Fripp Intervallic Guitar Alternate Picking Exercise: Right Hand Technique

Fripp Intervallic Guitar Alternate Picking Exercise: Right Hand Technique

Hi Guys,

Today, a look at some Fripp style “Intervallic” guitar alternate picking exercise/vamps.

First, we will employ 8th notes and then extend this by adding a double timed bar moving from 8th notes to 16th notes.

In the first exercise we will perform a repetitive loop or vamp. This will start on a “Downstroke” with strict alternate picking throughout.

In regards to the fretting hand, be aware of the necessary“Pivoting” when string skipping to the F# note. It is only a small movement but it makes all the difference for a clean execution of the exercise. [see video above]

robert-fripp-king-crimson-guitar-lesson

Here we have 2 bars of music. Notice the double/repeated note B natural. This is good for control of your right hand plucking/picking technique.

robert-fripp-king-crimson-guitar-lesson

This loop/vamp is great to train alternate picking repetition of notes and right and left hand synchronisation and consistency: [See video above].

This time we will add 16th notes to double the time and create rhythmic interst and melodic movement. This is also reminiscent of guitarist Al Di Meola’s picking technique.

robert-fripp-king-crimson-guitar-lesson
robert-fripp-king-crimson-guitar-lesson

In this example we move from 2 bars of 8th notes to 1 bar of 16th notes.

robert-fripp-king-crimson-guitar-lesson

robert-fripp-king-crimson-guitar-lesson

If we look at the above diagram we will see that the strings are being crossed and alternate picked along a “Straight” line.

This ensures that we are always “Aligned” with the string/note that we wish to pluck.

It is not guess work but a relaxed right hand that knows where to pick along that line and hence we can pick complex patterns regardless of time and intervallic distance with confidence and clarity.

These exercises are very good at revealing the right hand picking to the left hand fretting and creating an awareness of “Alignment” and synchronisation.

Following the straight line is so helpful as it means that we can get on with the playing of the music and not concern ourselves with anything outside of that, like “Will I play the correct note”, or “Here is the awkward bit”, etc.

Just align with the string along the straight line, pivot with the fretting hand if needed and just play.

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Robert Fripp Guitar Picking Exercise for Unique Phrases and Patterns

Robert Fripp Guitar Picking Lesson and Exercises

Hi Guys,

Today, a Robert Fripp style Guitar Picking exercise that incorporates various Fripp/King Crimson guitar picking patterns.

These are angular, string skipping and awkward intervals that can be picked with either strict alternate picking or “Down Down up”. I employ alternate picking mostly, but, there are parts where I exploit the “Down Down Up” pattern purely because some string skipping intervals are too wide and awkward for alternate picking alone.

The first bar is quite awkward and so I “Float” with my right picking hand. This way I am not stuck in any one position and I can freely pluck the passage without any intrusions.

king-crimson-fripp-guitar-picking-lesson-example

At this part of the bar you will notice the awkward string skipping part between the C and C# down to the E note. You will need to pivot with the fretting hand for this. [Please see video above for detailed info].

fripp-guitar-picking-lesson-example-intervallic

The next bar is starting on an “Upstroke” with strict alternate picking:

fripp-guitar-picking-lesson-example

The next Phrase is reminiscent of “Larks Tongues in Aspic III” by Fripp. Notice the C note to the open E string to the C# note. This connects the phrase nicely by breaking the chromaticism up and at the same time making it fluid.

robert-fripp-guitar-picking-lesson-example

In the next part we can see how phrases might be counted or felt as groups of 5 or 3. [See video above]

crimson-fripp-guitar-picking-lesson-example

To round the phrase off I employ a descending Eb Dominant pentatonic scale: This employs alternate picking starting on an upstroke. [I finished on the note F# purely becasue I like the sound].

fripp-guitar-picking-lesson-example

The final part employs a 5/8 chordal picking vamp:

The picking pattern I use is : “Down down down up up” and “Down down up down up” with the plectrum.

fripp-guitar-picking-lesson-example

This was just an exercise/example by taking some King Crimson, Robert Fripp signature licks, patterns and phrases and making a little etude from them. This in turn creates some familiarity with the right hand picking in order to create patterns of our own.

Making your own patterns and coming up with your own original and unique phrases is the key rather than to just copy.

There are so many variations to exploit, which gives any player a mountain of material to work with. So, anyone can make some really original, colourful and interesting music from this.

Fripp-guitar-lesson

Jazz Fusion Alternate Picking Guitar Exercise Analysis

Hi Guys

As requested, here are the two youtube shorts [uploaded horizontal] with the Tab/Notation. [Sorry, some notation is a bit messy]

Alternate Picking guitar exercise. Jazz Fusion music mid tempo. Lesson/How to:

PLEASE NOTE: These are only exercises to connect and get familiar with the jazz tools of improvisation in regards to alternate picking:

This exercise starts on a down stroke with strict alternate picking around 130-140 Bpm:

The point of the exercise is to “Connect” lots of jazz improvisation concepts together.

The first being barring 4ths and 3rds with the little finger [or pinkie]. This breaks up the monotony of the scale sound and creates a melodic inflection. It also makes it easy to play quickly as two notes are fretted with the same finger.

alternate-picking-guitar-jazz-fusion-lesson

This exercise is also good for exploiting phrasing on one string:

alternate-picking-guitar-jazz-fusion-lesson

It’s also good for triad implications or sus 4-3 to lengthen the line.

alternate-picking-guitar-jazz-fusion-lesson

Lastly, another tool that works really well for both the alternate picking right hand and the sound of the phrase is to employ an arpeggio. In this exercise we have also manipulated the open string to set up the next fragment of scale on the same string.

alternate-picking-guitar-jazz-fusion-lesson

alternate-picking-guitar-jazz-fusion-lesson
alternate-picking-guitar-jazz-fusion-lesson

Alternate Picking mid tempo guitar exercise

This exercise starts on a downstroke once again, but, this time we descend:

The same improvisational tools are applied.

We start the line with some 4ths barred with the little finger into a bit of broken scale.

alternate-picking-guitar-jazz-fusion-lesson

This leads us nicely into the employment of two arpeggios. These arpeggios create melodic colour over the A7 Dominant chord.

alternate-picking-guitar-jazz-fusion-lesson

Next we exploit the alternate picking on the same string for two beats over the D Major 7 chord:

alternate-picking-guitar-jazz-fusion-lesson

As with the previous exercise we exploit the Major 3rd and perfect 4th intervals, which means that we can alternate pick two notes quickly without having to change our fretting fingers.

alternate-picking-guitar-jazz-fusion-lesson

Finally, we employ the chromatic scale starting on the #5 [Bb] of D7augmented chord:

alternate-picking-guitar-jazz-fusion-lesson

In conclusion it’s through exploiting these improvisational devices that we can alternate pick and create long quick fluid lines lines that make improvisational sense.

In terms of jazz fusion this means that we can play smoothly through ambiguous harmony as well as standard chord changes at a quick tempo.

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