it, for me.

I feel the same way about Dimeola-style typewriter alternate pick shredding, BTW.

[Flyin' Brian]

I came to the realization while working on this stuff.....I don't really ENJOY the sound of sweep-picking, mostly. It's impressive....and ok in very, very small doses.....but that's it, for me.
I feel the same way about Dimeola-style typewriter alternate pick shredding, BTW.

Hallelujah and amen!!! And I thought it was me.

[Lucidology]

So you guys (Brian and Jim) hate my playing in that video 'eh ..:-(

[jimfog]

So you guys (Brian and Jim) hate my playing in that video 'eh ..:-(

Dude......you always sound good.

[Flyin' Brian]

So you guys (Brian and Jim) hate my playing in that video 'eh ..:-(

Joseph!!

You're kidding right?? It's Gambale and DiMeola that I could never wrap my head around.
I'd rather have one Lucidology CD than all of theirs combined. I'm not blowing smoke, I'm quite serious.

[PLEXIBLE]

I have both. Meh... they are OK I guess. I love Frank but I never really got anything out of the DVD's

The way he and Zucker for that matter play scales with the up/down/down thing is totally foriegn to me. So I skipped it on the vids and in Jacks book. I dont need to play linear scales at blazing speed.

After watching your youtube video, I would have guessed that you worked on these techniques. Maybe by osmosis, Nice playing. Thanks for the response Dickie. :BEER

[PLEXIBLE]

I played along with it for awhile a few years back ...
but really didn't find it all that useful in the long run ...

With that being said... I'm a huge fan of Gambale and have learned a great deal from him
about the application of jazz theory ... even more then I have sweep picking ...
Though at one I really did get into sweep picking ... something I don't use too much anymore ...

However, everyonce in a while I get carried away with it ...
as I did somewhat in this youtube video:

Shamelessly Wanking Santana (http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=276682)

+1 on the application of jazz theory. I wish you would carried away more often. There is a time and place for sweep and speed picking etc.. BTW, Nice playing.

[PLEXIBLE]

I came to the realization while working on this stuff.....I don't really ENJOY the sound of sweep-picking, mostly. It's impressive....and ok in very, very small doses.....but that's it, for me.

I feel the same way about Dimeola-style typewriter alternate pick shredding, BTW.

What about in other styles such as Gypsy Jazz. Django may have been the first sweep picker. I agree with you that any technique can be over done. I enjoyed checking out your website.

[jimfog]

What about in other styles such as Gypsy Jazz. Django may have been the first sweep picker. I agree with you that any technique can be over done. I enjoyed checking out your website.

Thanks....

That's why I said "mostly".......anything, in moderation is perfectly cool.

I also tend to enjoy the raw, more imprecise nature of Django's sweeps.........

Don't get me wrong, Gambale's playing is wonderful....and I really like a lot of it, especially his more recent work........but that much sweeping can feel a little mechanical....to ME, of course.

As to the question at hand.........the "Speed Picking" DVD is good if that's what you're looking for......the "Chopsbuilder" might be useful, but I can't get past the silly Olivia Newton -John- like presentation to bother with it.

[Lucidology]

Dude......you always sound good.

Joseph!!

You're kidding right?? It's Gambale and DiMeola that I could never wrap my head around.
I'd rather have one Lucidology CD than all of theirs combined. I'm not blowing smoke, I'm quite serious.

Thanks You guys ... I was just playing wit yas ...:BEER



+1 on the application of jazz theory. I wish you would carried away more often. There is a time and place for sweep and speed picking etc.. BTW, Nice playing.

Thanks for the compliment ...
& yes .... Gambale is actually a great teacher when it comes
to Jazz theory ...

[iluvstrats]

If I could sweep pick and play like those guys I would... but I can't.
I appreciate all music and different player's techniques. I may not bond with a particular music but I do relate to the time and effort they've put into perfecting ther craft. Sometimes I do love a good polka!

[jzucker]

Hating the sound of a guitar technique is silly IMO. It's like hating regional accents. They are all tools. Anything in large doses gets old but these are all techniques to employ in your arsenal. The interesting thing to me is utilizing techniques to go beyond the typical stylistic borders you encounter. I find that most of the closed minds I encounter on message boards come from folks who have already predined what is and what isn't acceptable in a given genre. For example, shredding over a blues or bending notes in jazz.

My novel concept is to play from the heart and not worry about best practices. Just let the music speak for itself. Don't prejudge a technique. It's up to *YOU* to make it interesting, not someone else.

[gennation]

Maybe someone (not me) should come out with a DVD called Music Builder. I'm sure sweeping and alternating picking would have to be part of it, but it could be use for "music" instead of just as "technique". Music consists of many techniques.

[Dickie Fredericks]

After watching your youtube video, I would have guessed that you worked on these techniques. Maybe by osmosis, Nice playing. Thanks for the response Dickie. :BEER

Well thank you very much. Really though, Im a hack. Im not saying I dont do some sweep stuff now and then but I didnt get what I do from Frank. Its kind of a mix and match thing of just playing the chord shapes.
I am however incorporating some of the sweep stuff from Jacks book which really did open it up for me with the 9th, 13th etc... arps. I love Jacks take on it and it sounds awesome to me.

Yeah maybe by osmosis. I think we all incorporate something from the players we dig and I really love Franks playing and writing.

Thanks again for the compliment. I appreciate it.

[Dickie Fredericks]

Hating the sound of a guitar technique is silly IMO. It's like hating regional accents. They are all tools. Anything in large doses gets old but these are all techniques to employ in your arsenal. The interesting thing to me is utilizing techniques to go beyond the typical stylistic borders you encounter. I find that most of the closed minds I encounter on message boards come from folks who have already predined what is and what isn't acceptable in a given genre. For example, shredding over a blues or bending notes in jazz.

My novel concept is to play from the heart and not worry about best practices. Just let the music speak for itself. Don't prejudge a technique. It's up to *YOU* to make it interesting, not someone else.


And that is spot on!!!

[jimfog]

Hating the sound of a guitar technique is silly IMO.

Who said they "hate" anything? Straw Man.

What I said was......I don't enjoy the sound of sweeping, especially when overdone.

That's not a rip on anyone who does it, or who likes.....it's a perfectly valid statement of personal choice.

Fact is....certain techniques produce certain sounds.......obviously, we can enjoy certain sounds or not.

Another example......generally, I prefer the sound of bare fingers on string vs nails........now, that doesn't mean I'm dismissing the entire classical guitar genre or anything, but it is what it is.......a preference.

What's the problem?

[jzucker]

no problem. Didn't mean to implicate you in my reply.

[GtrWiz]

in reply to the original post, the Chop Builder vid focuses on building indurance, not so much speed. It is also an alternate picking workout more than sweeping.

[j_uc]

Frank Gambale's transformation in physical appearance from the 80ies compared to now reminded me immediately of Andre Agassi (an idol of mine). And like Andre Frank seems to have become wiser.
I listened to some of his recent stuff from YouTube clips - some really really great moments. It had nothing to do with just playing fast. When Frank sweeps it looks effortless, and easy, which it is not, of course, but I like that.