E Pedal Note Rhythm Guitar Alternate Time Signatures

CLICK SUBSCRIBE!

Hi Guys,

Today, a response video to my previous blog in regards to employing a pedal note.

This is just an open E string that can be plucked as the basis for holding time.

john-mclaughlin-pedal-note-guitar-technique-diagram

We can use simple quarter notes as our base and syncopate chords between them or play chords on different beats.

john-mclaughlin-pedal-note-guitar-technique-diagram

We can also double this with 8th notes

john-mclaughlin-pedal-note-guitar-technique-diagram

And of course taking it further with 16th notes:

john-mclaughlin-pedal-note-guitar-technique-diagram

To make this more interesting we can play on the off-beat:

john-mclaughlin-pedal-note-guitar-technique-diagram

And finally, “Mix” the Pedal note rhythms for rhythmic drive:

john-mclaughlin-pedal-note-guitar-technique-diagram

This is all good and well and extremely useful, but there is more………..

What makes this really useful is that we can play odd time signatures or uncommon time signatures along with alternate time signatures.

For this I am going to employ Indian “‘Teen Taal” and then break it up.

john-mclaughlin-pedal-note-guitar-technique-diagram

So, above we see the 16 beat cycle with the accented red numbers 1 5 9 13

Next, count this and accent those numbers and get a feel for the repeated cycle.

Now we will break this up:

john-mclaughlin-pedal-note-guitar-technique-diagram

We will only count up to 11 and then create a loop with our E pedal holding time in quarter notes. Remember the accents on 1 and 5 and 9.

This now gives us 11/4

john-mclaughlin-pedal-note-guitar-technique-diagram

From here we can develop and create our own patterns in 11/4 with the E pedal note holding time and our accents of 5 and 9 which tell us where we are in the bar or beat cycle.

Lastly, let’s mix two different time signatures together.

john-mclaughlin-pedal-note-guitar-technique-diagram

Here we have a group of 5 and a group of 7. Also, notice the rhythm in the bass with the E Pedal note.

From here you can create and develop easily what you want as this concept works really for the guitar and alternate time signatures and uncommon time signatures.

FREE PDF DOWNLOAD:

CLICK SUBSCRIBE!

John McLaughlin Rhythm Guitar Riffs/Strumming Techniques

CLICK SUBSCRIBE!

John McLaughlin rhythm guitar techniques and riffs lesson

Hi Guys,

Today, we will look at some of John McLaughlin’s rhythmic guitar concepts.

Here’s how John makes interesting rhythmic riffs by employing a bar of 7 to a bar of 8:

john-mcluahglin-rhythm-guitar-lesson-tab

This could also be counted as: 15/16 to 16/16 [in groups of 3 to groups of 4 in the next bar]:

john-mcluahglin-rhythm-guitar-lesson-tab

OR: Groups of 4 with the last being a 3 grouping [or one note missing in a 4/4 bar]

john-mcluahglin-rhythm-guitar-lesson-tab

The chords I have employed are from Shakti’s composition “Face to Face”.

john-mcluahglin-rhythm-guitar-face-to-face-chords

In order to turn this around I employ a simple piece of descending bass scale:

john-mcluahglin-rhythm-guitar-lesson-tab

2 Bar Sequence:

john-mcluahglin-rhythm-guitar-face-to-face-chords

Here is a variation with the bass scale played in the treble and the first chord being a quartal voicing for Em:

john-mcluahglin-rhythm-guitar-lesson-tab

In this next example we employ 2 simple chords of A Major and D Major: The key is in the open strings that are played in between these chords at a fast tempo.

john-mcluahglin-rhythm-guitar-lesson-tab

The key to executing this=”Down Up” alternate strumming all the way:

Lastly, we will finish with another of John’s alternate strumming favourites which employs the open strings concept once again: [“Down Up”] etc- all the way.

john-mcluahglin-rhythm-guitar-lesson-tab

PDF DOWNLOAD:

Alternate Picking Groups of 6 notes for Jazz/fusion guitar

CLICK SUBSCRIBE!

Alternate Picking Groups of 6 notes for Jazz/Fusion Guitar

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick look at using groups of 6 notes for double timing in Jazz/Fusion.

Although these are sextuplets I am using them as a double timing musical tool and hence thinking of them slightly differently. This is because I am using a tempo marking of 100Bpm.

Why would I do this?

The reason being – Around this tempo demisemiquavers or 32nd notes might be too quick to play and offset the rhythm too much:

Alternate-Picking-Groups-6 notes-fusion-guitar

and 16th notes [tetrachords] may be too draggy and not pushy enough.

Alternate-Picking-Groups-6 notes-fusion-guitar

So, grouping 6 notes together over [1 crotchet] or 1 quarter note works really well rhythmically for clear cut phrasing. This is the sort of thing Al Di Meola or John McLaughlin would do.

Alternate-Picking-Groups-6 notes-fusion-guitar

You can count this how you want. Below are some common examples.

Alternate-Picking-Groups-6 notes-fusion-guitar-counting-time

In order to get forward momentum and shift the grouping along it is a really good idea to “Accent” the third note in each six note grouping: This also gives you a reference point and avoids muddying the groupings of notes.

Alternate-Picking-Groups-6 notes-accents-accenting

Here is the first exercise starting on a down stroke with strict alternate picking:

Alternate-Picking-Groups-6 notes-fusion-guitar-exercise

In the next exercise the second part goes the other way on the guitar fingerboard.

Alternate-Picking-Groups-6 notes-fusion-guitar-exercise

This is an extended exercise with strict alternate picking : Remember to count the groupings as you play to begin with so that you internalise them.

Alternate-Picking-Groups-6 notes-fusion-guitar-exercise

PDF DOWNLOAD: