Alternate picking guitar technique for jazz, fusion and heavy metal. Aimed at modern jazz improvisation. Employing the alternate picking technique right hand techniques of John Mclaughlin and Al Di Meola.
This simple alternate picking exercise employs a C major scale starting with the note G on the sixth string of the guitar that ascends to the C note on the 1st string of the guitar. This scale then descends back to the G note on the 6th guitar string.
You can think of this scale as G mixolydian or C major starting on the note of G. But, in this lesson it is just a convenient way to cross all 6 strings of the guitar to gain fluency.
THE FOUR MAIN ALTERNATE PICKING GUITAR RHYTHMS FOR CREATIVE ACOUSTIC GUITAR JAZZ/FUSION IMPROVISED LINE SET-UPS
Basic Rhythms
THE FIRST ALTERNATE PICKING RHYTHMIC SET-UP EMPLOYS THE 8TH NOTE AND TWO 16TH NOTES. THIS IS A USEFUL RHYTHM AS IT GIVES YOUR PICKING RIGHT HAND A MOMENT TO SET UP THE “UP STROKE” AND FIRE THE PHRASE FORWARD LEADING TO A SMOOTH ALTERNATE PICKING LICK/LINE.
Alternate Picking Guitar Set-up
THE NEXT RHYTHMIC SET UP EMPLOYS A DOTTED 8TH NOTE AND A 16TH NOTE. AGAIN THIS SLIGHT DELAY BEFORE THE PHRASE TAKES OFF GIVES YOUR RIGHT HAND TIME TO FLICK UP AND FIRE OFF THE PHRASE WITH CONFIDENT ALTERNATE PICKING.
Alternate Picking Guitar Set-Up for Jazz/Fusion Improvisation
THE PHRASE BELOW IS THE “OFF-BEAT” PHRASE AND IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT CREATES ANTICIPATION AND SYNCOPATION IN YOUR ALTERNATE PICKING WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR JAZZ AND FUSION GUITAR PLAYING. [AS I SUGGEST IN THE VIDEO YOU WILL FIND THIS A LOT IN THE JOHN MCLAUGHLIN ALBUM/CD CALLED “BELO HEROZONTE]
Al di Meola John Mclaughlin Paco De lucia Guitar Trio
Sextuplets alternate picking guitar technique:
The point of this exercise is to understand that the last note plucked in each group of sextuplets is on an “Up” stroke, so it is “Up skip over pluck down” for the next group of 6 notes.
Exercise: For alternate picking sextuplets technique in one position.
Extended sextuplet alternate picking guitar technique exercise for “Coming up on the upstroke”
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