Author: Modern Music Theory and Application

Clifford Martin is a trained classical musician and composer. His 1st study being piano and composition and a deep study in the application of modern music theory. He also studied jazz piano and jazz drums privately. This website is a catalogue of ideas and musical concepts for improvisation and composition.

Indo-Jazz-Fusion Guitar Techniques with Shakti Examples

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application

Please watch video above for detailed info and examples:

Hi Guys,

Here, are the Shakti/John McLaughlin Guitar examples of Indo-Jazz-Fusion lines and chordal approaches.

EXAMPLE 1:

Repeated note: “Raga” style line and scale development.

shakti_indo_jazz_fusion_guitar_lesson

From here, we have a descending pentatonic scale:

shakti_indo_jazz_fusion_guitar_lesson

EXAMPLE 2:

Shakti style “Chordal Voicing” for chordal arpeggio picking. [See video]

shakti_indo_jazz_fusion_guitar_lesson

EXAMPLE 3:

Ascending and Descending alternate picking guitar line.

shakti_indo_jazz_fusion_guitar_lesson

To answer the ascent, we will now descend to complete the phrase:

shakti_indo_jazz_fusion_guitar_lesson

EXAMPLE 4:

Here, we have some more harmony to create with chordal picking guitar technique:

shakti_indo_jazz_fusion_guitar_lesson

EXAMPLE 4:

Next we have a variation of example 3.

shakti_indo_jazz_fusion_guitar_lesson

Once again, to complete the phrase we will employ a scale. This time though, it’s an A Major Dominant scale in descent:

shakti_indo_jazz_fusion_guitar_lesson

EXAMPLE 4:

First inversion chord, slash chord, 3rd inversion:

shakti_indo_jazz_fusion_guitar_lesson

EXAMPLE 5:

Variation line once again, this time starting with an Em arpeggio:

shakti_indo_jazz_fusion_guitar_lesson

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shakti_guitar_licksDownload

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How to play Shakti Indian Guitar Scales

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application

Please watch video above for detailed info:

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick look at the first of a few Shakti Indian guitar scales for tabla and guitar improvisation.

The first one that we will look at today is the A Mixolydian Mode exploited in a pentatonic form.

“The guitar technique employed is strict alternate picking”.

A MIXOLYDIAN:

Here, is the basic scale ascending. The G natural gives the unique flavour and colour as it possesses the dominant sound, but, in a non resolving from.

how_to_play_shakti_indian_guitar_scales_lesson

DESCENDING SCALE:

In this first exercise we will descend with the A mixolydian mode and employ imitation with the pentatonic form.

This example exploits strict alternate picking guitar technique. And, it works really well for two reasons:

A] It start on an “Up stroke”

B] It starts in the bar and on the “Off” beat

This creates a nice, smooth phrasing and is easy to copy and repeat down the octave.

EXERCISE 1:

how_to_play_shakti_indian_guitar_scales_lesson

As you can see below, it is repeated, and copied down an octave starting on the upstroke and on the off beat:

how_to_play_shakti_indian_guitar_scales_lesson

Finally, a variation/implication of this is played, due to the guitar running out of notes to fully copy it.

how_to_play_shakti_indian_guitar_scales_lesson

Counting Time example:

EXAMPLE 2: “Down” Stroke

In this next example we will vary what we have just played in the example above.

But,

with two differences,

A] We will start on a “Down” stroke

B] We will play “On” the beat.

EXERCISE 2:

how_to_play_shakti_indian_guitar_scales_lesson

As with the previous example, we will now imitate what we have just played and copy it exactly down an octave:

how_to_play_shakti_indian_guitar_scales_lesson

Counting Example:

QUICK SCALE FINGERINGS:

Here, is another form/fingering of the scale in descent: Notice that this is starting on an “Up” stroke.

how_to_play_shakti_indian_guitar_scales_lesson

And finally, an ascending form/sequence starting on a “Down” stroke.

how_to_play_shakti_indian_guitar_scales_lesson

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Shakti_guitar_scalesDownload

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Alternate Picking from Ascending 5’s

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application

PLEASE WATCH VIDEO ABOVE FOR DETAILED INFO:

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick look at building from the “Ascending group of 5” with alternate picking guitar technique.

This group of 5 exploits the “Up” stroke. It works well as a tool for building longer and longer lines/phrases.

This is NOT shred and is really only for jazz, fusion and world-esque music like John McLaughlin’s super creative outlet Shakti. It is an improvisers tool.

ASCENDING 5:

Here is an example of the 5 figure. It consists of an open string and starts on an upstroke.

This 4 note + 1 sets up the upstroke for the string cross.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

Here’s how it would be as a tetrachord to the next beat. [As opposed to a quintuplet or Ta ka di mi Thom.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

EXAMPLE/EXERCISE 1:

Let’s now build off of the ascending 5 figure.

In the example below, we can clearly see the extension from the 5’s to 7’s to two groups of 4 note tetrachords.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

From here, we will add a Dom7th chord to the scale/phrase.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

This sets us up nicely to descend smoothly starting on the upstroke.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

EXAMPLE/EXERCISE 2:

Here, we will do exactly the same thing, except that this time we are moving from G7 to C Major. [Notice the open string and 5 figure extended].

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

Once again, the descent is on the upstroke.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

FULL EXAMPLE:

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

EXAMPLE/EXERCISE 3:

Here, we see the process in action again. The line building from the 5 figure.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

The descent starts on the upstroke as before, but, this time leads to a perfect V I cadence:

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

VARIATION:

Here is a variation, but, this time in the key of A Major.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

The same form of descent is employed that once again ends in a V I cadence.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

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5-GuitarDownload

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