Modern Music Theory Improvisation and Application
Lessons from Jazz/World to 20 Century Classical Music Harmony Rhythm and Theory
How to improvise over altered dominant chords. How to employ chromatic jazz and fusion harmony. Apply twentieth century classical composition techniques to modern jazz music and improv. How to exploit modes of the major. minor and diminished scales. Lesson in alternate picking guitar techniques as used by John Mclaughlin and Al di Meola. How to do metal rock and all styles of alternate picking on the guitar. Plectrum pick technique for electric and acoustic guitarists. alternate guitar style of picking lessons.
In this riff/line I employ alternate Picking but I start with an upstroke for the first phrase. After that I start the remaining phrases on a down stroke.
Although this line is D altered in terms of scalic concept it could also be thought of as shifting between D minor, D Dorian and Eb Melodic Minor.
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Open string exercise. Pluck “Down up” repetitively alternating strictly with the guitar pick. The plucking comes from the wrist. Also, do this exercise the other way with, “Up Down” alternating with the guitar plectrum. This is the basis of strict alternate picking right hand guitar technique.
1 string alternate picking “Even” guitar Pattern/grouping of notes. ‘Down Up” etc
With “Odd” groupings of notes notice that every time you pluck the pattern again you will be starting on a different picking stroke than you started with previously. So, “Down up down” will then become “Up down up”.
Exercise: “Odd” grouping crossing 2 strings on the guitar.
Odd = Every time you cross the strings you are starting on a different stroke than you started on previously
3 notes per string “Odd” pattern crossing all 6 guitar strings alternate picking starting on a down stroke with the guitar pick. [Ascending and Descending].
“Even” grouping: Crossing all 6 strings ascending and descending employing strict alternate picking right hand guitar technique.
EVEN= Every time you cross the strings it will always be with the same stroke
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Matteo Mancuso’s guitar style is a mixture of Classical and the Jazz style of Wes Montgomery. I would look at it as more of a mixture of Flamenco “Picado” and a Bass 2 finger plucking concept though.
The main reason that guitar players may find this brilliant way of playing the guitar a bit confusing is that when it comes to “Jazz” or Improvisation you will need to be aware of “Odd and Even” patterns due to the “Chromaticism” inherent in the jazz line.
Fingerstyle Consideration 1:
Notice that every time you cross the strings playing in groups of 3 notes you will cross with a different finger in the right plucking hand. This is because you are dealing with an ODD Pattern. So the pattern in the plucking hand will be: 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 etc.
With “Even groupings” of 4 notes you will cross with the same finger in the right plucking hand every time.
A good example is to think of it this way when beginning. Groupings of 3 as your Triplets
Groupings of 4 as your Jazz time or Double timed line.
Mixing up the rhythmic groupings: Notice the group of 3 [Triplets] and Group of 4 [8th notes]
The next step is to use “Target Tones” [or Enclosure/Approach notes]. Notice that the first set starts “ON” the beat, employing even 4 note grouping.
The next concept is to employ “Target Tones” “OFF”- the beat.
You may also find “Even” note chromaticism mixed with Arpeggios.
Lastly: a simple 1 string exercise demonstrating how to manipulate scales with the two plucking fingers from the right hand.
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