Music Theory Modern Jazz Improvisation and 20th Century Classic lessons, Guitar Jazz Fusion John Mclaughlin Al di Meoala improvisation techniques explanations in notation, tablature and video
In this lesson we pick through some melodic arpeggiation. We do this by employing chordal picking/cross picking.
The picking pattern with the plectrum is,
Down Down Down
Up Up Up
Down Up
CrossPicking/Chordal Picking Arpeggio Guitar Loop
The above example is very useful to get the chordal/cross picking right hand guitar pattern down. It is just a loop that is brilliant to get a really confident 4/4 time in your picking hand.
The whole 4/4 Chordal/Cross picking melodic arpeggio pattern/piece.
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In this riff/line I employ alternate Picking but I start with an upstroke for the first phrase. After that I start the remaining phrases on a down stroke.
Please watch the video below for the full demonstration of how to employ the basics and true mechanics of the strict “Alternate Picking” right hand guitar technique.
Open string exercise. Pluck “Down up” repetitively alternating strictly with the guitar pick. The plucking comes from the wrist. Also, do this exercise the other way with, “Up Down” alternating with the guitar plectrum. This is the basis of strict alternate picking right hand guitar technique.
With “Odd” groupings of notes notice that every time you pluck the pattern again you will be starting on a different picking stroke than you started with previously. So, “Down up down” will then become “Up down up”.
“Odd” Alternate Picking guitar pattern [1String]
Exercise: “Odd” grouping crossing 2 strings on the guitar. Again, notice the reversal of the pattern
3 notes per string “Odd” pattern crossing all 6 guitar strings alternate picking strictly starting on a down stroke with the guitar pick. [Ascending and Descending].
Alternate Picking “Odd” grouping across 6 strings
“Even” grouping: Crossing all 6 strings ascending and descending employing strict alternate picking right hand guitar technique.
IMPORTANT: This now becomes an “Even” pattern because it has been “Doubled”.
3 = odd But 2×3=6 which is now Even.
Meaning, that the two “Odd” patterns form one “Even” pattern which means that every time you cross the strings you will be “Repeating” the same strokes and not starting on a different one.
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Matteo Mancuso’s guitar style is a mixture of Classical and the Jazz style of Wes Montgomery. I would look at it as more of a mixture of Flamenco “Picado” and a Bass 2 finger plucking concept though.
The main reason that guitar players may find this brilliant way of playing the guitar a bit confusing is that when it comes to “Jazz” or Improvisation you will need to be aware of “Odd and Even” patterns due to the “Chromaticism” inherent in the jazz line.
Fingerstyle Consideration 1:
Notice that every time you cross the strings playing in groups of 3 notes you will cross with a different finger in the right plucking hand. This is because you are dealing with an ODD Pattern. So the pattern in the plucking hand will be: 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 etc.
