Pat Martino-Linear Expressions Guitar Activity#1 Example:

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application
Pat Martino “Linear Expressions” guitar lesson

Please watch video above for detailed info:

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.

Please be aware though, that this book does not contain guitar TAB [Tablature].

Page example:

GUITAR ACTIVITY #1

[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.

FULL ACTIVITY LINE #1

Here, is the full activity line with guitar TAB:

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

PDF DOWNLOAD:

linear expressionsDownload

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Off-Beat in Alternate Picking Example:

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application

Please watch video above for detailed info:

Hi Guys,

Today, just a quick look at alternate picking phrases on the off-beat.

In this short example, we will pick in 16th’s and cross the string on the off-beat as we do.

So, if we look at the example below we can see the notes in red on the “a”. The last note of each 4 note [tetrachord] grouping.

Image depicts alternate picking guitar technique in a syncopated off-beat manner. Guitar lesson for alternate picking that crosses the strings with syncopation.

I am starting this phrase with an anacrusis/up-beat and an “Up” stroke.

This means, that the first beat will be on a down stroke and so the phrase will cross on the last 16th off-beat note.

Image shows music notation and guitar tab on how to do alternate picking in a syncopated off-beat manner. Guitar lesson for alternate picking technique that crosses the strings with syncopation.

This makes the phrase easy to pluck and the off beat pushes the music along.

image showing music notation and guitar tablature for alternate picking guitar technique on the off beat

I set this little phrase up with a couple 7sus4 chords. These being F/G and G/A

To round off this line, I finished with a fragment of basic major scale descending starting on a downstroke.

And cadenced with G/A A7 D/E as a ii V I.

Full Alternate Picking Phrase:

image shows guitar tab and music notation for alternate picking off beat example and lesson.

Pdf Download:

off beatDownload

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How I do Alternate Picking Guitar technique: PART 1

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application

Please watch video above for detailed info:

Hi Guys,

Just a quick response blog/post to explain how I alternate pick.

HOW I DO IT

What, I generally do is pivot on the down stroke and float on the up stroke. Especially, when crossing the strings.

From a practical perspective, here is a short [Call/Answer] exercise to demonstrate this.

P=Pivot

F=Float

I float when crossing the string because it’s “up skip over and then pluck down” and so I need to have free movement in the right hand to do this. I do not want to be stuck on the bridge.

This type of alternate picking is different from shred guitar et al.

This is because with a clean or acoustic guitar we are playing,

. Rhythmic Phrases

. Syncopation/Anticipation

. The improvised line

. Counting Time

. Melodic rhythmic development

So there are times when pivoting will work as the hand is placed/resting securely on the guitar bridge.

For example when there are lots of notes on one string. This is really useful…..

BUT…

Crossing the strings [especially when there are string skips/wide intervals] is a different story altogether. This is where most players lose the fluidity, rhythm and dynamics of the phrase.

So, floating on the upstroke is essential in order to have the freedom to move/cross from any string to any other string regardless of the distance.

IMPORTANT

There are no set rules for this, But-Just doing a tremolo and hammering on with distortion won’t get you far in the style of Fripp, Mclaughlin, Meola, Mock etc where it is composition/music/improvised based.

In these styles the rhythmic element is all important.

Because, otherwise it’s back to being stuck on the bridge and playing with force which is not musical or helpful for anyones musical health, tendons and joints. Pivoting, can help and be securing for parts of the line but in order to cross and play freely floating is also essential.

To finish with, it’s a good idea to try picking the main 16th groupings with the pick/right hand and create your own little exercises.

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