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Metal For Life Blog

~ The official blog of Metal Mike. I'm a heavy metal musician most commonly known as a long standing guitarist to Judas Priest frontman, Rob Halford. I'm a highly sought after heavy metal guitar and music coach. I am also a solo artist, an entrepreneur, a business owner, an avid car nut and a closet extrovert. I believe Heavy Metal should be lived loud & proud and it has been a highly motivating source in my life. I'm here to share my thoughts, pass on lessons learned and sometimes chew on big subjects. If you enjoy the content of Metal For Life, I only ask you to share my blog with one more person. Thank you & welcome.

Metal For Life Blog

Monthly Archives: January 2019

Slow To Smooth, Smooth = Fast

28 Monday Jan 2019

Posted by Metal Mike in Uncategorized

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Last week I had a chance to talk with a pro bastketball player who also teaches and mentors young students. We discussed how when we both (me as a guitar coach) show someone something new, the students often begin to play or simluate what we are teaching them BEFORE we are done showing them what it is that we want them to do. Apparently, this is not exclusive to guitar players 🙂

So, we laughed about that because when you are on the other side of the table – it’s true.

He then told me something about mastering new techniques that he sticks by:

SLOW To SMOOTH, SMOOTH = FAST

With guitar playing, this goes something like this. When learning, we often want to play anything new fairly up to speed and then we slowly adjust something if a part of the riff, lick does not sound good or clean. This is a LONG way to getting something to sound right because we are “feeling out” what is wrong – we’re guessing. With enough time in and with enough guesses will you clean up your riff, lick or whatever? Probably yes! But it takes a loooong time and we don’t have that much time now versus when we were 15.

Even if you are 15 and are reading this – start doing it the right way!

The way to get anything fast is to play is SLOW until you can play it at a slow tempo SMOOTH. The trick is that once you are able to play anything new SLOW & SMOOTH – the speed finds YOU. In other words, you don’t have to work hasrd on getting faster. It’s amost is if, if you take the time to put in the work to learn something slow … speed shows up BECAUSE you no longer have any “ifs”, “not sures”, or “gray areas” that internally (in your mind) stop you from beinfg (or feeling) free to play faster or fast.

One of the worst things to hear is someone not get the intricacies of a lick or riff down and hear him play it lightning fast. Uh, no thanks.

Lessons, studying – yes, we all learn and make mistakes, make adjustments. It’s all good. But, I’m talking about the music store heroes playing stuff they’re not ready for.

So, I want you to think about the above and really stop yourself if you feel you’re not following the above advice. I’m confident is saying that because I’m 100% certain that it works.

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Goldmember … Or, Not

14 Monday Jan 2019

Posted by Metal Mike in Gear & Reviews, Guitar & Music

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Today, I want to mention a cool thing about cables.

As you are aware, many cable manufacturers like to promote the selling point that their cables have gold tips and therefore probably charge a little more because of it.

Generally, gold is an awesome idea for audio connectors. Gold is a very soft material and works really well in audio and studio environment. Because it is soft, in its own way, it forms to the surface it is in contact with. In a studio plug this is great as you get a great surface contaction and signal flow. Gold is also a good conductor and does not oxidize.

Copper or silver are excellent conductors in their own right and perhaps cheaper, but they oxidize which is not favorable in connections.

The gold idea works super well in areas where cables are plugged in and left there for a long time – studio patches, audio and guitar patch cables.

However, regular guitar cables that get plugged in and out all the time sometimes do not always benefit from the gold tips because over time the gold wears off and you have what is usually underneath – tin. Tin tends to oxidize and thus can affect your sound.

I’d say, this is pretty important is high end pro situations. If you do have a choice of getting a gold tip coated guitar cables or ones that have a high quality “regular” jack – I would not be afraid of going the more “plain’ route with a high quality jack.

It also makes a difference who makes the cables. I have some quality guitar cables with the gold tips and they have been holding up very well.

It’s your money, your choice. In pedal board situations where guitar cables are often left plugged in, I think having gold tips is a pretty good idea.

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