Sam Vallen Guitar Lessons - Unpredictability part 1 - Legato, Wide Stretches and Tapping

Unpredictability part 1:
Legato+wide stretches+taps=unpredictability

Sam Vallen

Guitarists seem to get stuck in ruts working on triplet and quaver based patterns. I think it's a shame considering the fact that a lot of the new breed of guitar players end up sounding very alike, especially in their faster work, All it takes to sound unique is a little experimentation in your practice time!

And I intend to fix this by showing you some ways you can spice your regular licks up with often overlooked ideas and techniques.

This first lesson deals with legato, not particularly unlike the legato masters might, but substituting taps in place of R.S.I inducing four-note per string shapes. It's a combination of C and G minor pentatonics, with a chromatic run and some "outside" notes to finish. You'll need a working knowledge of legato, sweep picking and tapping to master this. If you haven't spent much time on these techniques yet, I'll be putting up a primer very soon.

Gear in this video: Gibson SG special with Seymour Duncan JB straight into my ENGL Powerball with a Boss DD-6 in the loop, Marshall 1960AV cab.

Check out my bands:

Quandary- Brisbane based progressive-rock (www.myspace.com/quandarymusic)
and
After the Reign- Gold Coast based metal (www.myspace.com/afterthereignmusic)

Incidentally: this lick is off After the Reigns forth-coming EP

Finally, you can check out my solo stuff at www.samvallen.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• legato
• tapping
• sweep
• picking
• holdsworth
• garsed
• satriani
• kotzen
• howe
• smooth
• vai
• vallen
• engl
• lesson
• advanced
• flashy
• technique

[DougFCKNSteele]

You in Melbourne or Sydney?

[samvallen]

@DougFCKNSteele Gold Coast actually. My bands reside in Brisbane though.

[Lextant]

how long have you been playing? and where did you learn to sweep and those crazy leads? I have been playing for 5 years and mastered pentatonics without sweeping but would like to take it to the next level. nice vid. 5 stars.

[samvallen]

@Lextant I've been playing for ages. Probably 10 or so years seriously. The crazy stuff just comes with practice and self-analyzation; you have to be able to criticize yourself very honestly.

I'll be putting some "primer" lesson videos up pretty soon. The intention being to make obtuse playing like this more accessible to everyone.

[sebasmrt]

You´re good, you´re God! :-) Very very nice. This shows me where i could be now if i had taken guitar playing seriously :-P . I´ve never learned someone elses licks or songs but in this case i´m going to make an exception... Top-notch, 5-star rating.

[samvallen]

@sebasmrt Thanks heaps man. I agree in terms of learning other peoples material, I definately don't find it as stimulating as coming up with my own. If you just learn the techniques, shapes and lines in this lick you'll be able to play anything you like with the technique!

[DougFCKNSteele]

@samvallen Bummer. I wanted lessons, I think you'd inspire to do something different. A buddy of mine from France is in love with you. Careful!!

[TheFigueroa007]

Sounds like Holdsworth a little bit w/ those wide leaps. But Holdworth doesn't tap that much.

[666jony666]

My friend thinks legato is just a easy way for speed, Retard

[Lextant]

@samvallen Sweet cant wait.

[bengrockson]

fucking brilliant mate, i like your playing verry verry cool 5* and subscribed love it, check out my latest vids, would rly appreciate it, im not your style but love this stuff

[zorroparoldi]

muy bueno