Simplify Guitar Chromatics with Easy Fingering:

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Hi Guys,

Today, we will employ chromatics [Target Tones]to a simple guitar fingering/scale that everybody knows.

Yes, this is our old mate the A minor Pentatonic scale.

Before we start: Both fingerings are essential and very useful, but, in different instances.

Okay, let’s compare fingering.

Below, is the more “Traditional” fingering:

mclaughlin-jazz-guitar-chromatics-lesson-explained-example

Now, let’s simplify this with a more intuitive John McLaughlin style guitar fingering. [2 fingers to 2 fingers with a slide].

mclaughlin-jazz-guitar-chromatics-lesson-explained-example

We will now now apply this to the simple A minor Pentatonic scale guitar shape.

mclaughlin-jazz-guitar-chromatics-lesson-explained-example

Here, we will employ a “Side Step” with chromatic target tones for more interest and chromatic colour.

mclaughlin-jazz-guitar-chromatics-lesson-explained-example

This time we will extend the line with an upbeat of 4 chromatic descending notes starting on the note D as the tonic:

mclaughlin-jazz-guitar-chromatics-lesson-explained-example

Lastly, let’s try this over a ii V7 I [Dm7 G7 CMaj7]

mclaughlin-jazz-guitar-chromatics-lesson-explained-example
mclaughlin-jazz-guitar-chromatics-lesson-explained-example

This simple minor pentatonic guitar scale/shape allows us an easy way to employ chromatics and chromaticism by exploiting it with what we are already very familiar with.

This familiarity means that it is not only easier to learn, but, also, easy to remember. Hence, we can apply it to any strings of the guitar and create some colourful and interesting sounding lines.

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