Tag: guitar techniques

Mastering John McLaughlin’s Guitar Motif Techniques Part 2:

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application

Hi Guys,

Here, is the extended version for the 2nd finger John McLaughlin motif:

MOTIF:

The motif is a 4 note [Tetrachord] in 16th notes- D C# D E

John McLaughlin shakti guitar lesson with music notation and guitar tab example

Notice that this starts with the 2nd finger on the first note:

Now, let’s extend this and add a “set up” by employing the Mixo-lydian mode to create a more Indian/Shakti flavour to the phrase:

I am starting this on an upstroke with strict alternate picking guitar technique:

John McLaughlin shakti guitar lesson with music notation and guitar tab example

This time, we will replicate/imitate the 4 note motif and use it as material to create/extend the phrase into a longer line.

John McLaughlin shakti guitar lesson with music notation and guitar tab example for guitar fingering

Below, is the full line/lick:

John McLaughlin shakti guitar motif and fingering lesson with music notation and guitar tab example

Let’s now, extend the motif and descend as far as we can down the fingerboard with the motif:

John McLaughlin shakti guitar lesson with music notation and guitar tab example

Finally, we will add our little set-up and create a full phrase:

John McLaughlin shakti guitar lesson with music notation and guitar tab example

MOTIF: Starting on a down stroke:

We can also start on a downstroke. This works best and is most natural when picked/phrased in triplets/sextuplets like this:

John McLaughlin alternate picking guitar lesson with music notation and guitar tab example

Full Phrase starting on a downstroke:

John McLaughlin shakti alternate picking guitar lesson with music notation and guitar tab example

IN CONCLUSION:

This little motif/concept is only a small detail, but, it is a good representation of how a lot of material can be created/repeated or imitated from such a small cell. It is like a little hinge that can swing a big door.

This way of building solid lines is really useful for the alternate picking guitar technique as it means that we can unfold material quite easily and if we ever do get lost we can slot back in with simple motif material and rebuild our phrases and keep our lines going.

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ASC/DESC:

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

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application

Hi Guys,

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

FAST ALTERNATE PICKING LICK!

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

CLOSER LOOK:

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

MCLAUGHLIN GUITAR TECHNIQUE 2

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.

HERE IS THE DESCENDING IDEA:

john_mclaughlin_acoustic_guitar_techniques_lesson

HERE IS THE ASCENDING IDEA:

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.

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UP-STROKE Alternate Picking Concepts

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UP-STROKE Alternate Picking Guitar Concepts

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick look at starting alternate picking runs on an upstroke.

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

Starting on an upstroke can be useful when playing stepwise scalic patterns/runs. This can be modal, pentatonic or major/minor.

Here, is the first little exercise/idea: [Note that this starts on an upstroke and finishes on a downstroke]

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

We, will now extend this and complete the bar.

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

As you can see when starting on an upstroke it is easy to connect together fragments of scale and create extended fluid lines.

Here is another example of extending and varying by employing simple scalic movement starting on the up stroke.

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

Connecting scale fragments is a bit like taking the first half of the bar and imitating it into 2 phrases.

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

Employing Rests:

In this next example we have rests. These are useful as they give you a split second to get your fretting hand into position.

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

Open String Even to Odd:

This time we will employ the open string to create an even pattern to an odd pattern to set up the upstroke for the next phrase.

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

This time we will use the same concept to ascend with a simple piece of pentatonic/scale:

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

Now we will descend starting on the up-stroke [no open string]:

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

Repeated Note:

Finally, we will employ a repeated note with some scale and open string distance.

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

Notice that the repeated note and the open string are on the off beat:

Counting Time=Essentail

One last thing: When doing these and any exercises it is essential to count time. Below is an example:

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

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