The Pulse #15 - Jemfest, New Articles, Michael Hedges and MS: forgottenking2

	In this issue @ Introduction @ New Articles on iBreatheMusic @ Jemfest Review @ Essential Listening: Michael Hedges @ Eric's Shred 101-Lick @ Member Spotlight: forgottenking2 @ Sizzling Hot Forum Topics


	Introduction Hello all, Yes! - we did it again! - thanks to Jorge (you might know him as 'forgottenking2' in the forums) for allowing us to present you with another user submitted article, which to me is more proof of the kind of potential that this community holds through it's members. Jorge's topic is exotic scales, which has been discussed in the forums recently. We hope you like the article and as always, constructive feedback is always welcome. Forgottenking2 is also featured in this issue's member spotlight. If you are a regular in or forums (or intend to become a new member soon) please make sure to read our new forum rules, which are available at http://www.ibreathemusic.com/forums/misc.php?action=faq. We've found it necessary to publish these due to the recent high frequency of inappropriate posts. If you do happen to come across a 'questionable' post in the forums, please don't hesitate to click on the 'report to moderator' function so we can sort it out. Happy reading, Guni

New Articles on IbreatheMusic
Improvising with Exotic Scales - Part 1 by Jorge Fernando Maldonado Exotic scales can be used to create interesting sounds and emulate some pretty interesting ethnic type of lines. Here are a few ideas on how to start exploring the vast field of exotic scales ... Continue

Bending Steel by Eric Vandenberg Based on lot of discussions and requests in the forums, I decided to elaborate a bit on bendings and vibrato, incl. pics and soundfiles. My buddy Thorsten was nice enough to provide some soundfiles as well. Remember my article about tone? Continue

Sight Reading by Steve Carter Because of the complexity of the fretboard, learning to sight-read on the guitar requires a disciplined approach. In this article I'll discuss the approach that worked well for me and has worked well for many of my students. Continue

Scales, who needs them? Why and What For, Anyway?! by Jamie Andreas Getting the unsettling impression that there seems to be an awful lot of those things called scales? You may even run across an encyclopedia of scales, and realize that there could be thousands of these little buggers out there! Continue

Economy Picking Lesson by Bizarro I'm sure everyone has heard about economy picking and has seen some neat 'tricks' being done using the technique. I have some examples which show how this technique can be applied in several situations. Continue


	Jemfest Review The first German Jemfest (Oct.18th) was definitely a blast. Ricky Garcia did a great job organizing the event, and it was an honour and a pleasure to be part of this. It was a really good feeling to see that the guitar-scene is still alive, that there are still many people who love the guitar, guitar-music etc. All the visitors, the artists and team were great people... it was so much fun to hang out with them, talk guitar and everything related, and see the fascination of the instrument at work. I enjoyed playing there quite a bit, next time I'll bring my band though... I think it's more appropriate to play with a band instead of backing-tracks... Dan Cock and Ricky G. proved that with their sets... great music. The workshop part was fun as well... I did a workshop about pentatonics, based on my 'Stretch It!' and 'Stretch Some More' articles. (For the people who asked for hand-outs... you'll find all the licks and even more in those articles!) Martin Behr did a really neat workshop too, and his performance was killer... great guy! And the headliner... what can I say about Marcel Coenen? Amazing player, great entertainer, really good songs, and shred galore! A worthy main-act, no doubt about it. I am proud to be a part of the JemFest thing, and thanks to everyone who attended the show or contributed to it... remember, all proceeds will go to the Make A Noise Foundation. I am looking forward to the next Jemfests... US, UK, Germany, Netherlands coming up... If you would like to see a JemFest in your country, go ahead! Get in touch with the people at jemfest.com and maybe you'll be the one who'll start yet another jemfest! Eric


