I started playing in 6th grade and played till 8th. I stopped and picked it back up a year ago after I started listening to yes. I can now play roundabout, close to the edge, starship trooper etc and I'm starting to get into scale modes. For any of you who write/imitate serious prog, any suggestions for modes to create those Howe/Hacketty sounds? Any favorite chord patterns?

 

I write prog but, I try to steer clear of imitating. When I listen to Holst, The Planets, I can hear where many prog ideas derive from. You should try playing some of the chord patterns in the music of Happy the Man. It's kind of interesting to play along with Steaming Pipes from Crafty Hands. I've played and taught mostly Hackett's classical pieces and not his electric playing. Many of the finger stretching, rapid right hand alternate picking in prog guitar I mastered long ago from recordings by 'The Ventures, George Barnes, Les Paul and John McLaughlin. It's more of a difficult feat to explore that route of playing however, it is worthwhile to your experience of mastering something which takes years of practice as opposed to learning a Steve Howe solo which derives from Jim Hall's style or Charlie Christian anyway. It is healthy to grab some of the proggers influences first before playing their prog rock pieces. Understanding their influences will send you on your way to becoming an original prog writer and player. Just as they did. Add as much to your own vocabulary by exposing yourself to music which you may not at first find admirable but, can push you to evolve in the correct direction. I am obviously making reference to a growing process which takes considerable amount of time. Take some influence from the older generation of jazz players and classical composers and you will learn of the secrets contained within prog.

 

You can do this by learning as much theory as possible however, you should work on training your ear as well. Just like various old proggers did when they were in their youth. For example, if you play single note style along with Holst The Planets your ear will naturally develop to a higher level. If you put emphasis on learning just Howe and Hackett solos, you will be closing yourself off to a large degree regarding expansion as a player. If you enjoy learning their solos, then it's okay within itself but, do not limit yourself by consistently playing their version of things. Trace your favorite prog musicians influences. No matter how much you hate the idea or dread the thought. If anything, at least you will be traveling some of the same musical paths they did. When I was a kid, I tried to emulate Steve Howe and various other players of that genre. My Dad would bust my butt and tell me not base my learning experience from that totally and to go for the source more. In the end, I had a wider understanding and a fully trained ear. 

 

Howe uses a lot a technique called finger-picking (I don't know if it's right): you use the pick to play the bass of chord and the other fingers to play the chord or a melody.

 

I'm not phenomenal, but i'm studying. You can hear me at http://www.myspace.com/postmortemarg - http://www.myspace.com/postmortemarg (we're at ProgArchives)

Regarding "Howe//Hacketty" sounds, be sure to buy a high-quality volume pedal (assuming you play electric!).  This allows you to "swell" your notes, and can give you the ability to transform your guitar sound towards a violin-like quality.  Robert Fripp was especially adept at this.

Last bit for today: always be sure you are IN TUNE!!  My biggest gripe is when I play with out-of-tune/tone-deaf musicians!!   And, start slowly, there are no awards for speed playing when you are learning!  

You have to practice with the second two, but what makes music is the first two. A big big helper is transcribing. Not only learning to play what you hear, but then being able to put it down on paper so at least yourself and hopefully others can come back and play it. A combo of tab and classical notation is best for this.

 

It's the one activity that exercises the multiple parts of your musical abilities as a guitarist.

 

The scales and modes can be added after the main body is composed