Photo Blog 01: Me vs the Elephant

"Come here you big meany! I'm gonna rough you up!"

This is me starting a fight with an elephant. During my visit to Davao last year. This was when I entered the crocodile farm and there were some statues of animals used for photo taking. There was another one with me under the powerful grip of a venomous snake (see below).

"OK! I'm sorry for roughing up your meal!"

Back to Guitars. My favourite technique...

..is Harmonic Screams.
AKA Squeals or the Dive Bomb technique

It's those very sharp sounds that rise up to a climax in some songs. Particularly in Pantera and Slayer. I also found out Synyster Gates of Avenged Sevenfold also used Dive Bombs in his solos (if you heard Good Charlotte's "the River", it's the part before the ending solo).


S.Gates and his Dive Bomb technique using simple Pinch Harmonics.


Here's one from Dimebag Darrell, using only his left hand. This got me into Harmonic Squeals.

Instructions:
-First you need a tremolo bar (floyd rose trems make it better)

-Either you use Pinch Harmonics: Pick a string then lightly touch with your thumb of the same hand, but do it in half a second. Then you raise or drop the trem bar. (like in S.Gates's video)

-or you can use Dime's style, let your left hand do all the work:
Flick the G-string with the left finger, after that use your Thumb and pinky to block the other strings, letting the G string to sound on it's own.

-Lightly touch the string on the 5th, 7th or 12th fret (same ad natural harmonics, but best sound you can use is at the 3rd fret) with the same finger you use to flick the string and try getting a sharp harmonic sound.

-If you got it, try practising the range of the the Squeal by dropping the bar first then create a harmonic. After that you raise it up and presto! Harmonic Squealing!

45-15

What's 45-15 you say? That's the score of our 4th Rugby match, with SM Awg Semaun again.

And yes, we won.

Our first victory with the same team that defeated us in our first game has 4 times the points than before. COOLNESS.
Marvellous tries today, Izzat was a great captain.

It seemed I was too spunky in that game that Izzat and Sofian had to shut me up before I make a real mess.
Izzat gave me some words of confidence. He said to stop whining and groaning (it was ruining our morale) and stay focused on the game. He then said that many of my teammates including himself still believe in me.
Amazing how much I improved after that! I finally grabbed high balls (I thank Sofian for that, and practice!), did more running and tackling (thanks also to Rashidin) and finally improved my defence.
I thanked Mr Stuart for not letting me out of the game even when I was exhausted (and like a premonition my exhaustion dissappeared).
And the coolest thing is I lasted in the whole hour of the game.

So the lesson here is always push yourself when you think you're tired.
The pain will dissappear without you noticing it.

Awg Semaun did great too. Still high tempered but fast. I don't want to go through what kind of stuff happened during the game, but I can tell you the referee wasn't pretty happy.
One rule is to always listen to the referee, no questions asked.
Should I also mention how slippery they are?

Tomorrow...
Sports Day. I was forced to join the march pass.

Mistake

Match was on Friday, yes it's today. The error regretted.

aHA!

Match on Thursday, against Awg Semaun.

AHAHHAHAHAHAHAH! COOLNESS!

It's May

Just finished my last assesment test yesterday. I had to do an essay in Sociology, and while anyone would normally dread from the word "essay" and "test", I enjoyed it. Exploring Comte's view of Sociology as a science and Durkheim's interpretation is very intersting.

The tournament has arrive, and sadly, we lost the first match. It was against the Knights again, but the funny thing is that the game wasn't as aggressive as the last match. Our scrum were uncontested, resulting in no pushing during the scrum.
I was subbed in the first half and did not enter in the second. Maybe it's because I panicked and end up my focus on the tacklers than my teammates. This means I have to get this fear away, get more exercise and learn to tackle better.

Simon said I was better in diving through (I think he meant the move I did in the first Knights match, most of my teammates were impressed by that). I hope I'll do better next training.

Yesterday during my EAS class, Mr Kendrew called me to his table. I thought it had something to do with my commentaries on previous texts, but it wasn't. Instead he said:
"How would you like to be on the telly?"

*Shock* (Note: Telly is an english slang for Television)

"Why would I like to be on the telly?" I replied.
"Mr Thompson today was asked by Mrs Lim to present student for an interview by RTB. So I thought of you, since you like to talk and you have very good english."

So he said if I'd like my name written down. And of course, I have to take in many opportunities, I said yes. If I get chosen, my interview will be on Monday afternoon.

Music Club

I've been talking so much about Rugby, I forgot to mention my second CCA, music.

At first I find it kinda boring (maybe it's because I missed the introduction and the last meeting, and I had to cut my time in school because Zani's CCA hasn't started yet). I nearly dropped Music to focus more on Rugby, then there was the Audition.

The audition is long awaited to choose out the number of people to become School Band Members and the Commitee. I wanted to give a try on it (bringing the DIME-O-FLAGE guitar in mind. *Laughs like an evil villain*) but I had to meet the President personally. Sure I was afraid, I mean, I left out alot so.. dunno.. maybe a feeling a little blacklisted?
So there he was in the canteen, and if I didn't ask him then I'll definitely drop Music.

*echo* Mr Stuart: "You have to keep pushing" *echo*

So I did. and found out he liked talking to guitar geeks (erk..) and was impressed with my knowledge in guitars (more impressed when I mentioned the DEAN). So I got in, and last Saturday, with my Dean in hand, I came for the auditions (seems he also signed me up for the commitee, w/out my knowledgee. So I got into the interview and asked for the position of Planner. The dudes that create the ideas.)

I expected worst. One of the cables didn't work, so I couldn't use the distortion pedal.
1 out of 2 cables = No pedal = no Azzi's extra crispy, pinch harmonic screaming guitar sound.

I freaked out, and all I can do is to use directly to the amp and the sound was good enough (I can only use the low pinch harmonic, so imagine the look in everyone's faces when they heard it).
yeah, the Harmonics master the Shred master Qawi calls me.

I got in the room, connected the Dean to the President's Marshall amp (and the sound was good! I wanted to bring along my cable and effects pedal but the President won't allow it) and then play Cowboys from Hell by Pantera, one of my favourite speedy songs.

The results were on today. I went to the music club room only to be greeted by the President (I expected the room to be empty and the results to be posted on the board), so there we sat down and discussed about my results.

He asks, "So do you think you did well?" I became nervous and felt a little doubt, but my mom's wisdom says 'In interviews, you must always talk about your good side'.
So I said, "I'm confident that I did well enough"
Then he gives me his answer, "Congratulations, you are officially a School Band member".

*shock*

I didn't know if impressed the judges with my playing or is it my Dime-o-Flage. Anyway, this one kept me going for music. Looks like my passion for music has gone up again!

Highlights of Audition day:
-Me going crazy on Qawi's acoustic. Playing loud Texas-like sound.
-My guitar
-The President's Fender Stratocaster, and his Yngwie Malmsteen speed! *WTH*
-Me playing 'Tears in Heaven', everyone singing along.
-Me telling them about the music you can play with the guitar.
-A dude that plays Trivium.. fast!
-A number of dudes who play Senjakala. HoooWeee.

BTW, did I mention the president's uncle is Man Kidal? The malaysian guitar legend who plays lefthanded for the band, LEFTHANDED. If you listen to Lefthanded, keep track with malaysian artist, heard of some dude who plays his guitar upside down, watch AF2 and see him shred with Sham Kamikaze; you'd know.