MINOR TOPIC-EASIER WAY TO IMPROVISE WITH MODES

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minor topic-an easier way to improvise with modes of music

IMPORTANT: Please watch video above for detailed info:

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick look at another way of exploiting modes/improvisation on the guitar fingerboard.

We will be creating music via concepts/musical tools based on this minor shape.

minor-topic-pat-martino
simplified-modal-guitar-explanation

Why do this?

Because with this 5 fret shape arpeggio we can easily create:

simplified-modal-guitar-explanation

So, for instance in C Major [Ionian] we can take chord iii and Vi arpeggio shapes as a solid base and create/develop improvisation-as opposed to learning millions of scale/mode shapes/patterns etc.

minor-topic-guitar-modes
simplified-modal-guitar-tablature

With this as a base we can develop proper musical lines and rhythmic phrasing

Before we start it’s important to see how easily chords iii and Vi link together:

simplified-modal-guitar-explanation

Example:

modes-guitar-simplified-tab

The first thing to be aware of is the basic pentatonic’s right under our fingertips with this arpeggio shape:

[These pentatonic’s give us some basic building blocks from the outset]:

guitar-modes-pentatonics
guitar-modes-pentatonics
guitar-modes-pentatonics
guitar-modes-pentatonics-simplified

QUARTAL SOUNDS

Next let’s add some 4ths for a Quartal jazz/fusion-esque sound:

Descending:

guitar-modes-4ths-jazz-simplified

Ascending:

guitar-modes-4ths-jazz-simplified

With extension

guitar-modes-4ths-jazz-simplified

Basic Quartal fingerboard movement:

guitar-modes-4ths-jazz-simplified

CYLE OF 4THS

Another thing to take into consideration is the cycle of 4ths under our fingertips:

cycle-4ths-guitar-modes

Remember that we can also make these, major, minor, diminished or augmented:

For instance all major:

cycle-4ths-guitar-modes

All minor

cycle-4ths-guitar-modes

[This gives us even more colour and choices for chromaticism/chromatic movement right under our fingertips once again]

TARGET TONES/APPROACH NOTES [JAZZ CHROMATICS]

Below, we can see the set-up for target tones with this Em arpeggio shape:

target-tones-modal-guitar-explained

We can also add some chromatic notes to this to create a longer jazzy-esque line:

target-tones-modal-guitar-explained

String Skipping Petnatonic’s

String skipping works well because it removes familiarity/cliches from the ear:

Here are two examples:

modal-guitar-string-skipping

Example 2:

modal-guitar-string-skipping

PAIRING TRIADS

Lastly pairing triads works really. Here is a Lydian example:

triad-pairs-modes-guitar-simplified

conclusion

This blog has only really touched on this way of thinking, but, you can see how easy it is to make connecting lines and musical phrasing and how to exploit improvisation tools from this simple minor arpeggio shape.

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McLaughlin-esque ii V7 I Alt Guitar Line [140 Bpm]

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John McLaughlin-esque ii V7 I Alt Guitar Line [140 Bpm]

Please watch video above for detailed info:

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick ii V7 I McLaughlin-esque lick

This is at 140 Bpm with an altered approach to harmony with strict alternate picking guitar technique.

The chords are as follows.

For the ii minor chord I employ a minor chord with a Major 7th and an added 9th.

mclaughlin-altered-harmony-guitar-theory

For the V7 chord I raise the 5th [#5] and add a flattened 9th note.

mclaughlin-altered-harmony-guitar-theory

And for the I chord I make this augmented by raising the 5th.

So, the ii V7 I becomes harmonically altered and creates an interesting sound

john-mclaughlin-altered-harmony-guitar-theory

Guitar Line

The line starts on an upbeat with 3 target tones that deliberately set up the 1st note of bar one. This adds forward momentum and adds a colourful chromatic set-up.

mclaughlin-altered-harmony-guitar-chromatics-lesson

The target tones start on an “Up stroke” so that on the first beat of bar one you will land and start a “Down stroke”

mclaughlin-alternate-picking-guitar-how-to

Over the DmMaj7/9 chord I start with a Dm9 arpeggio and then exploit the D Harmonic minor scale by ascending in fragments.

mclaughlin-altered-harmony-guitar-improvisation-theory

Over the G+b9 chord I start on the third note B and then play an Eb 4-3 arpeggio.

mclaughlin-guitar-music-theory-improvisation

The Bb from this arpeggio then moves up to the B natural and then I play the b9 to tonic and #5 to5 which then finally moves down to the note C for the tonic of the next chord C+.

mclaughlin-guitar-music-theory-improvisation

Whole Bar:

John-mclaughlin-altered-dominant-guitar-improvisation-theory

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Alternate Picking John Mclaughlin Style v7 1 EXERCISE.

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Alternate Picking John Mclaughlin Style

PLEASE WATCH VIDEO ABOVE FOR DETAILED ANALYSIS:

Hi Guys,

Today we will look at a ii V7 extension in the improvisational style of jazz/fusion guitarist John McLaughlin.

HARMONY/CHORD SEQ

This is a cadential ii V7 I, but before the chord I resolution there is an added chord. This is chord Vii as a Dominant 7th. In this case this is B7:

john-mclaughlin-guitar-improvisation-technique

So, this is the chord sequence/cadence that we will improvise over.

I start this with an up-beat employing strict alternate picking.

I start the phrase on an “Upstroke” so that when I start on the 1st beat of the 1st bar I can start on a “Downstroke”for familiarity.

john-mclaughlin-guitar-improvisation-technique

The first bar is basic pentatonic scale movement. But, notice that the 2nd half of the bar encapsulates the classic McLaughlin guitar fingering signature phrase.

john-mclaughlin-guitar-improvisation-technique

The next part employs pentatonic movement again. The key is in shifting positions in the second half of the bar.

john-mclaughlin-guitar-jazz-improvisation-technique

Lastly, we have the B7 chord. We start with a second inversion F#9 outline and then we establish the 7th with the A natural. We finally cadence by landing on the note G natural the 5th of CMaj7.

john-mclaughlin-guitar-jazz-improvisation-technique

FULL LICK:

john-mclaughlin-guitar-jazz-improvisation-technique

PDF DOWNLOAD:

IF THIS LESSON WAS OF USE TO YOU THEN PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO US BELOW ON YOUTUBE, THANKS!