Modern Music Theory Improvisation and Application

Please watch short video above for detailed info:

Hi Guys,

This John McLaughlin guitar motif/fingering made famous from his video “This is the way I do it” is something I get asked about a lot.

The reason being, is that it is unique in the way that the alternate picking and the fretting hand can produce really fast/quick compositional and improvisational lines.

For this blog, I am going to exploit the use of imitation/repetition to get the fingering and concept across.

2nd FINGER:

The second finger [Yes, that one] is the one that crosses and falls into position and interrupts scale cliches and creates all sorts of odd timing and fluid raga-esque phrases.

EXAMPLE: As employed in the John Mclaughlin scale:

Ascending:

Here, is the simple 4 note 16th grouping that we will exploit:

PART 2:

In this first example we will start a simple phrase with a five note pattern. Rather than carry the scale on, we will interrupt it with a 4 note scale motif that we will repeat/imitate:

EXAMPLE 1:

Starting on an Upstroke:

As you can tell, the 2nd finger makes it really easy to cross over the strings and connect to the next repeated motif:

In the next example, we will take this even further and keep extending it.

Extended further:

Now, let’s start the alternate picking and pick the phrase starting on a down stroke:

IN CONCLUSION;

Although, this is only a short blog, there is a wealth of information contained within this simple concept as it means that the fretting hand can create/sustain long [as John calls them] fluidity lines.

Of course, the notation/intervals can be changed, these are only examples. But, when the fretting hand is comfortable then the picking becomes a lot easier and feels natural.

This idea can also be applied to the other fingers in various ways, BUT, the second finger is magical in the way that it opens up lots of lines that would otherwise be difficult to play.

Pdf

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