Dave Seaman (England goalkeeper), King Dave (King of Israel in Biblical times), Dave Silveria (Korn drummer)...

JSC1 - Licks that'll mess me up? Cool - let's 'ave em!!! dontspillmybeer@hotmail.com

ovation - No man, I didn't get that post... (?)

Narface - My RG570LTD has 24 frets, gold hardware, Lo Pro Edge II, DiMarzio Evolutions (but it came with V7, S1, and V8), Rosewood fingerboard, maple Wizard II bolt-on neck, and it's a dark turquoise wood stain with a flamed maple veneer. I think the body is basswood - either that or alder. I don't really know a great deal about the specs of guitars...

Stu Clone - A rising resolution after a suspension is known as a "retardation".

Mr. Nick - You'll get in, dude. Definitely contact me about accomodation; it'd be cool to be housemates. Provided you're not a dick.... lol

My last assessment for this term starts in an hour and a half. Then it's off to the pub I think. Funny how celebrations often in result in illness...

Neil

Mr. Nick - I know the answer you're looking for - "they'll both hit the floor at the same time cuz they both weigh a tonne". However, that isn't true. The bricks will hit the floor first becuase of the way feathers fall. If you dropped a brick from a height then it would just smash into the floor, but feathers kinda float cuz they have a larger surface area and therefore much more air resistance. Although it does depend where you dropped them from; say if you dropped the feathers from one metre and the brick form one mile, then the feathers would hit first... Incidentally that post about Dave K changing a string in flight at petrucciforum.com is entirely true. He's awesome. He's constantly stoned, but he's awesome. And he's gonna be my technical development tutor next term. Ha ha!!

Stu Clone - I don't really understand that post man, but I do know that if the dissonant note in a suspension ascends to the third in the resolution then it is called a retardation, regardless of where the beat falls. G, Dsus4, D = suspension; A, Dsus2, D = retardation. The important thing to remember is that a suspension is a type of chord progression or harmonic sequence, not a type of chord or rhythm.

JSC1 - Yeah, PG is the picking man!!!! Any chance you could send me those tough off-icking licks?

ovation - Oh yeah, I remember now! I don't know whether it'll be worth while doing that though, since I don't have a DVD player... lol

Rock on Neil

MY IUMA

Well howdy neighbourrs! How y'all diddlin'? I trust you all had a rather spiffing Christmas and New Year and all that stuff. I'm back in Guildford now, where my internet access is (I went home to Hastings for the holidays) and I've been recording a few new tunes. They'll be up on my site really soon so I'll let you know the exact date. Anyways, rock on!

Clarky - Grolsch/1664/Stella? A man after my own heart! And there's nothing worse than soggy chips and nothing makes them soggier than damn gravy! Heaps of salt and some HP sauce, coz after all a HP chip is a happy chip! PhrygDom's right about one thing though - there definitely is no r in ask, bath, glass, etc... ! How's the album/s coming along (both yours and DC's)??? Jam (not with chips - you know what I mean... lol)???

Later all, Neil MY IUMA - keep coming back. Please.......

Clarky - A few weeks time for sure!!!! You heard of "Pain Of Salvation"? They're like Sweden's heavier version of Dream Theater. I reckon you'd be into 'em...

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TODAY!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M 19 - MY LAST TEENAGE YEAR; I MUST USE IT WISELY....

Clarky - I'd say there are a couple of rules, like your instrument has to be in some kind of tuning and the song has to have a beginning, middle and end. Facetious (sp?) as ever...

StuNotBoo - You thought I was older than 19? Was that a silly unoriginal Yoda joke or did you actually think I was older than 19? lol.... I'm not really Yoda y'know - it's just a nickname!!!

I'm so hungover from my birthday celebrations... I was working on monday night so I went out last night instead. I don't actually remember going home again!

New tunes on my IUMA real soon!!!!!!!!

Oh, man - does anyone think they understand women? My girlfriend (or maybe that should be ex...) has just decided that she'd like to be "on a break" and that it's "probably" only temporary. What might I have done to deserve such a thing? We've been together for over two years and are really close and blah blah blah, so I was really stunned... And in the weird but wondeful world of the opposite sex, does the word "probably" usually swing more towards the postive or the negative? I'm really confused. I don't know whether to just sit and wait or to be really misrable and hurt, but eventually get over it and maybe go and find myself another young lady...

On a lighter note, I'm going to see The Used tonight. Anybody else like them? Anybody else even heard of them? They're fucking awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, man; The Used were awesome friday night!!!!! They're such a good band and their guitar player can really play, which makes a real change from a lot of these guys around in todays music scene. And at the end of the gig, just to make it that bit better, they played Pantera's "Fucking Hostile" over the PA!!! Awesome...

