Counting Rhythms for Alternate Picking Guitar “Right Hand” Technique:

Hi Guys,

Here are a few of the Rhythms that I like to count and/or practice when alternate picking:

These are based around Indian Konokol: But: I am using them to INTERNALISE patterns. This could be Ta ka di mi but felt/internalised as du du du du

These, I find help me enormously with the right hand picking, as I can connect phrases together from the internalised beats/syllables.

These are NOT cast in stone and are only a few ideas that I use personally, and are not aiming at strict Indian classical music technique, but, are employed as reference points/patterns/beats in the way that they are enunciated.

1] Ta ka di mi [1 2 3 4]

2] Ta ki ta Ta [more as 123 1]

1] Ta ka di mi thom [1 2 3 4 5]

2] Ta ka di mi Ta [1 2 3 4+1]

3] Ta ki ta Ta ka [1 2 3 1 2]

1] Ta ka di mi Ta ki ta [4+3]

2] Ta ka di mi thom Ta ka [5+3]

1] Ta ka di mi Ta ka di mi [4+4]

1] Ta ki ta Ta ki ta Ta ki ta [3×3]

2] Ta ka di mi Ta ka di mi Ta [4+4+1]

1] Ta ka di mi Ta ka di mi Ta ki ta [4+4+3]

1] Ta ka di mi Ta ka di mi Ta ka di mi Ta [4+4+4+1]

1] Ta ka di mi Ta ka di mi Ta ka di mi Ta ka di mi [4×4]

These are only ideas that I personally find useful, and, as I say they are not for strict Indian classical music. But, they do function well as reference points and a way of enunciating beats for the picking hand to pluck at a fast [alternate picking] tempo.

Mastering John McLaughlin’s Guitar Techniques

Hi Guys,

Today, Part 2 of the alternate picking patterns/numbers for John McLaughlin style guitar playing/picking.

These are all building off of the number 5 and starting on the “Up” stroke for strict alternate picking guitar technique in standard tuning:


john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example
john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example
john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example
john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example
john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example
john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example

These example like those above expand on the number 5 but start on a “Down”stroke this time.

john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example
john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example
john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example
john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example
john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example

Example 1:

john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example

Example 2:

john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example

FREE PDF DOWNLOAD:

McLaughlin “Belo/Music spoken here” Style Guitar Chord/Scale Techniques

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick look at how John McLaughlin moves from chord to scale or scale to chord on the nylon string guitar.

In this lick we can see John exploit the 3/4 time signature with rapid fire alternate picked tetrachords!

This is classic “Music spoken here” style in regards to the application of pentatonic scale fingerings and melodic arpeggio shapes that connect together to create a fluid improvised line.

john_mclaughlin_acoustic_guitar_techniques_lesson

Here, we can view the exploitation of a quick pentatonic fingering that ascends,

john_mclaughlin_acoustic_guitar_techniques_lesson

Now, we go the opposite way and answer the phrase with a descent. This employs the A Major Arpeggio shape/fingering:

john_mclaughlin_acoustic_guitar_techniques_lesson

Finally, we have a little melodic rise in the top line over a barred static chord. [Mind the stretch!]

john_mclaughlin_acoustic_guitar_techniques_lesson

In the next example, we will apply the concept of a chord to scale fragment that anticipates to the next chord in 4/4 time.

Technically, I am playing the chords on a downstroke and the scale on an upstroke. [This employs alternate picking guitar technique once more].

john_mclaughlin_acoustic_guitar_techniques_lesson

What makes it work so well on the guitar is that this concept employs 1st Inversion chord voicing’s- E,g B/D# to E/G# to A/C# to D/F# etc

Also, as a compositional device, this works brilliantly because it employs the cycle of Vb to Ib.

john_mclaughlin_acoustic_guitar_techniques_lesson

Notice: this is the same, but, this time we are ascending with the same concept.

Musical notation and tablature sheet depicting a guitar lesson focusing on chord to scale transitions and alternate picking techniques from John McLaughlin's Belo Herozonte Album.
Musical notation illustrating a John McLaughlin chord to scale technique, demonstrating ascending and descending patterns.