Monday 30 May 2016

Wong Fei Hung - Once Upon A Time in China Theme Song Instrumental (Acous...


Movie History

'Once Upon A Time In China' starring Jet Li is an iconic kung fu classic movie from 1991. Directed by the legendary Tsui Hark the film centres around the Chinese folk hero come martial artist and physician Wong Fei Hung. 

The film features an amazing opening sequence filmed on a beach in the Foshan region of China showcasing a group of martial artists performing kung fu drills on the beach led by Master Wong Fei Hung. During this passage the theme music that is often heard throughout all of the 'Once Upon A Time In China' films is playing. The song title has been translated as 'A Man With Determination' or 'A Man Acting With Courage' and was written by James Wong and sung by George Lam.

My History:

I was about 18 or 19 years old when I first heard this song and it had an immediate and long-lasting effect on me. I had always promised myself that I would transcribe it as a solo guitar piece - 20+ years later and here's the transcription! Better really really late than never I guess!

The video that you see here was filmed in Bali in early 2015 and it was my second video ever uploaded to YouTube, six years after my first upload! I spent about a week transcribing this as it was more difficult than I first thought. Although the melody is easy to hear there are a lot of subtle instruments in the orchestra that lend substantial harmonic content to the song. Capturing the nuances and little motifs of those instruments took quite some time. In all honesty the tabs contain a revised transcription that I did several months after this video was done. I realised that I had been lax in a couple of passages so although the tabs are extremely accurate and faithful to the original, the version in this video isn't quite as accurate. Don't worry though just combine the tabs and notation with my three tutorial videos for this masterpiece and you'll be fine.

Performance Notes:

My transcription is a combination of the main melody and the instruments that are holding down various prominent lines in the accompaniment - including the drums at the very beginning. I raised the original key from Bbm to Bm so that it would be easier for a guitarist to play. Tuning down 1/2 step (to Eb) and keeping my fingerings will allow you to play along with the track perfectly if you so desire.

Here are links to all three tutorials that teach you how to play my transcription of the Wong Fei Hung theme.

Tutorial 1
Tutorial 2
Tutorial 3

My full transcription including tablature and notation is available for free to my Youtube subscribers. So, if you wish to have a copy just subscribe to my channel and leave a comment or send me a message with your email address and I will happily send you my transcription. Be sure to watch my tutorials for the song and have the transcription beside you so that you can learn this wonderful song quickly and easily.

Let your fingers fly!

Friday 27 May 2016

Francisco Tarrega: Adelita Lagrima Romanza Medley For Spanish Guitar By ...

Sunday 15 May 2016

Fractal Audio AX8: 12 Ways To Adjust Amp Gain

Fractal Audio AX8: Effects Master List


23 Effects And That Doesn't Include the Amps & Cabs!!!


The AX8 has a staggering number of effects 23 to be exact and that doesn't include the inbuilt noise gate at the beginning of the In 1 signal chain. It also doesn't include the different pedals that have been emulated within most of the effects blocks. 

The Mighty Breakdown!

Here is a list of all of them including the number of different pedals/effect types within each effect:

Chorus - 13 types from 4-Voice Analog to Warm Stero
Compressor - 4 types from Dynamics to Studio Comp
Delay - 18 types from 2290w/Mod to Vintage Digital
Drive - 34 typs from BB Pre to Zen Master
Enhancer - 2 types Classic and Modern
Filter - As is
Flanger - 8 types from Analog Mono to Zero Flanger
Formant - As is
FX Loop - As is
Gate/Expander - As is
Graphic EQ - 11 types from 3 Band Passive to 10 Band Var Q
Looper - As is
Multi-Delay - 10 types from Band Delay to Ten-Tap Dly
Parametric EQ - As is
Phaser - 8 types from Barberpole to Stereo 8-Stage
Pitch - 9 types from Ad Whammy to Octave Div
Reverb - 43 different types arranged into 7 groups or types of reverb

  1. Spring
  2. Room
  3. Chamber
  4. Hall
  5. Plate
  6. Studio
  7. Tunnel
Ring Modulator - As is
Rotary - As is
Synth - As is
Tremelo/Panner - 2 types Tremel and Panner
Volume/Pan - 2 types Volume and Pan
Wahwah - 8 types from Clyde to Vx846

It isn't hard to see that there are several lifetime's worth of pedals here. If you add to this all of the parameters, routing options, output mixer, input gate, amps, cabinets and so on you will find that there isn't much that can't be achieved with this brilliant pedal. I have compiled a series of tutorials for the AX8 and I am adding to it each week.


I actually have a huge number of tutorials on the AX8 now. So be sure to check out my channel and subscribe if you need to keep up-to-date with all that is happening in the Fractal Audio AX8 world. I also have some pretty cool guitar tutorials with free tabs on my channel too!

Saturday 14 May 2016

Fractal Audio AX8: Amp/Cabinet/Effects Factory Lists (2016)


Fractal Audio AX8


The Fractal Audio AX8 has a truly mind-numbing number of amps, cabinets, and effects. I ought to know as I own one and use it 6 nights/week on tour! Let's take a look at the numbers:

Amps:

Total: 249 

(1 new amp based on Metallica's amp has just been added: USA MKII C++ (June 16, 2016))

The sheer number and variety of amps that are inside this little box of joy is difficult to comprehend. From the rare and elusive Dumbles, to the ubiquitous Vox, Marshalls, and Mesa Boogies of legend are all represented here in IR captured glory. I have several tutorials on YouTube that explain the amp block parameters and how to adjust them. Here's the link:

Cabinets:

Total: 179

Containing 179 different cab IRs at Normal, Hi-Res and Ultra captures with stereo configurations possible there is little that cannot be emulated. Although not as complex as the Axe Fx units the sonic possibilities in the AX8 and the vast number of 3rd party cabinet IR developers' products that are available to download into the AX8 make this one of the greatest features of the AX8. Here is my tutorial that teaches you how to adjust all of the cabinet parameters:


Effects:

The AX8 has a staggering number of effects 23 to be exact and that doesn't include the inbuilt noise gate at the beginning of the In 1 signal chain. It also doesn't include the different pedals that have been emulated within most of the effects blocks. 

Even though it's a heap of work I'm going to write them out here:

Chorus
Compressor
Delay
Drive
Enhancer
Filter
Flanger
Formant
FX Loop
Gate/Expander
Graphic EQ
Looper 
Multi-Delay
Parametric EQ
Phaser
Pitch
Reverb
Ring Modulator
Rotary
Synth
Tremelo/Panner
Volume/Pan
Wahwah

For example the drive block/effect has 34 different pedals inside! That's right - 34 folks. I took some time out and made a tutorial that explains each of the 34 drive pedals. The tutorial teaches you about the drive parameters and the history of the pedals with a brief insight as to their origins and what made them unique when they were first made. Here's the link:


I actually have a huge number of tutorials on the AX8 now. So be sure to check out my channel and subscribe if you need to keep up-to-date with all that is happening in the Fractal Audio AX8 world. I also have some pretty cool guitar tutorials with free tabs on my channel too!







































Guitar Lesson: 3 Tips To Cover Your Mistakes On Guitar Like a Boss!

Tuesday 10 May 2016

The Walking Dead Theme - Metal Classical Shred: Ibanez/Takamine + Fracta...


Zombies and Guitars!


If ever there was a great combination it has to be scary guitar music and scary zombies. Seeing as I like both there was no choice but to arrange the theme music from the hit TV series 'The Walking Dead' for guitar.

I used 2 of my trusty touring guitars to record this track. Firstly I laid down a couple of rhythm tracks using my classical Takamine TH5C.  I added an additional layer with a single track of natural and artificial harmonics. The guitar was recorded dry directly into the Focusrite 212 and some mild compression, delay, and reverb was added in post. memory I used the following tuning -

Tuning:

6 - C
5 - G
4 - C
3 - G 
2 - B
1 - E

The other guitar was my Ibanez RG8527Z in standard 7 string tuning. I used 3 tracks for the heavy harmonised guitars with a little bit of panning left and right to spread the guitars out in the field but not as far as the classical guitar. I prefer electric guitars to be closer to the centre of the mix.

Solo Breakdown:

The solo that kicks in at 1:23 uses several different scales - C minor, C melodic minor, C harmonic minor and C Hungarian minor. Technically speaking I use a few things like ghost bends (pre-bends), whammy bar vibrato and dips. I use aggressive picking in sections just to emphasise several bends and near the end I do a quick ascending run to build excitement before ending with a fat bend. All electric guitar effects were provided by the Fractal Audio AX8 plugged directly into the front of the Focusrite 212. No post-processing was done on any of the heavy tracks.

I hope you enjoyed it. I had a real blast working this out, arranging it, and then recording it and making a video. It was a lot of work but also a ton of fun.

Let your fingers fly!












Saturday 7 May 2016

Kung Fu Panda Theme - Oogway Ascends Acoustic/Classical Guitar Theme


This is definitely one of the most beautiful OST (Original Soundtrack) songs that you are ever likely to hear. Hans Zimmerman brings his composition genius to the fore with this stunning orchestral work for the movie "Kung Fu Panda" released in 2008 by Dreamworks. 

This song is heard when Oogway is explaining the illusion of control to Master Shifu near the old peach tree.  Although it is written for full orchestra and what sounds like an erhu it sits extremely well on the guitar. Surprisingly enough it is in a wonderful key for guitar - D minor and it happens to be relatively easy. It took me an afternoon to figure it out and several months to finally get around to subscribing it. I felt ongoing guilt because I had promised my YouTube subscribers that they'd receive tabs/notation if they subscribed...8 months later...and I'd finally transcribed it.

This transcription has proven to be one of my most popular YouTube videos so in March of 2016 I did my first ever YouTube tutorial showing people how to play it the way that I play it. Here is the link to that tutorial:


I hope you enjoy listening to my transcription and if you happen to be a guitar player or know someone that plays the guitar that would like to play this song please send them to the video.

My full transcription including tablature and notation is available for free to my Youtube subscribers. So, if you wish to have a copy just subscribe to my channel and leave a comment or send me a message with your email address and I will happily send you my transcription. Be sure to watch my tutorials for the song and have the transcription beside you so that you can learn this wonderful song quickly and easily.

Let your fingers fly!

Friday 6 May 2016

Fractal Audio AX8: 3 Most Versatile Factory Presets


The AX8 is complicated! If you want to avoid the complexities of it and just plug the beast in and play than this is the video you must watch. I've handpicked 3 mighty presets that will cover almost every style of playing imaginable. 

As many of my readers will know I play covers for a living. That entails me copying a vast array of sounds from guitarists down through the ages. What I have found in my years of playing is that you can get away with a few basic sounds or presets with your guitar pedals and you'll be able to cover 95% of whatever you hear in the Top 40 song lists from the past 60 years. 

Guitarists will understand how many hours, weeks, if not years it can take to emulate the sounds of your favourite guitarists. Tone is an elusive beast that can be difficult if not impossible to capture. So, what we are often left with is a resigned sigh and a feeling that 'this will just have to do'. I truly believe that the AX8 is the most powerful and useful floor-based unit in existence today. Other units may have more features but this is about live playing and real-world useful applications at a gig and for me the AX8 edges out the competition. That being said it is not a simple piece of gear - especially if you start digging deeper into the blocks, routing options, series and parallel chains and so on. Sometimes all of this is just too much and you just want to listen to it and try to gig with is asap! This is where my video comes into play. I spent quite some time running through every preset. Some were extremely close and only narrowly missed the selection only because my ear preferred that sound at that particular time. Other guitarists may disagree with my choices and that's to be expected. Tone is in the ear of the beholder. 

For those of you that don't know the Fractal AX8 is the floor-based version of the Fractal Audio AX FX II. Whilst not as powerful it's rack-mounted 'big brother' the AX8 still packs a mighty wallop and posses most of the processing power of the rack units without the weight and the need for a pedal board controller. I'm going to include a link here to the Fractal Audio Systems website:


I have created an entire series of tutorials for the Fractal Audio AX8 pedal. Here is the link to the YouTube playlist:





















Wednesday 4 May 2016

Joshua Rogers "LIVE" JTC 'Hendrix' May 2016 Jam Track Central Ibanez J-C...


Jam Track Central create backing tracks once a month for guitarists to jam over. All they ask is that you video your jam and then post it to YouTube and then post that link on the JTC Facebook page. Doing this not only helps you to improve your chops but it also exposes you to the multitude of great players that share their 'jams' on the page too. 


The April 2016 jam is my second jam that I have contributed to the group. I had fun recording and I used my iPhone 6 to capture the sound and video live at my gig at the Hilton Shenzhen Shekou Nanhai hotels' Eden Garden Rooftop Bar. The guitar I'm using is my trusty Ibanez RG8527 seven string that I purchased in February 2016 from the second hand department at Ishibashi Music in Tokyo, Japan. Here's my review of the guitar:

Ibanez RG8527Z Review

Here is a link to Ishibashi Music in Japan (fear not as they have English speaking staff!)

Ishibashi Music Japan

If you get enough likes or if your jam is considered to be one of the most awesome then it will be combined with a couple of other jammers' jams and posted on the official JTC YouTube channel. 

Have fun checking out the jams and don't forget to head to the Facebook page and join if you want to be part of this amazing group of guitarists.


Let your fingers fly!

Monday 2 May 2016

UP Theme Song "Married Life": Acoustic/ClassicalGuitar Tutorial#3 "Harmo...



UP Movie Theme - "Married Life" by Michael Giacchino is such a beautiful yet haunting piece of music. Giacchino somehow perfectly captures the exuberance of youth, the joy of a loving relationship, goals realised and unrealised, age, and finally death, all within a single piece of music only several minutes long.

I cannot take any credit for this transcription as I learned this transcription from Kevin Nash's YouTube video. Here's the link:


I can however take credit for being one of the few (if not the only) people to have made an accurate transcription of his work into both notation and tablature. A few tablature examples were floating around but I found them to be extremely difficult to follow and often riddled with mistakes. I hope that my transcription is accurate to 99.9%.  This is the third of three tutorials for the theme song.

Here are links to the other 2 tutorials:



My full transcription including tablature and notation is available for free to my Youtube subscribers. So, if you wish to have a copy just subscribe to my channel and leave a comment or send me a message with your email address and I will happily send you my transcription. Be sure to watch my tutorials for the song and have the transcription beside you so that you can learn this wonderful song quickly and easily.

Let your fingers fly!

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