Clarky - Jam sounds good man!!!!!!! By the way, I thought flutes were in C? Maybe you can get Bb ones...

The Bob - A key is literally just the origin of the piece of music, that is the "note pool" out of which come all the harmonies, melodies, chords, etc. For example, in the key of G major, you have the notes G, A, B, C, D, E, and F# to choose from. This means that all your chords and melodies and stuff should, strictly speaking, use these notes. The confusing part is, you can do whatever the hell you like in terms of note choice when you compose, because you're really just making it up. Listen to Pat Metheny - that guy never stays in the same key for longer than about four bars!!! In terms of changing keys, there are a number of options - you could do the cheesy boy band thing of modulating (changing key) up a tone, for example from G major to A major, for an extra powerful final chorus. This is very common in ballads. You'd do this by having some sort of chord as a "pivot" chord. What I usually do in this situation is use a chord where the note between the two tonics is the third. So, for the above example, I'd use an E major chord. But, again, it's ultimately up to you...

In terms of "practise all these in all twelve keys" goes, this simply means that you should practise everything everywhere. You don't just practise the first shape of A pentatonic minor, do you? No - you practise all five shapes of it. But you also practise all five shapes of all twelve pentatonic minors and all twelve pentatonic majors (even though they're technically he saem thing, but I digress...). Or you should...

I hope this helps you out a bit. If you need to know anything else just post again, or e-mail me or something. :)

Oh man, I just blew a third of my entire student loan on a nice brand spanking new guitar!!! It's an Ibanez SA360-EX. Deep purple (almost black) woodstain over a flamed maple cap (the headstock matches), Duncan Designed pickups (HSS), SAT-30 bridge, 22 of those really tiny frets which I like, no fret inlays, a mother-of-pearl binding around the curvy, S-shaped body, set neck, brushed chrome hardware. No idea of woods coz the whole thing's stained black and I can't find it in the new Ibanez catalog. It's a real sexy beast of a guitar - sounds great, feels great, and looks better than Britney. Incidentally, the latest Ibanez catalog has a picture of a JS1000WH in it, suggesting that it's still available...

The Local Person - I'm a student bum. I used to work in a pub (the Wetherspoons in Guildford) to fund my ACM course, but I left coz the manager's a dick. It worked out okay though, coz now I get even more time to do some proper practice... Before moving here I worked in my local Safeway, and then, as you now, I was an Ice Cream Man over the summer. If you're coming to Surrey Uni next year then you might bump into me in Guildford - I'm staying on to do the BA (Hons) at the ACM!!!!!! That'll be cool!!!!!!! I think Mr. Nick's coming to ACM in September too - it'll be like a T2J gathering...

Well, I'm off to play my new axe...

Local Dude - Yeah, man; that sounds like a pretty cool course... Good luck!

Mr Nick - Well, I don't work for the admissions team at the Academy, nor do I really now the criteria they're looking for. But I have heard some of the other players, so on those grounds I'd be very surprised if you don't get onto the higher course with that tape. Provided you nailed it all...

JSC1 - Thanks for your feedback, man. I'm trying to get a couple more pieces on that site as my playing has imroved a ridiculous amount since "Crimson", but the college aren't particularly keen on me uploading files through their systems... "Let's Hear it for A Minor" was just a dick-around, first take improv thing. No set pieces that were intended to capture your ear - more of a showcase of my ability (or lack thereof...?). Stay tuned for more pieces though! Your new guitar sounds ace by the way!

Stu Not Boo - Yeah, thanks! I'm gonna take a few more pictures for my IUMA soon, one of which will probably include my "armoury", as it were... lol... I'll let you know if you like.

Clarky - It is gorgeous, but don't be jealous - your custom 7-string will probably blow it away... Any news on that beast?

I GOT FINCH TICKETS!!!!!!!!!!

NEIL'S NEWS IN BRIEF: Bought Paul Gilbert's new album, "Burning Organ" - kicks a lot of ass. Went home (back to Hastings) for a weekend and some girl came up to me and asked "aren't you Neil Morgan" to which I replied "Yes". She wanted my autograph! Some people are weird - I haven't done a gig since October!!!! And the main headline: I got back with my girlfriend!!!!!!!!!! Seratonin levels increased 1000%...

Clarky - Wasn't it David St. Hubbins that said "it's a fine line between clever and stupid"?

Jelly Man/Local Dude - Rearding that symphony, (can't remeber whether you said it was Schubert or Stravinsky...) the clue is in the title. I reckon he knew what he was talking about, so calling it "Symphony #5 in D Major" suggests to me that's it's in D Major, with the mixolydian modality. Haven't heard it though... Also, if you do want me to record some guitar parts for you then I'd be more than happy to do it.

I finally learned Erotomania. That tune's a bitch...

Neil

Clarky - Well, I could probably quote the entire script to that film!!!!!!!! But I suppose that's not something I should admit to...

r6rocker - Thanks man! I'm pretty glad. Trouble is, it was just in time for Valentine's day. Expensive.

matt king - Are you at Berklee now? How's that going? Or am I way ahead of proceedings here...?

Sorry for the double post but this is of particular importance: I need to know if anybody here lives in or near Los Angeles. I've been offered the once in a lifetime opportunity to go and study at LAMA for three months this summer at an exceptionally good price. However, this price doesn't include accomodation as I'd have to find my own. My question is this: how would I go about looking for accomodation in LA whilst living in England, and how much would I have to be prepared to pay for the duration of my course? Obviously I'm pretty excited by this opportunity, and I need to find out really soon I can start getting stuff sorted out. ANY help would be greatly appreciated; by e-mail or whatever.

Thanks

Neil

Austin - Thanks man. That helped a lot; I only had a glance but I know roughly what sorta price range I'm looking at now...

Matt King - Thanks!!!! I really wanna hear your new tunes but the college HATE when people download files through their systems!!!! Nevermind. I've heard your old stuff though and I know you can REALLY play...

Matt King - Way to go with the endorsement, man!!!! That'll go a really long way to getting you noticed. Don't expect to hear from the record guys within a week - they get so many things like demos sent through every day that they don't listen to most of them coz there's just too damn many!!!!. Keep pestering them though - don't just try once. Also, do you have a manager? If you have, they'll be more likely to listen to your stuff. A lot of companies refuse to listen to unsolicited demos; ie. demos that haven't come from a professional source like a manager. But I'll agree with everyone else though - you got heaps of talent. Just stick at it and SOMETHING will definitely happen eventually. I have to add that I'm really annoyed that you can play like that at 19. That's the same age as me and I'm not nearly as good as you...

Clarky - A few weeks would be cool. I'll bring my new guitar!!!!!!

Attention all UK guys and gals - Frank Gambale is playing at Ronnie Scotts in Soho all of next week. Costs about 15 quid but should be worth it - he really is quite good...

Jelly Man - Wow, thanks...

Matt King - I just checked out the CoE site - really professionally done! I couldn't get to the forum though...

Oh, man; the battery in my metronome just ran out! I'm staying at my gilrfriend's Uni dorm this weekend (Valentine's and all that...) and she's at work today so after my monstrous internet session earlier I decided I'd commit to some proper, disciplined practice. Seeing as I'm not allowed out of the dorm without her coz I'm not a UKC student, I thought I'd take the opportunity. Trouble is, the residents of the room next door appear to like playing really shit music like Nelly really really loud. How rude?! Very offputting. I'm just giving my poor fingers a rest for a bit now so I though I'd inflict some Black Label Society on them! Ha - I'll show those guys! While we're on the subject (roughly...), isn't it funny how girls like to try and make you do stuff for them "coz it's valentine's day", as if they don't ask you to wait on them hand and foot on any other day of the damn year? Oh well - as long as I get laid I don't really mind!!!!! lol

Jelly Man - Well you have to at least drink on your 18th - it's an unwritten law that must be adhered to on pain of death!!!!!!

Well, the BLS album has now finished. Let's see how they like Dream Theater!?

Matt King - You are more than welcome. I want a cut of your first million though!!!! lol

Darren - Nice site; good fun. Isn't the CAGED system brilliant? Easily the most useful thing I ever learned so far...

Greg - Awake. I figured since they're into shite they might hate The Mirror, which is fine by me coz I love that track - metric modulation is awesome. It also gives me a chance to play along with Erotomania...

My hands are tingling, my pick's wrecked, my strings are black and sticky and the battery in my metronome is dead - time to stop practicing I think. For today, anyway...

Mr. Nick - Sure, it's big enough; but look at the location!!!! lol... You not sent off your audition tape yet? I'd start hurrying it along now if I were you. But I guess I'm not.

Darren - I liked the bunker one and the one where Chewy is shagging Princess Leigha (sp?)!!!!!!!!! And I always thought Yoda was a stoner...

Matt King - The sunburst is by far the sexiest. It just screams "Play me, bitch! Play me hard!" lol lol.....

