Cracking the Code Episode 4: “Speed Trap” - Eddie Van Halen & Yngwie Malmsteen

[@aldoiron1715]

Troy, you speak the truth. You break down barriers. You are cutting edge. I've never been so absorbed into instruction before in my life. Thanks

[@troygrady]

Awesome! Glad to hear it.

[@dieterschanzer7075]

Nobel Prize winning stuff...all hail Troy! Fantastic - much appreciated!

[@troygrady]

dieter schanzer Thanks Dieter!

[@rayhodges5429]

This whole series has changed my life .. and the way I view learning guitar. Great job and thanks for the inspiration

[@LevitatorMusic]

my problem with slowing things way down and gradually speeding up is always that as I get faster my mechanics start to change, so essentially it's like an entirely different technique.

[@chief4615]

I had this problem for a while too. The solution that I've developed which usually works for me is speeding up the metronome to the point where the mechanics change, turning the metronome off, and extremely gradually increasing speed without the metronome so I can get used to how the new technique feels gradually. Hope it helps!

[@alessandro9740]

@Keith Nowak when he said that? can you give me the link pls

[@PrehistoricBeasts]

Brilliantly executed! A marvel to watch!

[@troygrady]

Thank you!

[@sammyp1971]

You're an animal! you're retracing our steps for how we learned this crazy stuff in the 80s! Brilliant man!

[@troygrady]

Thanks Sam! And thanks for watching.

[@tomaslopez9278]

25k Views? This is so important to watch, it should have 25 million views! Thank you so much for making these, outstanding. Subscribed.

[@troygrady]

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

[@sbeast64]

Livin on a prawn, Hot pockets for teacher, Number of the beef, Master of papas Fucking lol.

[@TheMedievalBard]

this is so legit i cant believe it only has 52k views

[@paulmazzola1598]

There is a zero missing from the number of views on each of these episodes. Or at least there SHOULD be. I've rewatched these several times over the year. Maybe once a year. And I turn on all my students to it (at least those who care enough). This series should play 24/7 at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. It's a genuine historical piece of musical film brilliance.

[@espenstoro]

This series is absolute gold! Love the 80's visual aesthetics and shred-ology.

[@MrAnyname456]

Troy, your series is fantastic! If anything, I think it motivates people to realize that they can do it to, if they are willing to put in the work. Aside, being the same age as you, I actually did things backwards... I had a cheap cassette recorder, upon which I would record myself playing patterns, and/or lines at a tempo slow enough so that my articulation was perfect. I later discovered that if I held the "play" button down halfway, it would double the playback speed of whatever I had recorded. From there, I learned that "ordinary" patterns sounded great at tempo, and how they combined to create fascinating lines. In essence, the "reward" was revealed to me immediately, because it was, my own playing after all. Just sped up, lol! I realized that I had already won half the battle, and it was enough to motivate me to stick with it, and develop the technique, which I still work on today. It never ends, but it's so worth it if that's what you like to do.

[@troygrady]

Mrnobody789 Cool! Derryl Gabel is a great player who we've interviewed who did something similar when he was learning. He used the internal recording feature of the Casio VL-1 synth to record parts slow and then play them back faster to see what they'd sound like.

[@ruddig]

lol troy!!! coffee break dance lol... dude im laughing and learning.. so clever

[@stephenlwaters]

I feel guilty not having paid to watch this amazing series of videos! Wow! Musical education mixed with entertainment and history from the 80's! This is brilliant my friend... and yes I also learned to play guitar in the 80's but not half as good as you! Bravo.

[@mandiferrer]

Mabuhay from the Philippines!!! ... never before have I encountered such an interesting combination of highly informative & very entertaining video presentation... so relatable. Cheers!!!

[@troygrady]

Thank you for watching from all the way around the world!

[@thatchman9605]

I have been binge watching these (it's 2:27 in the morning) And I really love them!

[@troygrady]

Be careful to take frequent snack and exercise breaks!!

[@brunoluznunes]

only 50308 views! WTF world! This is the most accurate documentary ever made for guitar players. This is how it feels to learn guitar...PERFECT TROY! JUST PERFECT!

[@MrPyroguru]

+Bruno Nunes You mean when learning you stumble on milestones?

[@brunoluznunes]

I did learn everything by myself, there were no methods no practice exercises nothing. I just tried to emulate the same sound but not knowing what i was doing until i could see some video reference. I watched ACDC Live at doninghton a million times to learn Angus playing style...and that was my starting point :) No rules nothing...just a lot of frustration :)

[@shredit_nyc]

Troy, we've met many, many years ago (I'm a personal friend of Josh Levkov). I don't recall exactly how I landed here, but the production quality of these videos are staggeringly good. Kudos for the time spent putting these together and sharing your knowledge. Absolutely sick!

[@DragisaBoca]

Out of all the the stuff ever to be recorded, your work is what I anticipate the most. I appreciate the amount of work you put into this so much I wanna cry. Please stay true to this, to yourself, and keep delivering. As others in the comment section say, I have no idea how is it even possible you have so little views. But I am 150% sure that this will change, because this is quality, this is what we need. Keep rocking, and thank you so much! I'll be sure to share it, and keep spreading the vibe!

[@garettoverstreet]

Hell yeah this should be on Netflix!

[@skotrock]

That life-altering moment when you discovered that you could sample fast licks and slow them down- that is the same sort of feeling I had when I discovered your videos and bought the volcano pack. Thanks man!!

[@orbitalchiller]

Damn this series is so creative, thought provoking and inspiring (and cringing as well because i am still a very slow guitarist). Really like the video-games references and the humor. I love this.

[@marksavage5308]

Had to comment because it's 2018, these videos are still amazing, and they still have so few views. I've been playing for 25 years and within a weekend, these videos have completely changed my playing. Thank you!

[@CatsCoffeeGuitars]

The video edit of you in a room...the colors...the lightning...damn.

[@GangaRangit]

Thanks troy for the motivation,such a great series. Cannot spell practice without P

[@HauteGameFR]

1:56 HAHAHA Good luck for the Beat It Solo :D

[@powerbylightfutureisnow1579]

Troy Grady you are the most incredible ! Never thought of any of this stuff before and your vids deserve a grammy, your the best!. I have never had so much fun watching and playing to your lesson. WoW...............i feel purpose and warm feeling inside.

[@BeStillVoiceWorks]

This show literally deserves to be on television or Netflix

[@umyes5246]

Watched this years ago... Still watching! The best and fun understanding of 'getting it' on the web.

[@fordhamdonnington2738]

I think its been re-edited though. The sk1 used to be in ep. 1 and its gone

[@RunFool]

This brings back memories. I used to take apart the player and tweak the little hole in the motor to slow down the whole rig lol

[@blasphem0]

for those wanting to see the Trilogy scale abit clearer: E-----------------------------------------------------------13-15-16 B--------------------------------------------13-15-16 G-------------------------------!2-13-15 D----------------12-13-15 A..15-14-15

[@aydontguivafok]

This series is seriously better than anything that is on netflix

[@thestorageauctionking]

I love this series it's entertaining. It's great for motivation. I am more of a bluesy player but I love throwing in Yngwie and Eddie licks once in awhile. it's too fun lol.

[@viruscerbero]

That "giving the right hand a coffee break" part is so funny, man... XD... You are awesome, man... Thank you very much for sharing all of this!

[@troygrady]

I'm never wearing that hat again. Thanks for watching!

[@subasjjones]

This man’s series fixed my guitar playing in just a couple of hours. I legit almost put down my guitar until I found this series. Thank you so much for this series

[@joshmuz9018]

Man I been playing 20 years and made more progress in a week from this series them I had I'm the last 10 years. What ax legend Troy is

[@L.argemike]

same, changed my entire outlook on practice and technique

[@khanhbui739]

DAYNUM! That ending man. Great job.

[@ShredEx1120]

Troy. Thank you beyond all words for what you're doing. You've hijacked my idol chart and put you at the top. Just to here, you changed everything. (Especially coffee break) You are so awesome. I'll put up a video that isn't 4 years old of me, and dedicate it to you and coffee break.

[@troygrady]

Ha, thanks! If we can make our contribution we're happy to do so.

[@joezot3380]

These videos are remarkable! I wish I could send them back to myself in 1986.

[@usernamedenied1881]

I'm so glad this guy made these videos. It makes me appreciate how many resources we have now, even though the problem is now there too much info for people to commit to.

[@recordingfever2667]

this is a brilliant series! its made me totally rethink my sloppy picking. ive just been lazy. now im even playing my own songs properly and revisiting my nightmares too. thanks a million. please make it into a podcast channel!!!

[@lukerangdan8557]

Awesome, thanks Sir.

[@EradicatedVoid]

Positively amazing! How can I not have seen this until now?!

[@musicae100]

This is an audiovisual jewel!! Congratulations!

[@troygrady]

musicae100 Thanks!

[@soundknight]

"Musical chairs" - awesome analogy

[@troygrady]

Ha! That was a fun scene -- looking for parking, the universal pastime of the suburbs.

[@paulvsmith]

This is so much fun. To put all the learning, struggle, hope and despair into the public domain is really praiseworthy. The production is great. And your playing is pretty damn good too! Thanks very much.

[@troygrady]

Thanks for watching Paul! Glad to hear the story resonates.

[@DanaNussair80]

Absolutely wonderful stuff! Great storytelling ability and graphics that are super entwined with the feeling portrayed and GREAT INFORMATION!

[@ckjjclan]

Damn man, the production value on these things alone is astounding!

[@Alexgt117]

You are a genius. The way and how ypu learned everything its admirable and inspiring. Even the way you used the conputer is not an easy task. Plus the stories you put into the videos. Master

[@rickfeith6372]

I came for the guitar...I stayed for the sheer awesomeness. Its like watching guitargod TV on Discovery channel...cool story too. 5 thumbs up.

[@MusicMedic5150]

By accident I stumbled onto these videos. Best guitar videos on KZbin...

[@Thayne2222]

This series is fantastic

[@JulioJustiniano]

Damn this series is GOLDEN!!!! And the picking technique videos incredible stuff!!!!

[@x1_n_only_jtm_]

And then you learned panama isn't tuned perfectly half-step down

[@kiplukewhitehead8522]

Thanks Troy, these video's are very inspiring, each one a work of art.

[@bobbysbackingtracks]

BRILLIANT everything. Much success Troy!

[@troygrady]

That's what we're shooting for. Thanks for watching!

[@timobloozer]

I'm a traditional blues player who has never mastered the art of playing fast. I'm good enough that I'm able to make a reasonable living playing guitar, but speed continues to evade my grasp. I'm hoping these videos will help me see what I'm doing wrong and develop the technique I need to get that speed happening. Thanks Troy for your incredible videos!

[@Meccarox]

How do you make a living playing guitar?

[@timobloozer]

Meccarox The grace of God, my friend.

[@calderaluna]

finally making progress on my playing thanks to this. thanks!

[@priest4926]

i can tell you my friend you helped me so much!keep this amazing work!one million thumbs up!

[@shikhargupta89]

Your videos are a treasure of information!

[@RyHitch]

Fantastic series, going back to playing between each episode, I would assume that means this was a success. So good.

[@Rhamsody]

Dood, you are a TRAILBLAZER! I can't imagine how exciting it must have been back then to figure things out one step at a time like that. Thanks for making this available. This really tells me how spoiled I am to have Guitar Pro and other programs like that where the hard work is already done. Take care!

[@troygrady]

True, it was exciting to stumble upon downward pickslanting. I like to romanticize the journey, but the truth is I'd rather just have the knowledge! If someone had taught me this stuff when I was 15 I would have improved so much faster.

