January 2021 – Page 2 – modern music theory and application

PLEASE WATCH VIDEO BELOW FOR DETAILED TECHNIQUE:

HOW TO: ALTERNATE PICKING BASICS FOR NEWBIES, BEGINNERS, STARTER GUITARISTS!

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.

1 string alternate picking “Even” guitar Pattern/grouping of notes. ‘Down Up” etc

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”.

Exercise: “Odd” grouping crossing 2 strings on the guitar.

Odd = Every time you cross the strings you are starting on a different stroke than you started on previously

3 notes per string “Odd” pattern crossing all 6 guitar strings alternate picking starting on a down stroke with the guitar pick. [Ascending and Descending].

“Even” grouping: Crossing all 6 strings ascending and descending employing strict alternate picking right hand guitar technique.

EVEN= Every time you cross the strings it will always be with the same stroke

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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.

Matteo Mancuso Guitar Style lesson “Odd” Groupings

With “Even groupings” of 4 notes you will cross with the same finger in the right plucking hand every time.

A good example is to think of it this way when beginning. Groupings of 3 as your Triplets

Groupings of 4 as your Jazz time or Double timed line.

Mixing up the rhythmic groupings: Notice the group of 3 [Triplets] and Group of 4 [8th notes]

The next step is to use “Target Tones” [or Enclosure/Approach notes]. Notice that the first set starts “ON” the beat, employing even 4 note grouping.

The next concept is to employ “Target Tones” “OFF”- the beat.

Matteo Mancuso Guitar Style”Target Tones”

You may also find “Even” note chromaticism mixed with Arpeggios.

Matteo Mancuso guitar arpeggio/chromatics Style Lesson

Lastly: a simple 1 string exercise demonstrating how to manipulate scales with the two plucking fingers from the right hand.

Matteo Mancuso Guitar Style Lesson Triplets

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Author: Clifford Martin Musical Artist: Guitar Gti

Modern Music Theory

Clifford Martin is a trained classical musician and composer. His 1st study being piano and composition and a deep study into the meticulous world of modern music theory. He also studied jazz piano and jazz drums privately. Clifford later came back to the guitar and studied in the jazz fusion style of John McLaughlin and Al di Meola. It was at this point that he put all of his years of learning together into one musical form This website is a sort of cataloging of ideas and musical concepts for exploitation and development in the arts of musical composition and improvisation. What started out as a jazz improvisation site has grown into a full blown, harmony, timbre, pitch and rhythm library. Peace, Enjoy!