Modern Music Theory and Application

Alternate Picking Leverage:Open String Concept:

Posted on August 21, 2025August 21, 2025 by Modern Music Theory and Application

Please watch video above for detailed info:

Hi Guys,

Just, a quick response Blog to a video I made about employing the “Open” [2nd] string ascending with alternate picking guitar technique.

Why do this?

The main reason that this works, is because it is an “Even” grouping, and, by plucking the open 2nd string it gives the fretting hand a fraction of a second to relax and get into position.

This in turn gives us some natural and excellent leverage. This also, means that we have the “Up” stroke to descend with.

This technique works really well for the precise picking passages both in Fusion and World Music, like, for example the precise lines of McLaughlin’s “Shakti” compositions.

This extra note, or even pattern, works in principle like a Be bop scale in that the extra note creates a smooth picking line for the right hand.

EXAMPLE 1:

4 note “Even” Pattern:

Here, we can see the employment in action by crossing with the open B string on the “Upstroke”.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_expalained

This gives us, the 4 note “Even” grouping.

EXAMPLE 2:

In this example, we can see where the “Up” stroke occurs, which, sets us up nicely to descend:

Here, is the whole scale passage.

Also, notice that the open B string is “Off” the beat.

EXAMPLE 3: Descending:

There are, other open strings that we can exploit. But, for the sake of a quick response blog we will just look at one more idea and that is for descending:

Here, will will pluck the open G string and then add a chord. [Again, notice the the open string is off the beat]

Finally, let’s extend this:

Conclusion:

This is only touching the surface. There are many variations on this and any string can be employed both ascending and descending.

Now, you might say what if the open B note isn’t in the key? Well, this doesn’t matter as it is only one note and can add colour. John McLaughlin does this to great effect. Also, due to the picking and the velocity the ear of the listener is not really affected, it’s very difficult to tell.

Lastly, this is not a shred gimmick or a means of tremolo picking and trying to play fast. It is a concept for really precise picking awkward lines, when, for instance you are doubling with a Sax or Piano or as a Rhythmic “Shakti” style line with a tight drum/drummer/percussionist.

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ap open string Download

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Guitar Imitation: Effective Octave Shifting Exercises with Alternate Picking:

Posted on August 16, 2025September 7, 2025 by Modern Music Theory and Application

PLEASE: Watch video above for detailed info:

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick look at employing imitation, through the registers of the guitar fingerboard.

This is a useful device for imitating bits of scale by shifting the fingering [[the same fingering in a lot of cases] up an octave each time.

EXAMPLE 1:

In the first example we will take a 3 note triplet figure and “Copy/Imitate” it up an octave each time.

The key is to hold the shape/fingering and slide the hand up without taking it off the guitar fingerboard onto the next position [up an octave].

So, here we have the pitches E F G and we take that fingering and slide it up to the next position.

Sheet music notation displaying downstroke and finger positions for alternate picking guitar playing.

Here, is the next position, an octave higher:

Musical notation showing a 3-note triplet figure on the guitar fingerboard.

Now, we copy/imitate it again, up another octave higher:

Sheet music showing guitar fingerings and notes, with a focus on triplet figures and octave transpositions.

Finally, I don’t have enough notes on the guitar to copy it exactly, so, I play something similar to finish the phrase.

EXAMPLE 2: Anacrusis/Up-Beat

Here, is a variation of the above, but, with an upbeat on the open D string. This, also starts on an“Up” stroke.

Sheet music diagram illustrating a guitar lesson with notations for triplet figures and up-beat alternate picking technique sequences. — Musical notation example illustrating an upbeat and open string technique for guitar playing.

Finally, we have another variation but this time we do this by employing 16th notes and two open string connections.

Musical notation example showing 16th notes with arrows pointing to specific notes for alternate picking guitar technique. — Example of 16th note guitar technique, showcasing notes and finger placement.

EXAMPLE 3: High to Low Movement:

In this last example, we will go the other way.

This time, we will start high and descend lowering the phrase.

Guitar sheet music showing a descending phrase notation, with labeled sections indicating 'Descending'.

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Exploring the Elektra Chord by Richard Strauss

Posted on August 11, 2025September 7, 2025 by Modern Music Theory and Application

Please watch video above for detailed info:

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick look at the amazing “Elektra” chord employed by composer Richard Strauss.

Nowadays, we might consider this to be a 7#9 chord, but looking at this from a 20th century classical perspective we can create much fresher and more interesting material from this worn cliche.

PART 1:

To get a clearer idea, we will exploit “Bi-tonality” and connect two different chords together, E Major and C# Major.

Musical notation showing E Major and C# Major chords on a staff with tablature below of Strauss "Elektra Chord". — Music notation showing E Major and C# Major chords, illustrating bi-tonality for the Elektra chord.

From this, we will remove the third [the G#] from the E Major triad and look at the C# Major triad enharmonically as Db Major.

So, now connected we have a Chord of Db7/E

Sheet music illustrating the Elektra chord, showing E Major, C# Major, and Db7/E chords with corresponding tablature. — Chord notation illustrating the Elektra chord (Db7/E) in relation to E Major and C# Major.

For Guitar:

Musical notation for a Db7/E chord, including staff and tablature for the elektra chord on guitar.

Here, is the Arpeggio with TAB

Musical notation showing a guitar tab and sheet music for the elektra chord arpeggio with notes and finger positions. — Illustration of the arpeggio/chordal outline for the Elektra chord

Here, are 3 octaves of the arpeggio/chordal outline with TAB:

Sheet music showing a guitar tab with the arpeggio/chordal outline for the Elektra chord in three octaves. — Illustration of the arpeggio/chordal outline for the Elektra chord in three octaves.

PART 2:

Now, we will make another “Elektra chord” so that we have two chords to work from.

This new [Elektra] chord, will be C7/Eb

Musical notation of the chord C7/Eb showcasing the notes and structure to vary Strauss's elektra chord. — Musical notation illustrating the C7/Eb chord, showcasing the unique harmonic structure.

So, here are our two chord examples:

Sheet music displaying the chords Db7/E and C7/Eb from Strauss Elektra Chord. — Musical notation for the chords Db7/E and C7/Eb, highlighting their structure.

Below, I have included audio of a quick orchestration/compositon I did to show how this wonderful harmony sounds when we apply it to the orchestra [Orchestration].

Also, notice how the inner pitches work to create beautiful drama in this tonality. Here we have octaves moving down in semitones in 5ths and then 4ths.