Rafael Moreira
From Magnetico
Guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer Rafael (pronounced Hafael) Moreira, began singing at age four and performing on the nylon string acoustic guitar at age six, taught by his mother, a music teacher, singer and songwriter in Brazil. With his first electric guitar at age eight, he formed a band with his two older brothers as the rhythm section and began performing live.
Rafael’s debut instrumental album Acid Guitar (an eclectic instrumental blend of Rock, Jazz... (more)
Rafael currently offers 56 guitar lessons at JamPlay, with 56 intermediate lessons.
Rafael Moreira's contribution to JamPlay
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Sustainable Playing
Sustainable Playing. There's nothing wrong with having a solo prepared in advance, but what happens when you're not able to make that happen? Do you get the desired result when you're put on the spot in a musical situation and have to come up with something? In other words, is your playing sustainable? Rafael Moreira brings his vast experience to the subject of improvisation to give you the tools and concepts you need to play freely.
Introduction
Join Rafael Moreira as he discusses the key techniques and concepts in this course, Sustainable Playing.
3:39 Runtime
0.0 Difficulty
Establishing Feel (Chromatic Exercises)
Sometimes, it's not all about the notes, it's about feel! Rafael starts us out with a couple of awesome exercises designed to accentuate certain notes that will in turn accentuate different feels.
21:14 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Pentatonic Shapes Across the Neck
Learning certain scales across the neck like they are second nature is a key element to being free in your playing. When you don't have to think about your scales, you're free to focus on other aspects of improvising. Let's start with the pentatonic scale.
21:18 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Pentatonic Shapes In Groups of Six Notes
Of course, we rarely run a scale up then down when playing and improvising. In this lesson, Rafael shows us how to make the pentatonic scale a bit more musical by running them in groups of six notes.
34:49 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Pentatonic Shapes in 4ths and 3rds
Now it's time to play the pentatonics in intervals. This lesson will focus on playing them in 4ths and 3rds.
31:24 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Pentatonic Shapes in Groups of Three Notes
Here is yet another useful way to play and think about the pentatonics. By playing this common scale in groups of three notes, you increase your facility to be able to grab portions of the scale and make it sound awesome at any time!
32:52 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Major Modes Across the Neck
Now we get into the major scale modes. Rafael shows us how to access these scales up and down the neck, again aiming to make them second nature in our guitar playing.
26:50 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Major Modes Across the Neck - Double Stroke
In this lesson we tackle the major scale modes again, but this time we do it with a double stroke to increase our dexterity.
27:03 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
7th Chords Across the Neck
Let's get into some chords now. Rafael shows us how to play 7th chords across the neck starting on the low E, then A, then D strings.
22:41 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Playing Major Scales on One String at a Time
Playing your scales and improvising horizontally on one string is a great way to visualize the scale degrees, and also a great way to simplify your playing and forces you to focus on the melody!
15:24 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Playing Minor Scales on One String at a Time
Now that we've played the major scales on one string, let's look at the minor scales.
33:27 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
How to Create and Develop a Motif
The best improvisers put something in their solos to catch the ear of the listener, something to grab their attention. That thing is a motif. If you have motifs and themes in your solos, you'll make them memorable!
6:39 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Playing Motifs Through the Modes
In this lesson, Rafael develops a motif, then shows how you would adjust it to play diatonically through the modes.
9:04 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Introduction to Playing Over Changes
Transitioning between non-diatonic chords can be a challenge sometimes! Rafael takes a look at some ideas for taking on these changes with confidence!
10:39 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Shape Proximity
Shape proximity is the idea of using common or close notes to transition from different scale shapes. This is a great tool to learn for becoming more economical with your movements on the guitar.
10:44 Runtime
3.5 Difficulty
Neutral Notes and Space
Adding space to your solos can be just as effective as the notes you play. Likewise, using common notes connects your ideas and gives the listener something to latch on to.
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3.0 Difficulty
Anticipating Changes
Anticipating what the chord changes will be in a song through your improvising is a great way to lead the listener through the song. In this lesson, Rafael will show you the best way to execute this unique technique!
13:51 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Developing a Solo
Even if you're not composing a solo before hand, you can essentially have a template for what a solo could be like! This is a great technique that will allow you to have a general idea of how you want to structure your solos, then you can freely play the notes and lines that will meet the goal of on the spot improvising!
9:22 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Long vs. Short Solo
Playing a long solo is a different beast than a short one. You have to pace yourself and fill the time without being boring! Here's a hint, don't be so quick to resolve it!
18:48 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Controlling Your Timing
To control your timing, you must master the rhythm underneath. Rafael shows us some exercises that will help us detach from the rhythm and develop control over our timing.
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3.0 Difficulty
Detaching Yourself from the Beat
This lesson includes further examples detaching yourself from the beat by displacing the quarter note beat of a rhythmic phrase.
6:44 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Two Sides of a Musical Riff: Line Placement
There are various ways to place lines and licks within a measure. Depending on where you place the line, it can greatly effect the tension and resolve. Rafael shows us some examples of this concept in this lesson.
6:47 Runtime
3.5 Difficulty
Chromatic Lines
Chromaticism is a great tool to use to connect notes and lines. The 'in between' notes shouldn't be glossed over when we're building our licks and lines. In this lesson, Rafael gives us some examples of integrating chromatic notes into your playing.
2:25 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Using Diminished Patterns
Diminished patterns are a great way to add some uniqueness to your playing. They take you outside of the traditional sound of scales and harmony and add a flair that make people sit up and take notice! Rafael shows us some ways we can bring these patterns into our playing.
5:00 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Vibrato
Vibrato is essentially the player's voice. It is unique to each individual, and can really bring uniqueness to your sound. There are a few different ways to create a good vibrato that Rafael will cover in this lesson.
8:11 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Bends
The next expressive technique Rafael is going to explore is bending. This is again one those techniques that is unique to the individual. This lesson will explore a few differnt types of bends that you can add into your playing.
12:11 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Open String Lines
Using open strings in your lines creates a definitive vibe that is hard to replicate when playing all closed position scales and lines. In this lesson, Rafael shows us a few easy ways to incorporate open strings into our playing.
9:33 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Sliding Arpeggios
These sliding arpeggios take a slightly more horizontal path up the neck of the guitar than traditional arpeggios do. Therefore, they tend to sound more natural and spontaneous when you use them in your licks and lines. Rafael goes through the entire diatonic chord scale playing these sliding arpeggios to get your fingers familiar with the patterns.
22:47 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Sliding 7th Arpeggios
Just like in the previous lesson, here are some sliding arpeggios that you can pull into your playing. The difference here is these add the seventh degree to give you a slightly different sound.
19:47 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Arpeggios, Bends and Tapping
In this last lesson of the series, Rafael shows us some ways to add bends and tapping to our arpeggios that can take our playing to the next level!
9:41 Runtime
3.5 Difficulty
Lick Introduction
Welcome to Rafe's Lick Factory! We're going to pick 5 themes and develop 5 licks per theme, letting the licks evolve as we go. Here Rafael gives you the lowdown on this series.
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G Lydian Lick 1
First off, we'll look at a lick in G Lydian.
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3.0 Difficulty
G Lydian Lick 2
Let's try another take on that feel, for G Lydian Lick # 2.
1:33 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
G Lydian Lick 3
Shifting it further, let's give G Lydian Lick # 3 a go.
2:56 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
G Lydian Lick 4
Now on to G Lydian Lick # 4. Check out how if falls in the rhythm in different places.
1:55 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
G Lydian Lick 5
G Lydian Lick #5 will finish it off with a challenge.
2:26 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Pentatonic Chromatic Lick 1
Penta-chroma-what? Pentatonic Chromatic Lick #1 starts off our next round of five licks.
2:09 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Pentatonic Chromatic Lick 2
Dig in deeper with Pentatonic Chromatic Lick #2.
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Pentatonic Chromatic Lick 3
How far can we go? Let's see with Pentatonic Chromatic Lick #3.
1:33 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Pentatonic Chromatic Lick 4
Check out Pentatonic Chromatic Lick #4. This lick is worth a million dollars, man!
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3.0 Difficulty
Pentatonic Chromatic Lick 5
Pentatonic Chromatic Lick #5 will have you wishing for a sixth, but it's time to move on.
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3.0 Difficulty
Skipping Around Lick 1
Try this one on for size, making some moves with Skipping Around Lick #1.
2:30 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Skipping Around Lick 2
If that made you dizzy, Skipping Around Lick #2 will make your head spin.
1:30 Runtime
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Skipping Around Lick 3
Don't forget to move around in time as your try Skipping Around Lick #3.
2:23 Runtime
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Skipping Around Lick 4
Can you keep up with Skipping Around Lick #4?
3:49 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Skipping Around Lick 5
Skipping Around Lick #5 will be the perfect challenge to finish this set off
1:58 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Getting Vertical Lick 1
Look up in the sky! It's Getting Vertical Lick #1!
2:51 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Getting Vertical Lick 2
Watch out, if you learn Getting Vertical Lick #2, everyone will start stealing your licks. You have been warned.
2:21 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Getting Vertical Lick 3
Getting Vertical Lick #3 will keep your head in the clouds.
1:47 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Getting Vertical Lick 4
Listen to how Getting Vertical Lick #4 sounds when you shift it around in the beat.
2:03 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Getting Vertical Lick 5
Getting Vertical Lick #5 will take you right to the edge of the fourth set of licks.
2:02 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Diminished Returns Lick 1
Check out the unique flavor of Diminished Returns Lick #1.
2:54 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Diminished Returns Lick 2
Diminished Returns Lick #2 will further challenge our guitar mastery.
2:09 Runtime
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Diminished Returns Lick 3
The rhythm of Diminished Returns Lick #3 will take you to crazy places.
2:53 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Diminished Returns Lick 4
Diminished Returns Lick #4 might be the best one yet!
2:12 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Diminished Returns Lick 5
Can you believe you made it?! Diminished Returns Lick #5 is our last example for this pack!
3:25 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
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