John McLaughlin Rhythm Guitar Riffs/Strumming Techniques

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Hi Guys,

Today, we will look at some of John McLaughlin’s rhythmic guitar concepts.

Here’s how John makes interesting rhythmic riffs by employing a bar of 7 to a bar of 8:

john-mcluahglin-rhythm-guitar-lesson-tab

This could also be counted as: 15/16 to 16/16 [in groups of 3 to groups of 4 in the next bar]:

john-mcluahglin-rhythm-guitar-lesson-tab

OR: Groups of 4 with the last being a 3 grouping [or one note missing in a 4/4 bar]

john-mcluahglin-rhythm-guitar-lesson-tab

The chords I have employed are from Shakti’s composition “Face to Face”.

john-mcluahglin-rhythm-guitar-face-to-face-chords

In order to turn this around I employ a simple piece of descending bass scale:

john-mcluahglin-rhythm-guitar-lesson-tab

2 Bar Sequence:

john-mcluahglin-rhythm-guitar-face-to-face-chords

Here is a variation with the bass scale played in the treble and the first chord being a quartal voicing for Em:

john-mcluahglin-rhythm-guitar-lesson-tab

In this next example we employ 2 simple chords of A Major and D Major: The key is in the open strings that are played in between these chords at a fast tempo.

john-mcluahglin-rhythm-guitar-lesson-tab

The key to executing this=”Down Up” alternate strumming all the way:

Lastly, we will finish with another of John’s alternate strumming favourites which employs the open strings concept once again: [“Down Up”] etc- all the way.

john-mcluahglin-rhythm-guitar-lesson-tab

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Shakti Style Backing Tracks: Guitar Tabla Easy Chords:

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Hi Guys,

Here are a few simple Shakti style backing tracks catalogued on one page as requested:

Lotus Feet Shakti John McLaughlin Backing Track

“Lotus Feet” Guitar Melody to play over Backing Track:

lotus-feet-shakti-melody-lead-sheet-guitar

Shakti John McLaughlin Style Backing Track for Face to Face Style
shakti-backing-track-scales-indian-raga

Shakti Style Backing Track Loop/simple chords

The two chords used: D13 Sus4/E and E13 Sus4/E

john-mclaughlin-chords-my-golas-beyond

Two Basic Scales: D Major and D Lydian

shakti-scales-john-mclaughlin-backing-track

Constructing simple Pentatonic’s from the above:

shakti-guitar-scale

Shakti Backing Track: Simple Drone and Drum C Major/C Lydian

C Mixolydian:

shakti-scales

Create lines from it: EXAMPLE:

shakti-guitar-scales-mixolydian

OR Simple C major:

shakti-guitar

Construct Pentatonic’s from it: Example:

shaker-guitar-scales

SHAKTI PDF DOWNLOAD:

Shakti: Indian Raga alternate picking and fretting hand technique[Development]

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Hi Guys,

Today, a quick look at developing Shakti style Fusion guitar Raga’s from the Mixolydian mode.

Below, is the mode in a Pentatonic form:

shakti-indian-raga-guitar-lesson

Next, we have a phrase that is developed from this mode. In order for it to be smooth and fluid at a “Fast” tempo we will change the fingering:

shakti-indian-raga-guitar-lesson

So, here the 2nd finger comes into play. This makes connecting the phrase easy and smooth to execute with alternate picking.

shakti-indian-raga-guitar-lesson

Notice: I am starting on an upstroke. This is because it is a very smooth “Scalic” and mostly step-wise passage.

shakti-indian-raga-guitar-lesson

Below, we are starting with an anacrusis [Up Beat]. Because of this I am starting on a downstroke.

This means that the actual phrase [1st beat of the bar] will start on the upstroke for smooth step-wise scalic movement.

shakti-indian-raga-guitar-lesson

Below, we have the same thing. This time it starts on the off beat in the bar and employs the same concept:

Start on the down so the up carries the smooth scalic movement:

shakti-indian-raga-guitar-lesson

PDF DOWNLOAD “SHAKTI”: