Alternate Picking jazz fusion Guitar “Nailing the changes” 7’s into 4+3 improvisation lesson [Meola/Mclaughlin]
To begin with we will use our group of 5 notes starting with an up stroke [from our previous video] alternate picking and add 2 extra notes to make our group of 7.
John Mclaughlin 5+2 Alternate Picking Guitar Rhythms [Mclaughlin/Meola]
Next rather, than count 7 we will break the group of 7 up into semiquavers [16ths] making a group of 4+3 and a rest.
John Mclaughlin 5+2 Alternate Picking Guitar Rhythms Mclaughlin/Meola]
We will now make logical musical phrasing with 16ths and add notation. Counting 1 e and a 2 e and [Rest]starting with an “Upstroke” alternate picking.
Alternate Picking jazz fusionGuitar “Nailing the changes” 7’s into 4+3
If we look at the chord bar below we will see that the chord changes are 1 chord per beat. Harmonically this is moving at a very fast rate.
John Mclaughlin 5+2 Alternate Picking Guitar Rhythms
Now, we will apply two groups of 7’s broken up into 16ths so that we can play rhythmically through this ambiguous set of chord changes.
Alternate Picking jazz fusionGuitar “Nailing the changes” 7’s into 4+3
Sextuplets John Mclaughlin guitar style into 4+2 Alternate Picking
In this post we will go one further than the last post. This time we will take a group of six [Sextuplets] and make a tetrachord and a half from it.
This will make 4+ 2 which will make us nail the changes with 4 notes on the first chord and 2 notes on the second chord with a short rest to reset our fretting hand to repeat the pattern again on the next two chords.
Alternate picking exercise warm up in Sextuplets/Triplets
Sextuplets John Mclaughlin guitar style into 4+2 Alternate Picking
Why do this?
Because the groups of six are quite easy to play on the guitar and there a heaps of variations on each pattern. They flow easily and can be alternate picked rhythmically to create musical phrasing.
The first pattern for playing through the changes in Sextuplets
Sextuplets John Mclaughlin guitar style into 4+2 Alternate Picking
The first pattern is now changed into 16ths. From 1 2 3 4 5 6 into 1 e and a 2 e
Sextuplets John Mclaughlin guitar style into 4+2 Alternate Picking
The second part of the chord sequence in sextuplets
Sextuplets John Mclaughlin guitar style into 4+2 Alternate Picking
The second pattern is now changed into 16ths. From 1 2 3 4 5 6 into 1 e and a 2 e
Sextuplets John Mclaughlin guitar style into 4+2 Alternate Picking
Finally, the full one bar alternate picking chord sequence nailing the changes
Sextuplets John Mclaughlin guitar style into 4+2 Alternate Picking
VARIATION:
Sextuplets John Mclaughlin guitar style into 4+2 Alternate Picking
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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]
