JFRocks.com - Jeff Fiorentino's Mailbag Past Updates Archive

All past month's Mail Bag video segments

November - 2006 MXR Phase 90 101	December - 2006 Dialing in a sound	January - 2007 Flanger - MXR vs. Boss	February - 2007 Floyd Rose setup 101

March - 2007 Practice tips - outside the box	April - 2007 Tunings	May - 2007 Toys - Pitch Shift + Octave	June - 2007 Performance Tips

July - 2007 Selecting the right guitar	August - 2007 Delay usage tips	September - 2007 Ear Training 101	October - 2007 Unlocking the fret board

November - 2007 The anatomy of a Lead	December - 2007 Chords & Chord use	January - 2008 Fattening with Compression	February - 2008 Mechanics of 2 hand tapping

April - 2008 Due Process Understanding what you're playing, and utilizing JFRocks lessons properly to get the most out of what we do here.	May - 2008 Recording tips	July - 2008 Laying down drums	August - 2008 Question grab bag Everything from choosing the right mode to use, to writing creative, catchy riffs. Click here for ipod MP4 version

September - 2008 This mailbag installment addresses Creativity, Control, and a cage death match with Overdrive Vs. Distortion which do you need, and what does each do for you specifically. Click here for ipod MP4 version	October - 2008 This mailbag installment is a grab bag of questions from our inbox. We printed them out for Jeff, he reads them off and answers em'. Questions include: Breaking out of patterns, riffing without over-riffing, & more! Click here for ipod MP4 version	November - 2008 This mailbag installment deals with a Hundred or so questions about reverb that have come in over the past few months. Jeff's walks you through the different types of reverb, and gives examples of their uses. Jeff also gives you some innovative and creative tips on how you can use inexpensive computer based modeling units such as the Line 6 Tone Port as an reverb effects processor through your own amplifier rather than as a modeling unit. This is great for those that like to use real world amplifiers, but don't have the cash for a serious processor or high end external reverb unit / effects processor unit. Click here for ipod MP4 version	January - 2009 "The art of picking" This mailbag addresses numerous questions that have come in from site visitors about picking technique. Jeff offers some useful practice tips for building good right and left hand synchronization. As well as performance tips for string control and muscle use. Click here for ipod MP4 version

February - 2009 "Chord Demolition" This mailbag directly demonstrates and answers questions that came in about using chords to create moods in riffs rather than just relying on scales and specific modes. Questions stemmed from the Jazz part 2 guitar lesson on the JFRocks lesson page where Jeff used "exploded" minor 13th chords to form the main rhythm riffing sections rather than just relying on chord changes to carry the song. Click here for ipod MP4 version	March - 2009 "Getting the Bends" In this Mailbag segment Jeff answers questions that have come in from countless visitors about Bending. Both ear training and technique tips are given. Different types of bends are also discussed. Led Zeppelin's "Dazed and Confused" riffing is used for example and discussion purposes. Click here for ipod MP4 version	April - 2009 "VH 101" By more than 500 requests and questions. In this Mailbag segment Jeff answers questions that have come in about various VH techniques. And clears up some confusion about the Eddie VH guitar style that plague many that attempt it. Topics covered include, Whammy bar usage, riffing technique, screams, harmonics, and more!! While these lessons are covered in some cases on the individual Vin Heuton lessons, it's helpful to have them in one spot and in one single lesson. This mailbag segment will help you not only with the Vin Heuton lessons, but also in playing VH songs. Which is the purpose of Vin Heuton anyway. Click here for ipod MP4 version	May - 2009 "Mastering Chord Changes" In this Mailbag segment Jeff answers questions that have come in about changing chords efficiently. This is something that many players do incorrectly and it causes them to fail at faster tempos and more progressive or Jazzy style music. Click here for ipod MP4 version

June - 2009 "Choosing Chords & Working with Keys" In this Mailbag segment Jeff answers questions that have come in about choosing chords to use. Jeff offers some basic chord theory combined with the usual Jeff Fiorentino studio guitarist techniques and concepts. These concepts make it possible to change basic chord patterns into really cool and even fancy progressions very quickly. As always it's all in how you approach the theory, and in not letting the theory drive things too much. This Mailbag is handy for anyone that writes songs, or wants to do hired gun or studio work. Click here for ipod MP4 version	July - 2009 Click here for the Special TABs page that goes with the Video "A Jeff Fiorentino FLASHBACK by special request" A lesson on Van Halen's "Big Trouble" from the Gene Simmons Demo In this Mailbag segment Jeff addresses some questions that came in from visitors both new and old that are remembering the younger days of our site, and telling us stories of how long they've been coming here and some of the stuff they never got to see because of changes that had to be made. Or for newer people some stuff they've heard rumors about online but aren't sure it any of those rumors or folklore about JFRocks are true or not. This Mailbag is a trip down memory lane of the JFRocks website. A little trip back in time, circa 2004 and a much younger Jeff Fiorentino. Sorry it's his birthday party this weekend so I thought I would take a dig. Click here for ipod MP4 version	August - 2009 "It's all in the phrasing" In this Mailbag segment Jeff addresses some questions that came in from visitors about phrasing solos. Jeff gives some tips on breaking simple scales up into workable out of scale sequences to create a more expressive effect to your leads and even your riffs. Proper phrasing techniques are the cornerstone of creative songwriting and improvisational leads and riffs. Having everything in your lead all blend together into one big mess is never very good to listen to, and can often be quite boring. Jeff addresses these issues here in August's mail bag. Click here for ipod MP4 version	September - 2009 "Getting more out of your guitar lessons" In this Mailbag segment Jeff addresses a tab that was sent in by a site visitor who was wondering how to turn what he saw as his teacher's boring guitar lesson exercises into something that rocks. A lesson is only as good as you make it. Simple is better as it allows for more expansion and creative input on the part of the student. This mailbag not only demonstrates this fact but offers a unique perspective in the process. Click here for ipod MP4 version

