Moving on from our last lesson on simple 2 finger alternate picking guitar scales we will now look at applying it to “Raga-Esque” improvisations. We will do this by using repeated notes to set up the fluid Raga like scales/motifs to hold time together in the beat cycle.
Both examples in this blog employ strict alternate picking guitar technique starting with a “Down” stroke.
Below we can see the whole bar of repeated notes ready to set up the 2 finger scale.
EXAMPLE 1: Indian Raga Guitar Alternate Picking with “Repeated” Notes employing simple 2 finger guitar pentatonic scales.
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!
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Hello Clifford, I really appreciate your lessons thanks ! In this raga lesson you seem to use the 2 fingers I-M mainly. I find it easier to use I-A instead, is thit OK ?Best Ala
Hi Alain,
Yeah, you can use whatever you find easiest. There are no set rules, and at times I use three fingers. But, the idea is to have a really simple fingering to get across all 6 strings [ascending/descending] and land on a repeated note rhythmically to create a Rag-esque improv/composition.
Thanks
Cliff
Hello Clifford, I really appreciate your lessons thanks ! In this raga lesson you seem to use the 2 fingers I-M mainly. I find it easier to use I-A instead, is thit OK ?Best Ala
LikeLike
Hi Alain,
Yeah, you can use whatever you find easiest. There are no set rules, and at times I use three fingers. But, the idea is to have a really simple fingering to get across all 6 strings [ascending/descending] and land on a repeated note rhythmically to create a Rag-esque improv/composition.
Thanks
Cliff
LikeLike