[@guitarreilly]

***** so true i find your the only one thats ever explained this downward pick slanting, huge gap in the market

[@matthewgarnett5615]

I remember going through a similar process in 1991 with Nuno Bettencourt's Flight of the Wounded Bumble Bee, I adjusted the rubber band inside my turntable so that it was slightly longer and therefore played slower, of course at the time I'd never heard of digital delays and dotted 8th notes! But, after spending a month trying to learn something that was actually physically impossible (20 fret position shifts at 32nd notes and 220 bpm anybody?) when I finally discovered he was using a delay, it seemed like a piece of cake, proving that there's no such thing as wasted practice :))

[@melvinlewiswellsjr.2619]

i remember when rising force came out that changed my world as a guitar player....love it😎

[@JgHaverty]

I love the little easter eggs in your series haha

[@andrewcavada6123]

Love the fractals comparison!

[@jamesbooth12]

Noticing your Richard Marx shirt makes me love this 100 times more. So awesome

[@fearofnot]

Profound Video!

[@MarcelloPato]

There's a point here! At 9:36, you talk about figures. I always thought about seeing figures on the neck, like triangles up side down or normal sides, depending if the scale was minor or major!

[@gonzaloalbornoz4128]

So fun and useful, the animations are awesome,i really enjoy your learning path explanation. greetings from Argentina.

[@jesseparks3553]

the best youtube channel on that i have seen on this subject matter!!!

[@stimulantbeats7607]

you are just amazing MAN......LOTs of Love from INDIA

[@dougsteeleguitar]

Ha ha!! I did the same exact shit when I was 17 with a turntable. I'd manually slow it down and at least know what the note order was. And we had a reel to reel that'd slow it to an octave lower. I preferred the turntable.

[@dougsteeleguitar]

I'm in bed sick so I've watched a fair chunk.

[@MrPyroguru]

+Doug Steele A metronome really helps building speed. You get every movement in order when using a metronome.

[@dougsteeleguitar]

Yes, thank you.

[@MrPyroguru]

Doug Steele What is the best overall exercise when using a metronome? Triplets and Sextuplets? Sixteenth Notes?

[@dougsteeleguitar]

I'd mix it up; and I'm jam with a human drummer as well.

[@InfinityDz]

HAH! I used the same method (slowing down the music through with or without resampling) to transcribe a few solos and music passages. I felt like such a smartass when I did. I can see exactly why you wouldn't come out of your room until you figured out every lick you liked

[@paulpardee]

It makes me sad how many people will miss the references in this series. But *I* see what you did there

[@DD-um4dd]

these videos are so freakin entertaining...while being informative. i dont even play guitar anymore... but i cant stop watching! almost tempted to get the guitar out from under the bed, dust it off, replace the rusted strings and embarrass myself again trying to play.

[@troygrady]

Dust it off! Thanks for watching.

[@DD-um4dd]

i just may do that! do you have videos starting with teaching how to play twinkle twinkle little star? or mary had a little lamb? maybe i will start with smoke on the water. i mean... not including playing guitar hero, its been about 15 years of forgetting how to play (and i was never that great in the first place!) maybe if i start again now, i will be able to play at Toad's Place before i die.

[@ChrisMichaelsChicago]

There's also a picking pattern Uli does often. Such as in Sails of Charon. Picks the 1st and 3rd notes on the string hammering the middle note. It's as if the right hand is sort of galloping. Also, when playing on a scalloped fingerboard, and a light enough touch on the picking, it's almost indiscernible what notes are hammered vs which ones are picked.. especially when the right compressor is abused properly. lol IDK if you've checked out Frank Gambali's technique but it very cool, but hard to get used to for me having learned in the 70's. 3 notes per string except when you want to reverse from ascending to descending in which case two notes are played. In this case one note is skipped, But I'll be darned if have a problem with that! Nice work man.

[@jimwoodard64]

I don't remember how I got my hands on it, but I had that variable speed cassette player. That was invaluable to me as a teen!

[@053DAX]

Soooo good.