October - 2009 "Are these TABs right?!!!" In this Mailbag segment Jeff addresses about 3 dozen questions that were sent in about tab book accuracy and playing things perfectly. This is probably a lesson best geared for beginner or intermediate players but advanced players might pick up an idea or two you never can tell. This lesson also offers suggestions on re-working riffs so they sound good and not necessarily how tabs might have them or how a given artist might have played them if it's a cover song. Several examples are given! Click here for ipod MP4 version	December - 2009 "Gimmick Free Leads" Aside from the fact James our editor spelled "Gimmick" wrong on the video's intro, in this Mailbag segment Jeff addresses more than 50 questions from site visitors who are stuck in a rut and have hit a brick wall with techniques and soloing gimmicks they've learned from various products on the market that focus more on quick tricks to playing guitar rather than just teaching you to play guitar! This segment offers a couple practice techniques and examples to help you solo more creatively over rock or power chord patterns. Click here for ipod MP4 version	January - 2010 "Express Yourself" This Mail Bag segment answers some questions that came in about using expression effects such as a Wah or Volume pedal. Beyond this this video segment digs a little deeper into proper expression of notes by covering what you also need to do with your fretting hand to aid that extra element and expression. Be it a Phaser spin effect, or a Flangers watery twisting of pitches, there's more to the story than just letting some pedal or effect do the work. Click here for ipod MP4 version	March - 2010 "Staying INSIDE THE BOX for a change" This Mail Bag segment answers some questions that came in from both beginners and advanced site visitors who like playing around with the Pentatonic minor and want some tips on how to use it. "You want it you got it". Typically at JFRocks.com we alter the Pentatonic scales to incorporate other modes and suggest you move "outside the box". This time around we're going to give some tips as well as some Blues and Rock based examples of what you can do to say "inside the box" and sound great doing it. This mailbag is perfect for all skill levels. Click here for ipod MP4 version

April - 2010 "Getting a grip on the playing with 12 notes concept" This Mail Bag segment answers some questions that came in from those having some problems making leads in particular sound good using the classic Van Halen and Jazz technique of using 12 pitch chromatic or semi-chromatic scales to solo and riff with.	May - 2010 "Rhythms under solos" Molding a Lead This time around Jeff answers questions that came in about the rhythms under leads, and demonstrates how they are important to shaping or molding how the lead will come across to the listener.	July - 2010 "Amp Settings" Why your sound doesn't suck This time around Jeff answers questions about amp settings and configuring them for different guitar setups. Tips and demos are given.	August - 2010 "Mastering Open String Pull-offs" This time around Jeff answers questions about open string pull-offs, a popular speed playing technique in Rock, Blues, and Country styles. Practice and technique tips are offered.

September - 2010 "Chord Substitutions" Jeff answers questions about from site visitors about chord substitutions. Some substitution theory is discussed and examples are given.	October - 2010 "Riffing Embellishment & Substitutions" Jeff answers questions about riffing embellishment as covered on the Vh'izing part 18 Guitar lesson. Simple examples are given, and some tips on how to work this into your own style are given. Be sure to also check out Jeff Fiorentino's Guitar Nation Interview. Click here to go directly to it.	November - 2010 "Playing with Time" Jeff answers questions about tempo changes in songs, and how to best use them to create a certain mood with a piece. Also covered are some basic rules of thumb for changing tempo.	December - 2010 "The High's & Low's of Mids" Jeff answers questions about dialing in a good mid-range cut through guitar sound. Tips are offered, knobs are turned, and sounds are demonstrated on this the last MailBag video guitar lesson segment of 2010.

January - 2011 "Playing Guitar" Jeff answers questions and shares some opinions and tips about playing guitar and what that's all about. Topics include, improvising solos and understanding theory but not letting it drive what and how you create.	March - 2011 "DeTuning METAL" Jeff answers questions about and shares some common and not so common but still very cool tunings used for METAL guitar playing in preparation for the upcoming JFRocks Guitar Lesson "Metal Madness".	April - 2011 "Quick Tips" Slick Accents & Volume Control Jeff answers questions about using mutes and slick accents to add personality to leads and riffs. Also covered on this lesson are some tips on the art of controlling volume levels and adjusting them within a song effectively.	July 2011 "Double Stops" 2 Notes = BIG RIFFS Jeff answers questions about finding and using double stops to create cool tones for riffs and solo phrasing.

August - 2011 "Changing Moods" Jeff answers questions about phrasing. Specifically using the same phrasing in different keys to not only drift into a new mode, but also create a new mood and feel. See also the JFRocks forum question on this topic.	September - 2011 "Some Ear Training Tips and Help" Jeff answers questions about ways you can better train your ear and why that's so important especially to younger players.	October - 2011 "Using Hybrid Modes" This month's mailbag video deals with Hybrid modes that don't conform to the rules. Featured in this video segment is the "Hungarian Mode". This is a great mailbag for expanding your solos beyond traditional sounds and vibes.	November - 2011 "Giving FROSTY some BITE" This month's mailbag video deals with Jeff's process for turning a simple family gathered around the holiday piano Christmas song into a mangled up Rock riff infested monster of a track.