Pyrokinesis Part 1 (Guitar Lesson)
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Pyrokinesis Part 1
Taught by Tony MacAlpine in Tony MacAlpine Master Course seriesLength: 3:01Difficulty: 3.0 of 5
Video Subtitles / Captions
Supplemental Learning Material
Tony MacAlpine Master Course
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsDig into the style and technique of one of the most accomplished and creative guitarists of his era! Ever a true clinician, Tony MacAlpine breaks down over 30 song passages from his extensive catalogue while offering pointed instruction on melodic development, composition, soloing, picking and legato techniques and more!
Lesson 1
Series Introduction
Get a taste of what to expect from Tony's Master Course.
Length: 3:39 Difficulty: 0.0 FREELesson 2
Interview
Sit back and relax before the mayhem begins! Tony talks about his career and music, and offers some solid advice for the aspiring musician in us all.
Length: 22:46 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
The Taker
Dive head first into Tony’s style with some signature string-skipping action. Tony’s string skipping technique is unmistakably recognizable and this short passage is a great place to start when working...
Length: 3:03 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Concrete Gardens Rhythm
The driving, staccato rhythm found in Concrete Gardens will make you feel like a superhero. Tony keeps things efficient with alternate picking, and crisp with the use of palm muting.
Length: 2:59 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Concrete Gardens Solo
Using a sequential idea repeated on different sets of strings, Tony shares another idea that requires not only some strategic picking, but also some key hammer-ons, in order to make it flow correctly.
Length: 2:52 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Concrete Gardens Clean
While the drums and rhythm guitar are driving like a freight train, Tony throws this clean, chorus laden tone over the top, creating a rich texture that he likes to refer to as “icing on the cake.”...
Length: 2:14 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Exhibitionist Blvd
This motif is sure to make your head spin. It goes up as it goes down, is highly syncopated, and is utilizing the dirty, low 7-string sound.
Length: 2:39 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Exhibitionist Blvd Chorus
Get ready to challenge both your brain and your fingers. This line requires quickly switching between finger patterns while maintaining a consistent picking pattern.
Length: 4:53 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Square Circles
Tony has a way of using rhythm and repetition along with complex harmony structures to create things that stick in your ears. There are some seriously weird harmonic ideas going on in this melody. In an...
Length: 3:17 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Square Circles - Opening Rhythm
Let’s rewind a bit and check out the opening rhythm to this fascinating piece. Combining multiple techniques, including muting and hammer-on’s, this line feeds off of and accentuates the bass and drum...
Length: 2:26 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Sierra Morena
When applying altered tonalities, you’re intentionally trying change what the normal flow of the music would be. In essence, you’re in one tonal space, but you’re borrowing notes from where the song...
Length: 3:09 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Dream Mechanism Part 1
Break away from terrifying guitar ideas in this segment with a simple, catchy melody that outlines the strongest notes in a basic chord progression. Tony plays a good ‘road-trip type’ groove with it,...
Length: 2:57 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Dream Mechanism Part 2
Tony first outlines the chord progression and explains how it inspired the solo he plays over a passage from his popular song “Dream Mechanism.” He drives home the point that, for him, some of the...
Length: 2:31 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Pyrokinesis Part 1
Upon first glance, this line looks and sounds like a raking or sweeping idea. Closer examination by Tony reveals that it can be more fluidly done with legato playing. These arpeggios are what tie the broader...
Length: 3:01 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Pyrokinesis Part 2
There’s a lot to unpack in this flurry of notes. You’ll be employing three-note-per-string sequencing, precision alternate picking and rapid position shifts. The position shifts actually create an...
Length: 2:14 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Pyrokinesis Part 3
You’ll get to stay in position, play in harmonic minor and utilize some punchy triplet ideas within an otherwise slower sequence. The rhythmic variance is challenging from a picking perspective and it...
Length: 2:36 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Poison Cookies Part 1
Tony breaks down a run from his song “Poison Cookies” that has garnered many questions since he introduced it on his album Concrete Gardens. It goes by so fast live and on the record, that it appears...
Length: 2:36 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Poison Cookies Part 2
Continuing with his glimpse into the song “Poison Cookies,” Tony looks at the build up to the solo section as an example of repeating rhythmic motifs that move from chord to chord over a progression....
Length: 2:53 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Poison Cookies Part 3
Tony examines the chorus outro into the run from his song “Poison Cookies.” When this passage is played live, it is played with multiple guitar players. Tony discusses the keys to locking in with other...
Length: 2:55 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Poison Cookies Rhythm
This catchy line is sure to have you coming back for more. Built off of the open B string, the straightforward rhythm and melodic movement just feel good under your fingers. The string skipping and speed...
Length: 2:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Confessions of a Medieval Monument
With lines like this, many guitar players default to sweep picking. Tony asserts that in this case, these arpeggios really need to be approached with alternate picking in order to get the proper note separation....
Length: 3:05 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Epic Part 1
Get a crash course in melodic development using what Tony calls a “mini ballad” or a song within a song. The idea is that you create a melodic phrase that stands apart from the rest of the song and...
Length: 3:50 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Epic Part 2
Whole tone scales are notoriously difficult to apply. Tony shares a great example of incorporating this scale in his tune “Epic” by emphasising other, more melodic notes not included in the whole tone...
Length: 1:58 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Epic Rhythm
The title of this track says it all. The long ringing tones of this rhythmic line are nothing short of epic. While this piece is relatively easy, some of the muting could present a challenge. The harmonies...
Length: 3:20 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Epic Clean
Tony uses neighbor tones in this lick to create a smooth, vocal-like line.
Length: 3:36 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Napolean's Puppet Part 1
Tony teaches portions of the rhythm section from Napolean's Puppet.
Length: 2:28 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Napolean's Puppet Part 2
Taking parts from Napolean's Puppet, Tony teaches a line that utilizes the whammy bar.
Length: 3:29 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Napolean's Puppet Part 3
Tony teaches a legato line taken from Napolean's Puppet.
Length: 2:07 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Napolean's Puppet Part 4
Tony teaches part four from Napolean's Puppet. This one will require a good level of dexterity and knowledge of alternate picking to accomplish.
Length: 1:39 Difficulty: 4.5 Members Only
King's Rhapsody Line 1
Tony teaches the solo from King's Rhapsody which encompasses multiple lines simultaneously.
Length: 3:38 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
King's Rhapsody Line 2
Tony teaches Line 2 of the King's Rhapsody solo which encompasses an ensemble like sound.
Length: 2:22 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
King's Rhapsody Line 3
Tony uses an octave based melody in lesson 32 to teach the third line of the King's Rhapsody Solo.
Length: 2:44 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Concert and Q&A
Tony MacAlpine puts on a live concert and then answers your questions. Come see amazing live performances of his songs, and hear his distilled wisdom. Tony truly is one of the best guitar players in history.
Length: 1:49 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
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