[@ArvindViswanathan]

You are amazing man! Love your videos! Sharing them with my friends..

[@troygrady]

Thanks Arvind!

[@tylerbarnes1246]

Those food puns are so incredible! Haha xD

[@zoots15]

Wish I knew about the SK1 back in the day... Nice work!

[@Sertyconmike]

This is AWESOME!

[@richlintott7244]

These are interesting. Love 'em!

[@nicksalive]

thanks man for these legit videos very good stuff

[@gogpoydi]

Definitely deserve way more subs

[@sowhat123]

Obviously, a lot of effort has been put in these videos being made. I would hope more people would discover your channel and videos. These are really well made.

[@brianpatrick6102]

Youve really done an amazing job with the animations. And the pace is spot on, excellent editing.

[@troygrady]

Thanks Brian!

[@Keviamaya]

Loved the series Troy, thanks a lot. I will try to remember every detail, its hard :D

[@vincentveldman7117]

I died when is saw that EVH windmill xD (from Holland)

[@Jazga]

These are so damn awesome. Season 2 ep1 was instant relief for my pickin' woes. Thank you sir :)

[@troygrady]

Excellent! Dwps changed my playing life, and there's more to come down the line.

[@Jazga]

Already bought season 2! A sort of semi dwps was something I had done subconsciously with certain note groupings, with out understanding why said groupings were so natural and consistent to play fast. Keep 'em coming. :)

[@sweetnessofsickness]

You, sir, are a total badass.

[@nosebone2861]

Giving the right hand a coffee break!! lol!

[@BSE25]

I just stumbled across your vids. Great job! Also being a VH fan I got a chuckle at 12:00 of the vid and noticing a pic with Ed and the EBMM. Keep up the good work

[@troygrady]

Those are all original magazine pages. I felt bad ripping them out, but I've had them for twenty five years, so it was time to put them to use!

[@marcelo_campitelli]

these vids are the shiaaatttt!!

[@herehere3139]

These are so damned addictingly awesome. I was amped to try some yngwie from the first episode but now i cant stop watching!!! Lol

[@troygrady]

Fantastic! Thanks for watching.

[@suolmasta]

Thank you so much Troy! Your way of teaching its superior. The quality of this material is amazing (you alzo make the animation?) and give me desires to grab my guitar again (Im 36 years old). When I start playing I remember being rewind the cassette hundred of time to learn a guitar solo! Lol Now the kids have all this awesome tool just a clic of distance! Thanks brother!

[@andrewbryson8313]

Brilliantly executed Documentary. The use of visuals and background audio ontop of the original song/lick was executed perfectly. I would LOVE to see you do an episode on the different Historical Rock Axes (Les Paul, Strat, Tele, JEM, JS, Brain May axe, etc) Keep up the outstanding work

[@troygrady]

Andrew Bryson I'd watch that too! But that's someone else's series to make. Any takers? Thanks for watching!

[@andrewbryson8313]

V Thes o @

[@jacksguitarplanet]

Ha! Food town = C Town Or is it Waldbaums? Pathmark? Keyfood? I grew up in Elmont. Outstanding job! I have been making these discoveries only in the last few years.I was also very frusty in the 80's! Then the 90's came and I abandoned my "quest". Well better late than never ...

[@troygrady]

John Horak Classic! The chain was actually called Foodtown -- I think they're still around here and there. You didn't have those out by you? We definitely had all the others. Thanks for watching!

[@sammyp1971]

The detail in this series! ! Awesome! I don't know the sk1 ...i started on the old man's reel to reel lol!

[@troygrady]

A reel to reel would have been killer. The SK-1 only did / does 1.3 seconds at at time. We used what we had back then!

[@frozendivots1564]

This video series is better than the music itself. If the distant future someone will do a video about this video...

[@tonyrobertsguitar]

RR also implemented picking 2 and pulling-off 1. For some reason I still find this technique More difficult than picking everything because the momentum of the right hand gets constantly 'interrupted'.