Recent content by birch

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    Contest submissions allowed?

    Hey guys, Just wanted to check how you are with me posting a youtube vid for my JTC contest entry? I don't want to spam things up and wasn't sure if this was a forum no-no. If it is ok, what subform would be best? Cheers Sam
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    Genre concept: Blackened Power Metal?

    Keep of Kalessins Reptilian album has a few power metal-y influences. Check out the track 'The Divine Land'
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    Strandberg / Astral EXR Systems / Announcement!

    I had a similar problem with my truss rod, but it turned out to be the truss rod key itself, combined with the design. Because of how deep the truss rod nut is inside the neck by design, I had to use the long end of the hex key to reach the truss rod nut, and it felt like it wouldn't turn, but...
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    Strandberg / Astral EXR Systems / Announcement!

    Thanks for the info Fred, I will give that a go and see how i get on. Yes, the body is very strange, I have been recommended Danish oil to prevent further fading, and even offered a re-finish. Im still yet to decide on what to do.
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    Strandberg / Astral EXR Systems / Announcement!

    Haha, so im not alone! Yep my fretboard needs a good clean, although the dull areas seem to be stained into the finish (can't wipe them off). Anyone have any tips on oiled finish cleaning? The body is pretty faded wherever there has been lots of contact. I am playing this guitar all day...
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    Focusrite 2i2 freezing?

    I have a focusrite 2i2, and it worked great using usb2.0 on a Win7 desktop. On a Windows 8 laptop using usb3.0 it was totally unstable, but usb3.0 on a macbook hasn't caused any issues so far.
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    Improvisation Problems

    My favourite way to practice improvising is to take a really small lick, and try and improvise with it in as many ways as possible. You can try and move it to different places in the scale (which helps learn the scale even better), try and start it on different beats of the bar (improves your...
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    What should you practice?

    I would get the fundamentals down pretty solid (scales, arpeggios, chords, intervals), and learn a bit of music theory. Then just find a riff or lick that you like in any style, transcribe and analyse it to work out what is making it work, then try and vary it to make it part of your own...
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    Let's do the omnibook!!!

    Mike Outram (who's a killer guitarist) made a spotify playlist for the whole Omnibook if you want a mega sight reading challenge!
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    Scale exercises questions.

    Ive written some worksheets and articles to help my students practice scales, although I don't want to seem spammy posting links to my website, so mods feel free to put me in line if this isn't the done thing :) Learning your scales and arpeggios – Sam Birchall Intervals – Sam...
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    Strandberg / Astral EXR Systems / Announcement!

    Well, I have had a CL-7 for about 9 Months now, and have had a few issues with it. It's a great player, but I've had some finish bleed issues (the dye on the forearm rest and the edges of the body are wearing away to plan wood, and quite a few other nit-picking finish issues. The electronics...
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    Fusion-y solo study

    I put together a little solo study to try and get some new ideas in my playing and thought some of you guys might like it. There's a tab in the description too. Let me know your thoughts, as I want to try and improve a bit for each study I do!
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    How do I get ligthning fast at guitar

    Speed is a byproduct of accuracy. Set yourself an accuracy goal instead of a speed goal, like playing a simple excercise for 2 minutes with no mistakes at a slow speed, making it sound as good as you would ever want it to sound.
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    Need help with Strandberg decision

    The scale length and fan on the CL7 are not an issue, i went from 25.5 Ibanez necks to the CL7's endurneck and it didn't take much getting used to at all. The pickups sound great too, I havn't noticed any issues with them being straight, and the plus side is its easier to swap them out for...
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    Exivious - solo contest

    I gave this a shot, really loving the backing track! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYJM5jfxwTA
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