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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
THE FOUR MAIN ALTERNATE PICKING GUITAR RHYTHMS FOR CREATIVE ACOUSTIC GUITAR JAZZ/FUSION IMPROVISED LINE SET-UPS
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.
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.
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]
FINALLY WE HAVE BASIC ALTERNATE PICKING 16THS STARTING ON THE BEAT. I SAT ON THE DOWN STROKE WITH THE PLECTRUM ON MY GUITAR FOR THIS PHRASE.
ALL OF THESE PHRASES USE A SIMPLE PENTATONIC SCALE BECAUSE THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO GET THESE RHYTHMS PRECISE WHEN STARTING OUT WITH ALTERNATE PICKING.
ALL OF THESE PHRASES USE A SIMPLE PENTATONIC SCALE BECAUSE THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO GET THESE RHYTHMS PRECISE WHEN STARTING OUT WITH ALTERNATE PICKING.
Recommended listening:
“BELO HEROZONTE” JOHN MCLAUGHLIN THE TRANSLATORS
“MUSIC SPOKEN HERE” JOHN MCLAUGHLIN THE TRANSLATORS
John Mclaughlin Acoustic Alternate Picking “Music Spoken Here” C.D. brilliant Compositions, Improvisations and Alternate Picking Guitar Technique.
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In this exercise we play the most common thing known to man on the guitar “The minor pentatonic” scale.
BUT, the key here is to play and “Count” “1 2 3 4 5 6” to get the “Rhythm” so that the picking and fretting hands can articulate the phrase musically in time and in synchronisation.
This next exercise is a classic “Repetition” alternate picking exercise. Count “1 e and a 2 e and a 3 e and a 4 e and a” and play in a double timed tetrachord manner accenting the 1st note in each 4 note grouping
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