Lessons from Jazz/World to 20 Century Classical Music Harmony Rhythm and Theory
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.
IMPORTANT: Please watch video above for Guitar Lick:
Hi Guys
Just a short John Mclaughlin jazz fusion acoustic guitar lick from my youtube shorts. This, as per usual, employs strict alternate picking starting on a “Down stroke”.
Also notice that the phrase starts in the bar with an anacrusis:
The Dominant chord G7 has been altered and resolves nicely to the tonic chord via the notes Eb to E natural.
Full Lick:
John Mclaughlin Altered style ii V7 I alternate picking guitar lick
IMPORTANT: Please watch video above for detailed info:
Hi Guys,
Welcome to part 2 of the John McLaughlin Modern Jazz Chords series.
First we will have a look at making chords from the whole step half step diminished scale:
The Diminished Scale
Diminished scale starting on the note C
Within this scale are lots of Triads: [for instance]
From these Triads we can add different Bass Notes and produce “Slash chords“
Okay, let’s take three triads with different bass notes and join them together:
It’s important to realise that because we are employing chords form the diminished scale we have minor 3rd movement.
So, let’s add a little melody within the chords: This is the way that John McLaughlin gets that lovely Bluesy feel within the harmony. Again, this is due to the way that the minor 3rd’s work within diminshed scale harmony.
Now let’s create a Blues Composition from this diminished scale.
For the last 4 bars we will make the Harmonic Rhythm Quicker by adding a new chord sequence that employs minor7 flat 5’s with slash chords.
JOING CHORDS WITH SCALIC FRAGMENTS
It’s a good idea to join chords together with fragments of the diminished scale: This is also extremely useful when creating composition;
2x scale to chords:
All 12 Major Triads over One Note [C]
Here is an excellent exercise for hearing how all 12 major triads sound over the same single note;
Lastly, here are some misellaneous John McLaughlin guitar chords:
Shakti Chord:
Harmonic minor scale chords:
E/A
E/C
Lastly, From the Whole Tone scale [Notice: 1 tone movement]
IMPORTANT: Please watch video above for detailed info:
Hi Guys,
Just a quick look at the “Mu” chord or the “Dan” chord in this 1st inversion example.
Here, we employ a 1st inversion F Major triad[ A in the bass] with an added 9th note G. So we have Fadd9:[Fadd9/A]
This is also referred to as Add 2:[In this case the note G being the second note of F Major]
In the next example we will create a sequence with the Mu chord. Notice the Bass moving down in 1/2 steps creating a nice smooth movement.
In the next sequence, we will exploit the minor chord: Again, notice the smooth chromatic bass movement. [This is also reminiscent of guitarist John Scofield]
Lastly, no “Mu chord” but a repetitive “Dan-esque” melodic chord sequence:
