The Performance | Thursday 6th August

Brain Stew – Green Day

Rock & Roll Queen – The Subways

Poker Face – Lady Gaga

IGF Rock Guitar Orchestra!

Check out more performance videos @ http://www.youtube.com/bathguitarschool

Rehearsal #3 | IGF Rock Guitar Orchestra!

Rehearsal #3 and the sound check at the University of Gloucestershire Student Union bar went extremely well. We have 20+ Guitarists, 8 singers, 3 bassists, and a drummer!

IGF Rock Guitar Orchestra!

The Rock Guitar Orchestra are on stage @ 9,45pm, straight after the Rock Apprentices.

Day #6 | Thursday 5th August

ROCK APPRENTICE

Class of 2010

Back Row: Graham, Tom, Nick & Tyrian

Front Row: Richard, Lewis & Giuseppe

Final Morning

During the morning session the Rock Apprentices were given a recap of the weeks learning materials and an introduction on how to use the blog as a tool to help them continue to learn.

One question that was asked was; “How do you play a Bo Diddley Shuffle?”. Well… Like this:

Bo Diddley Shuffle (click to enlarge)

…and sounds a little something like this:

Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley (1955)

The Rock Apprentices were also given some hints and tips for performing on stage and stage etiquette. This included:

1. Setting up your amplifier
2. Volume level
3. Inter-band communication
4. Communicating with the sound crew
5. Getting on and off stage drill

Sound Check and Final Rehearsal

The Rock Apprentices sound check went very well, finishing on time and making the sound crew happy! The band performed:

1. ‘Brain Stew’ – Green Day (Emily Harper & Ash Tucker – Vocals)
2. ‘Rock & Roll Queen’ – The Subways (Luci Budd – Vocals)

The Rock Apprentices are on stage at 9.20pm.

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Rehearsal #2 | IGF Rock Guitar Orchestra!

IGF Rock Guitar Orchestra!

Rehearsal #2 was another great success with a good turn out and the arrangement sounding tighter and tighter with each run through. IGF Vocal Coach, Katrin Yr, has done a great job to arrange the vocals for the Rock Guitar Orchestra.

- The sound check and final rehearsal is tomorrow (Thursday 5th) @ 1.30pm in the Student Union.

Day #5 | Wednesday 4th August

GUITAR

Morning – Technique Expander

During the mornings final technique expander class the Rock Apprentices continued learning licks and improvisation techniques. Firstly, how to extend the first position of the minor pentatonic scale into the second position.

Like this:

Minor Pentatonic Scale Extended

The class then learnt how to include additional notes in to the minor pentatonic scale to create a Dorian Blues Scale:

Dorian Blues Scale

After the morning break the Rock Apprentices continued their learning with a session on altered pentatonic scales. The class learnt to alter just one note in the minor pentatonic scale to change the colour of the scale and it’s use over more colourful and extended chords.

The class learnt how to use:

• Minor Pentatonic Scale over Minor 7 chords
• Dominant Pentatonic Scale over Dominant 7 chords
• Minor 6 Pentatonic Scale over Minor 6 chords & Dominant 7 IV chord
• Minor 9 Pentatonic Scale over Minor 9 chords

The altered scale note (altered from the original minor pentatonic scale) could then be used as a note that would cause tension, and then demand resolution back to the root or as a coloured passing note.

This idea was further demonstrated by sliding into each note of the minor pentatonic scale from a semi-tone above or below. This exercise gave a simple example of how to make the scale sound a more ‘outisde’ or jazzier.

Afternoon – Performance Class

Emily, Ash, Thomas

After lunch the Rock Apprentices were joined by the singers; Ash, Nick, Luci, Stefan, and Emily, to rehearse the songs for the student showcase performance on Thursday 5th August at the U of G SU Bar (Day #6).

The rehearsal was a great success and the Rock Apprentices are ready to ROCK! \m/

Thank you to Katrin Yr (IGF Vocal Coach) for arranging the vocalists for the performance.

The Rock Apprentices will be performing:

1. Brain Stew – Green Day (Emily & Ash – Vocals)
2. Rock & Roll Queen – The Subways (Luci – Vocals)

For Those About To Rock!

Special Interest Classes

The class could choose the following:

1. Guthrie Govan Masterclass
2. Dave Kilminster Masterclass
3. Gypsy Jazz Soling Concepts (John Wheatcroft)

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Rehearsal #1 | IGF Rock Guitar Orchestra!

IGF Rock Guitar Orchestra

Rehearsal #1 could not have gone any better. Everyone listened, learned and did an amazing job of playing Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face’. Well done all!

We had; 20+ guitarists, 8 singers, 3 bassists, and 1 drummer!

Even more are expected to join us tomorrow when we rehearse at 1.30pm in TC106. \m/

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- If anyone would like to learn the guitar parts for ‘Poker Face’ by Lady Gaga, you can download the transcription below:

• IGF Rock Guitar Orchestra – Poker Face by Lady Gaga

Transcription and arrangement by Richard Perkins © 2010

Day #4 | Tuesday 3rd August

GUITAR

Morning – Technique Expander

During this mornings session the Rock Apprentices learnt licks using the minor pentatonic and minor blues scales.

Minor Pentatonic Scale

Minor Blues Scale

The class learnt licks that can be used in nearly all genres of music. We worked on the blues.

After the morning break the Rock Apprentices started to learn how to construct a guitar solo using the minor pentatonic scale, using target tones.

Target Tones - Minor Pentatonic Scale (I, IV, V)

The class played solos that traced the root notes of the chords in a minor twelve-bar blues progression (see Day #3 blog post and image above).

This idea of playing, targeting the root of each chord, allowed the Rock Apprentices to work on their aural skills and focus their attention on creating tension – by using notes that were not the root but with in the minor pentatonic scale – and resolution – using the root notes of the chord as the target root notes, where the phrase or lick would feel that it had ‘come home’.

Afternoon – Performance Class

After lunch the Rock Apprentices were once again joined by Ash for a run-through Green Day’s ‘Brain Stew’. The class then rehearsed The Subways ‘Rock & Roll Queen’.

Later, the bassists had a private one to one lesson with Phil Mann. [Phil on YouTube]. The guitarists had a choice between the following classes:

Special Interest Classes

1. Expand your chord knowledge (J Scaramanga)
2. Odd Time Signatures (Tolis)
3. Minor Modal Playing for Blues, Rock & Jazz (Jim Clark)
4. IGF Rock Guitar Orchestra (Richard Perkins)

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IGF Rock Guitar Orchestra

IGF Rock Guitar Orchestra

What?

The IGF Rock Guitar Orchestra is open to all students at this years Cheltenham Guitar Festival. The band will perform Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face’ as part of the student showcase performance on Thursday 6th August at the University of Gloucestershire’s Student Union.

Rehearsals begin on Tuesday 3rd August in TC106 from 4pm-6pm. There will be two further rehearsals on Wednesday and Thursday lunchtime in room TC106.

Day #3 | Monday 2nd August

GUITAR

Morning – Technique Expander

During the morning session the Rock Apprentices learnt how to play a standard twelve-bar blues progression. This included:

• Dominant 7th barre chords
• Learning the Major scale
• How to work out a blues progression in any key
• Using the roman numeral numbering system

The class then learnt how to play Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘Killing Floor’, also popularised by various other blues legends, including; Jimi Hendrix.

Check out Jimi’s awesome rendition of the song at the Monterey Pop Festival:

After the morning break the Rock Apprentices learnt how to play Green Day’s ‘Brain Stew‘, which included:

Jammin' Green Day's 'Brain Stew'

• Power chords
• Muted string scratching
• 16th note strumming
• Controlling a distorted guitar sound

Brain Stew – Green Day

Afternoon – Performance Class

The afternoon performance class began with a run-through the three songs we have learnt for the student showcase performance on Thursday 6th August at the University of Gloucestershire Student Union (free entry for under-18s / £5 per adult).

Ash drops by to sing vocals

1. The Subways – Rock & Roll Queen
2. Green Day – Brain Stew
3. Killing Floor – Howlin’ Wolf

The class performed the songs as a full band, and for some it was for the very first time! Ash dropped by to sing vocals on Green Day’s ‘Brain Stew‘ and Tyrian jumped on the drums later in the afternoon.

The class talked about the importance of keeping eye contact with band members, paying particular attention to the drummer. Also listening to how the drums can guide you through-out the song, especially if you have lost count of the beat and/or your place in the song!

We also discussed:

• Aural awareness
• Keeping time (tapping your foot etc)
• Communication signals

With the blues track ‘Killing Floor‘ it was important to feel the push and pull (tension and release) of the twelve-bar progression, instead of religiously counting your way through the bars. Although when learning you will want to memorise how many times you play each chord.

Visualising this:

Twelve-bar blues progression

Well done to all the Rock Apprentices for such a great days playing!

Special Interest Classes

1. Funk Guitar (Rob Harris – Jamiroquai & Jason Sidwell)
2. Roland/Boss Loops & Tech (Alex Hutchings)

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Day #2 | Sunday 1st August

GUITAR

Morning – Technique Expander

The morning began with a session on practice techniques, useful applications and planning an effective and efficient practice schedule. The class worked through the following:

• Two finger exercises (1-2, 1-3, 1-4)
• Three finger exercises (1-2-4, 1-3-4)
• Four finger exercises (1-2-3-4)
• Alternate picking practice
• Thumb/finger placement
• Ascending/descending patterns

Warm Up Exercises

Download the full warm up exercise sheet here: Warm Up Exercises – Level 1

The class also worked through some stretching and physical warm up exercises. This included:

Stretches and warm up class

Upper body warm up

• Gently shaking your hands/arms/upper body
• Circling your shoulders/arms
• Stretching your arms/shoulders

Hand & wrist warm up

• Rolling your wrists
• Stretching your forearm muscles
• Stretching your fingers
• Star jumps for fingers!

After the morning break the class began working on power chords and even-eighth-note palm muted strumming. The class then began learning The Subways song ‘Rock & Roll Queen‘.

Power chord chops

Afternoon – Performance Class

After lunch the class continued working on The Subways song ‘Rock & Roll Queen‘, learning the various song sections, rhythms and chord progressions. The session was supported with an insight into song forms and how to work out song sections. This included:

The bassists

• Intro
• Verse
• Pre-chorus
• Chorus
• Bridge
• Middle 8
• Outro

The Bon Jovi song ‘Livin’ On A Prayer‘ was used to give an example of a great pre-chorus. Have a listen yourself:

The pre-chorus is so strong that it could almost be mistaken as a chorus!

Special Interest Classes

The class then had a choice between the following special interest classes:

1. Blues to Rock Licks (Jonny Scaramanga)
2. Fusion Concepts (John Wheatcroft)
3. Rock to Jazz, Outside the Box (Alex Hutchings)

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