Play better arpeggios with the guitar pick:

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick look at adding an open string for creative arpeggio picking on the guitar.

To begin with, let’s take a simple root position G Major arpeggio and add an open G string to it:

This creates a more musical sound with an implied inversion:

We, will now extend this further by adding an open A string and completing the two octaves.

image shows how to play better arpeggios with open guitar strings and chord inversions. Easy to play example and exercise for the guitar.

In the next example we will apply the same concept to a D Major arpeggio.

So, let’s start on the 5th of D major by plucking the open A string [second inversion]:

And now, continue ascending with 3 octaves: [Notice the smooth transition/fingering by adding the open string]

image shows how to play better arpeggios easily with a simple exercise

We can also descend with this concept.

In the following example, we will start on the root [D] and finish on the 3rd [F#].

Once again, notice the open G and open A notes:

Image shows an exercise in how to play better guitar arpeggios.

We could also, descend the above example like this for a simple cadence:

John McLaughlin Concepts Part 2 “Shakti” Phrases:

Hi Guys,

Here, is part 2 of the John McLaughlin Guitar Concepts trilogy.

The main part of this collection of phrases is to employ a repeated note and then play off of it.

So, let’s take this repeated note of G to begin with.

Now, let’s add a little Mixolydian scale fragment/motif.

mage shows music notation and guitar tab for John McLaughlin Shakti alternate picking guitar lesson.

This time, we will expand on this with an answering phrase.

Image depicts music notation and guitar tab for John McLaughlin Shakti alternate picking guitar lesson.

This works well, so let’s repeat this with a slight variation/longer response.

image shows how to play guitar like John McLaughlin

To create some contrast, we will exploit imitation though the octaves.

Image depicts how to play guitar like John McLaughlin

From here, we will complete the phrase with some scale activity.

This is an F Dominant scale [or you might like to think of this as Bb in a Pentatonic form].

Image shows music notation and guitar tab for John McLaughlin Shakti alternate picking guitar scale.

This then lands on two classic McLaughlin chords.

Pat Martino-Linear Expressions Guitar Activity#1 Example:

Pat Martino “Linear Expressions” guitar lesson

Hi Guys,

Today, a look at the first example in Pat Martino’s brilliant book “Linear Expressions”.

This is a great resource for guitar improvisation as it contains many arpeggio, scale and chromatic phrases in different keys and octaves.

Page example:

[This line is played with alternate picking guitar technique starting on a downstroke].

The key for this line is Gm:

This hard bop sounding activity line starts with a simple fragment of a G minor scale that chromatically connects to a minor 3rd interval creating a jazzy pentatonic sound.

Image shows guitar tab of Pat Martino's linear expressions . Guitar lesson with analysis teaching how to improvise. Full guitar lesson with guitar tab and music notation.

Next, we employ two contrasting “Tetrachords” [4 note groupings]. The first being E minor [G Major] based and the second implying Bb Major 9 [G minor].

Image shows guitar tab of Pat Martino's linear expressions . Guitar lesson with analysis teaching how to improvise. Full guitar lesson with guitar tab and music notation.

From here, Pat exploits Major 3rd intervals with connecting chromaticism that is once again followed by some simple scale fragment.

Image depicts guitar tab of Pat Martino's linear expressions . Guitar lesson with analysis teaching how to improvise. Full guitar lesson with guitar tab and music notation.

This then brings us back to our BbMaj9 tetrachord accompanied by another piece of simple scale fragment.

Finally, we finish with a simple piece of pentatonic.

Here, is the full activity line with guitar TAB:

Guitar TAB showing activity #1 guitar line from Pat Martino's book linear expressions.