Greg - Ditto on the DT album. Although Metropolis Pt. 2 and Falling Into Infintiy come very close...

Went out for a nice Valentine's meal last night at an Italian restaurant (mmmmmm) with my girlie and got totally stuffed. There was a party of girls across the room all dressed up as nurses. None of them came close to being nearly as gorgeous as Stacey but hey - they were dressed as nurses!!! lol

Darren - Yeah, I know Anderton's. IMHO it's not all it's cracked up to be. Nice selection of acoustics, Gibsons, PRS, and Fenders but not a great deal else. I did get a ridiculous deal on my new guitar there, but deals like that seem quite elusive. I'm told the drums/percussion department is good though...

Clarky - Yeah, get on it man! It would indeed seem that me and my preferred member of the fairer sex are back on track. Nice.

Artanis - I really don't get why people boost the bass so much that you can't hear any other frequencies;it just sounds like a mess. There's a monthly rock night at one of the clubs here in Guildford called The Loft and you can tell they don't usually play that genre by the way their system is EQ'ed - all bass and low-mid, no highs. Works well for Trance and stuff, but the minute a Rage Against The Machine track is put through it starts to sound like a muddy ball of mush!!!!!!!

Death Cube K - Thanks man! There's more tunes coming soon - promise!

Jelly Man - I can't find 'em anywhere!!! It pisses me off!!! Will I be able to order them or is it a download only situation? I hate downloading; it takes years... By the way, your lyrics are hilarious! In fact, the whole site is pretty damn funny!

Jelly Man - LMAO man! You've got a couple of screws loose I think... lol... Bach's Toccata in D Minor doesn't sound like a mess. Oh, wait, actually it does when it gets to the diminished arpeggios. And it's even worse when I play it. Here's a breakdown of my week at ACM:

Monday 11:00 - 13:00: Pre-Production. We sit in a really cold dingy room and learn the song that we've gotta play in Live Performance Workshop on Friday. We hear a recording of the song and we get given chord charts and a score for all the lead lines (if there are any). Not my favourite lecture...

Tuesday 11:00 - 13:00: Sight Reading and Aural Perception. We learn to sight read and percieve with our auricles. At the moment we're on crazy atonal stuff like a whole load of Pat Metheny tunes. Occasionally we'll get some contrapuntal stuff, usually some Bach concertos and the like. And we have to recognise compound chromatic intervals. Occasionally Eric Roche (the lecturer) goes mad and starts talking about sine waves and stuff, which is fascinating but very intense for that time of day...

Wednesday 11:00 - 13:00: Technical Development. This is cool. We gather in the Fender room and learn learn new scales, run through a whole load of exercises, warm ups, chords, etc. and Guthrie Govan is my lecturer - enough said.

13:15 - 15:15: Post Production. No one that I've spoken to that's on my course really understands the point of this one. It's supposed to be all about how to get gigs and stuff, but it's not. I don't actually know what it is about. We all sit around feeling our brain cells dying as we loose the mountain of motivation to practice we've just received form TD. The room's nice though...

Thursday 11:00 - 13:00: Theory and Applied Harmony. They had to start basic coz some gifted players like to overlook theory, so last term it was like "this is a stave" (walkman time... lol). It's got a lot cooler now though. We're doing about pentatonic and arpeggio susbstitution, harmonising the minor scales in sevenths, modal theory, etc. Pretty cool. It's in that really cold room again though....

13:15 - 15:15: Business Studies. Essential, but mind-numbingly boring. The lecturer owns Menace Management and he'll bring in some demos that he's been sent and at the end of the lecture we get to criticise them. Oooooh, what fun...

Friday 11:00 - 13:00: Session Styles. Guthrie for this one two. It's kinda like the application of the stuff we learn in TD, and you kinda concentrate on one advanced technique for the entire two hours. Last week was sweep picking, the week before was alternate picking, before that it was legato, I don't remeber before that, but next week I think is tapping. Metal.

15:30 - 17:30: Live Performance Workshop. This is a really light hearted, fun lecture to end the week with. Last week we did Alien Ant Farm's version of "Smooth Criminal", next week is "Californication" (d'oh!), but the last song of this term is Queen's classic "I Want It All" which should be awesome. This is one of the only times when the guitar players, bass players, drummers and vocalists all get together.

So there's no real recording sessions but the studio is bookable for free. The reason there aren't anymore downloads on my IUMA is that I can't play the friggin' guitar. I've got three songs written with the bass, drums, and rhythm guitar parts recorded, but every time I do a take for the lead I screw up. Please be patient...