Pat Martino’s Minor Conversion Jazz Technique: Chromatic Devices and Examples

Pat Martino’s Minor Conversion Jazz Technique: Chromatic Devices and Examples

Hi Guys,

Some of you have said “How do we make Pat Martino’s minor conversion technique actually sound jazzy?”

Okay, let’s take a closer look!

There are 5 essential devices to employ for this:

These are employed to target a specific note. In this case E the 5th note of Am.

The use of an anacrusis/upbeat works best with target tones as this also sets up the jazz phrasing.

pat-martino-minor-conversion-jazz-guitar-lesson-target-tones

This is usually delivered in fragments:

pat-martino-minor-conversion-chromatic-jazz-guitar-lesson

In this case we are moving the interval of a tone down a semitone:

pat-martino-minor-conversion-side-stepping

This is heard a lot in Charlie Paker’s playing as well as Pat’s improvisations.

pat-martino-minor-conversion-jazz-guitar-lesson

This is really useful and simple melodic tool for improvisational manipulation:

pat-martino-minor-conversion-minor7th-arpeggio

In this example we can clearly see Pat’s exploitation of chromatics and how fluid they are in creating a long phrase.

pat-martino-minor-conversion-jazz-guitar-lesson

We can see the target tone set up with an upbeat. Next we can see the manipulation of the chromatic scale, also, with a chromatic mix of scale and target tones. The minor arpeggio descends easily whilst the classic jazz motif/melody comes into play to round the phrase off .

To complete this ii V7 I minor conversion we will exploit the minor7 arpeggio. From this, notice, the use of simple scale movement that finishes with a variation of the “Classic” jazz melody/motif:

pat-martino-minor-conversion-jazz-chromatics-guitar-lesson

As an exercise to display the brilliance of Pat Martino’s minor conversion jazz technique we will take the minor 7th arpeggio from the previous bar in the previous example and sequence/juxtapose this to play through both major and minor ii V I’s

1] Example 1: “MAJOR”– the same line moves down a fourth to play a ii V7 I Vi

pat-martino-minor-conversion-jazz-guitar-lesson

2] Example 1: “MINOR”– the same line moves down a fourth to play a ii V7 i Vim7b5

pat-martino-minor-conversion-jazz-sequence-guitar-lesson

pat-martino-minor-conversion-jazz-guitar-lesson

This was a look at the essential devices any jazz guitar improviser needs to know and use for creative improvisation with the minor conversion, or minorisation technique.

As, I stated in the previous blog this simple method can save you 20 years of hard slog! Why? Because, Pat Matino’s minor conversion technique can be applied immediately!….

With these 5 musical improvisation tools anyone can create confident musical lines with strong and fluid jazz guitar phrasing.

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Scriabin’s ‘Prometheus’ Mystic Chord Analysis and examples for Guitar, Orchestra and Piano

The “Prometheus” Chord-Scriabin’s “Mystic” Chord Analysis

Hi Guy’s,

Today, we will take a look at Alexander Scriabin’s “Prometheus” or mystic chord.

The “Prometheus chord,” introduced by Alexander Scriabin, is a fascinating and innovative harmonic structure that reflects the composer’s mystical and philosophical inclinations. Officially known as the “mystic chord, this six-note chord (C, F#, Bb, E, A, D) forms the foundation of Scriabin’s “Prometheus: The Poem of Fire,” Op. 60.

Okay, let’s take the scale notes in order [Hexatonic 6 notes]

Now, let’s arrange the pitches by intervals,

root
major second
major sixth
major third
minor seventh
augmented fourth
root

This results in the “Promethus/Mystic” Chord:

Analysis-of-Scriabin's-Prometheus-chord

Here is the outline of the chord in single notes:

Analysis-of-Scriabin's-Prometheus-chord

Now, let’s apply it as a guitar fingering:

Analysis-of-Scriabin's-Prometheus-chord

Here is a Barre Guitar chord shape/voicing:

Guitar-voicing-bar-chord-Scriabin-Prometheus-chord

From here, we can now play around with this unique sound and create some interesting musical ideas from it.

Here are two “Chordal picking” guitar arpeggio vamps:

In the first example the key is to make sure not to dampen the open D string in the first bar even though this same string is fretted in the second bar.

Example 1:

composing-with-Scriabin's-Prometheus-chord

In the next example [below] the key to execution is the same by remembering not to dampen any open strings with the fretting hand.

EXAMPLE 2:

composing-with-Scriabin's-Prometheus-chord

Here is an example of a longer line built from this chord/scale concept:

improvising-with-Scriabin's-Prometheus-chord
improvising-with-Scriabin's-Prometheus-chord

This little phrase exploits the chord/scale outline with some string skipping/intervallic picking to create interest and to make it more compositional in its approach.

This chord/scale is employed a lot in modern and old Film and T.V music:

Example 1: Old 70’s detective shows like “Columbo”

composing-with-Scriabin's-Prometheus-chord

Example 2: Mystery/Drama from the late 30’s early 40’s Film.

composing-with-Scriabin's-Prometheus-chord

Example 3: Tremolo Build up for suspenseful crescendo.

composing-with-Scriabin's-Prometheus-chord

In conclusion this was just a quick look at the amazing “Prometheus” chord and it’s use and function in music.

It’s a very useful tool becasue it can be employed for lovely guitar vamps, solo lines and improvisation. It’s also excellent for orchestration where drama and suspense is required.

This chord departs from traditional harmonic conventions, creating a sonorous, otherworldly soundscape that evokes transcendence and spiritual awakening. The chord’s ambiguous tonal center and unconventional intervallic relationships challenge listeners’ expectations and epitomize Scriabin’s quest to explore new harmonic realms. This daring musical innovation was part of Scriabin’s broader artistic vision, intertwining music with his synesthetic experiences and esoteric beliefs, aiming to elevate human consciousness through art.


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] .

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