	Essential Listening: Michael Hedges - Torched I recently started listening to this album again... I looked through my CD-collection and went 'Wow, haven't listened to that one in a while'. Well, I listened to it 4 times in a row that night, it's so beautiful. 'Torched' is the album Michael was working on around the time of his death. It's an extremely melodic album, with both instrumental songs and vocal tunes. I hear bunches of different styles in here, celtic melodies, folk-stuff etc. Some of the melodies are simply stunning (like the melancholic 'Spring Buds', or the simple, but beautiful 'Holy Flame'), and the album is just perfect to light some candles and dream away to... A great release for everyone who likes rather quiet, melodic tunes, written and performed by a very talented musician who was taken away from us way too early... Eric Michael Hedges - Torched at amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000HZOK/guitar4u


	Eric's Shred 101 Pay By The Note - Lick This is a lick I came up with for the jam 'Pay By The Note' (You can download an MP3 of that at my website). It's loosely based on a lick I heard Nuno Bettencourt do. The interesting part is the intervals (each sequence doesn't go up or down, but goes 1-3-2, with the added open G-String). The lick is a cool exercise, and doesn't sound too bad either. Check it out...


	Member Spotlight: forgottenking2 member name: forgottenking2 real name: Jorge Fernando Maldonado homepage: www.TGI.practicespot.com location: Houston, TX instrument: Guitar, Piano, Bass How and when did you get started with music? Well, My mom (awwwww :D ) had a music school and she tried to get me into music since I was 5 but it wasn't until I was 13 that I really started getting into music getting piano lessons on and off, and when I was 17 I got introduced to the guitar and I fell in love� from then I've been kind of experimenting and basically keeping to what I like. How did you come across iBreatheMusic.com? I was looking for study resources online and I guess I got lucky :) What styles of music do you play? I consider myself mainly a rock guitarist, although I've done blues and some country on stage. Who are your biggest influences? Ooh tough question, let's see to name a few: Joe Satriani, Steve Morse, Hittar Cuesta (an incredible guitarist from my hometown), Jimmy Hendrix, Yngwie Malmstein, Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, Steve Ray Vaughn, B. B. King, Eric Clapton� and the list goes on and on, there's also a ton of non-guitarists that have influenced me a lot, musicians from the baroque and Romantic period (like Bach and Vivaldi)� and basically just whatever I hear� if I like it I'd try to emulate it on the guitar, so my sound is still evolving constantly. What formal training have you had? I had some classical guitar training when I first started out, along with music theory, harmony and counterpoint, and some scattered lessons on 'rock guitar' technique� but besides that I've been teaching myself using books and listening to other players and the internet here lately. What were some of the biggest breakthroughs you have had in your learning of music theory? I think the very first breakthrough I had was when I really got to understand what 'the guitar is a chromatic instrument' really meant� it was so great to realize that I could take the same pattern and move it around and stuff; also when I first got to understand the modal harmony (which is practically forgotten in classical music training) on the guitar�that was just awesome. What practice technique you use do you feel has paid off the most handsomely in its effect on the way you play? The usage of the metronome and playing with some kind of accompaniment, that really helps you play in time and in tune� which I think it's more important than playing at lightning speed (although that's fun too :D) How long did you play before you had your first paying gig? I had been playing for about 3 months and then a friend from High School asked me to play rhythm guitar with them in a band contest (I was scared to death but I did it) and it went great (we won :D) so I guess that was my first gig. What gear do you use? I moved to the States a year ago so all my pro gear was left behind (my brother must be playing the hell out of it ;) ) so now all I have is An old Samick Strat style A Fender Squirel Stagemaster An Ibanez 15w amp A Zoom 505 FX processor (don't like it) And My Boss GT6 What are you up to at the moment? Mainly teaching around Houston, getting to know the musical scene here, writing a lot and jamming once in a while trying to get a band together� that's about it. When I'm not playing guitar I spend some time with my wife (I am also trying to get her into music as well :) ) Do you have any interests (apart from iBreathe of course!)? I guess computers, In fact I make a living out of them that and music� maybe some history and other kinds of art� Mythology and Philosophy that kind of stuff.


	Sizzling Hot Forum Topics Scale Positions on guitar http://www.ibreathemusic.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=2377 Method Books http://www.ibreathemusic.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=2433 How good? http://www.ibreathemusic.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=2343 Guitar Lingo/jargon http://www.ibreathemusic.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=2379 Is a plectrum necesary http://www.ibreathemusic.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=2383


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