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.

FREE PDF DOWNLOAD:

Exploring Messiaen’s Mode 1: Musical Concepts and Colorful Creations

Unlocking Messiaen’s Mode 1: Guitar Explorations

Hi Guys,

Today a look at Messiaen’s first mode of limited transposition:

This is the Whole tone scale and has two transpositions and one mode. It is a “Hexatonic” scale that has a dreamy, enigmatic air to it due to lack of resolution as all of the tones are the same distance apart.

The goal of this blog post is to create something interesting out of this scale.

Here is the first bar: This employs a Fripp-esque repetitive picking “Riff”

exploring-messiaen-mode-one-Fripp-guitar-style

From here, let’s make a smooth transition with an ascending whole tone scale:

exploring-messiaen-mode-one

Now, let’s employ some 20c Classical Messiaen style “Intervallic” movement to complete the phrase:

exploring-messiaen-mode-one-intervallic-guitar

From here, we will descend with the whole tone scale and connect it to the augmented arpeggio:

exploring-messiaen-mode-one

Let’s now return to and exploit our intervallic movement as we ascend the guitar fingerboard:

exploring-messiaen-mode-one-intervallic-guitar

Finally, let’s finish with some string skipping whole tone scale and a couple of plucks up high:

exploring-messiaen-mode-one-string-skipping-guitar

This was just an example of playing around with musical concepts and creating something colourful and interesting from Messiaen’s Mode 1.

Although, this is only a six note scale it has plenty to offer due to it’s non resolving/non diatonic nature. It works really well for riffs, motifs and hooks and really draws the listeners ear in. Even when used sparingly it can really add colour and texture to a composition [or part of] .

FREE PDF DOWNLOAD:

Exploring Messiaen’s 5th Mode of limited transposition
Messiaen’s modes of limited transposition:

John Mclaughlin “Dominant” D7#9 Fusion Guitar Lick analysis

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John Mclaughlin analysis of how to improvise over Dominant chords example

Hi Guys,

Just another “Quick” fire lick today from legendary guitar great John Mclaughlin!

This is a short lick doubled in unison with strings [or synth] and played in double time. It employs strict alternate picking starting on a down stroke. The lick exploits two “Dominant” chords, D7#9 and D7#9#11.

John Mclaughlin Guitar Lick:

John, Mclaughlin, "Dominant", D7#9, Fusion, Guitar, analysis
John Mclaughlin analysis of how to improvise over Dominant chords example

Ascending John employs a simple pentatonic scale that exploits both the #9 [F natural] and the Major 3rd [F#]. Descending he employs the F melodic [jazz] minor scale.This is because the second dominant chord exploits the #11 [Ab]. It also creates an augmented flavour with the #5 [Bb] note]. This finally resolves to GMaj7#11 with an F#m9 arpeggio that finishes on the C# note [#11 of Gmaj7#11].

Although this line follows musical logic it is also slightly ambiguous which in turn creates an interesting and more original sound:

LICK:

John, Mclaughlin, jazz, fusion, guitar,  lesson,
John Mclaughlin “Dominant” Double Time Fusion Guitar Lick

VARIATION with Chromaticism:

John, Mclaughlin, jazz, fusion, guitar,  lesson,
John Mclaughlin “Dominant” Double Time Fusion Guitar Lick

PDF FILE:

PDF 2:

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