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Mastering John McLaughlin’s Guitar Techniques

Posted on April 11, 2025April 18, 2025 by Modern Music Theory and Application

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Hi Guys,

Today, Part 2 of the alternate picking patterns/numbers for John McLaughlin style guitar playing/picking.

PART 1:

Ta ka di mi thom Extensions:

These are all building off of the number 5 and starting on the “Up” stroke for strict alternate picking guitar technique in standard tuning:

Example 1: Basic quintuplet-Ta ka di mi thom

john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example

Example 2: [The first note is a C#] 5 + 2 [or vice versa Ta ka Ta ka di mi thom]

Example 3: Ta ka di mi thom ta ki ta [ or vice versa]

OR: Ta ka di mi-Ta ka di mi

Example 4: 5+4 Ta ka di mi thom Ta ka di mi

Example 5: 5+5 to chord:

PART 2:

Ta ka di mi thom EXTENSIONS: “DOWNSTROKE”

These example like those above expand on the number 5 but start on a “Down”stroke this time.

Example 1: Basic quintuplet-Ta ka di mi thom

Example 2: 5 + 2 [or vice versa Ta ka Ta ka di mi thom]

Example 3: 5+4 Ta ka di mi thom Ta ka di mi

Example 4: 7+ 4
Ta ka Ta ka di mi thom Ta ka di mi

Example 5:Ta ka Ta ka di mi thom Ta ki ta Ta ki ta-7+ 3+3 = 13 Prime Number:

PART 3:

DESCENDING ANSWER PHRASES:

Example 1:

“Down stroke”. This line employs a group of 8 notes [even] that finish on the prime number 13 to answer and complete the line.

Example 2:

“Upstroke”. This line starts on an “Upstroke” and consists of a group of 8 notes and a group of 12 notes creating an even pattern.

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

Posted on March 24, 2025September 7, 2025 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,

Now, we go the opposite way and answer the phrase with a descent. This employs the A Major Arpeggio shape/fingering:

Finally, we have a little melodic rise in the top line over a barred static chord. [Mind the stretch!]

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].

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:

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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Guitarist John McLaughlin’s use of the Diminished Scale for Chords and Improvisation:

Posted on March 12, 2025March 12, 2025 by Modern Music Theory and Application

Hi Guys,

Today, a look at how jazz guitar legend John McLaughlin makes cool and original sounding jazz lines from the diminished scale when improvising.

PART 1: CHORDAL SUBSTITUTIONS:

First of all, let’s apply a couple of Dim7 substitutions for the Dom7b9 chord.

In the example below, for the E7b9 chord we will employ Ddim7, Fdim7 chords over an E bass for a V to i cadence.

EXAMPLE 1:

Notice that the top line resolves:

john_mclaughlin_jazz_guitar_diminished_scale_chords_example

EXAMPLE 2: Shifting the diminished 7th shape up to resolve for V to i cadence

Once again, the top line has a smooth half step resolution:

CHORD APPLICATION PART 2:

This time, we will employ the Dom13b9 chord in a full ii V i cadence.

As, in our previous examples, acknowledge the descending chromatic movement– resolving in the top line.

john_mclaughlin_jazz_guitar_diminished_scale_example

PASSING CHORD:

This time, we will add a passing chord. This will be Eb7#9. This falls smoothly from the Em7 chord.

We will also add a little bit of bass movement.

Also, in this example, we have two 1/2 step resolutions in the top line.

john_mclaughlin_jazz_guitar_diminished_chords_example

Finally, we will exploit a Dom13#9 chord as part of the ii V I cadence. [Once again, notice the chromatic moment on the 1st string/top line as we ascend this time].

EXPLOITING THE SOLO LINE:

Another interesting concept that John employs, is to use the “Ultra Locrian” mode or the 7th mode of the harmonic minor scale when dealing with diminished chords.

Here is the scale/mode over an Adim7 chord.

ultra_locrian_scale_mode_john_mclaughlin_guitar_example

AVOIDING THE DIMINISHED CLICHE!

What puts John in a league of his own, is his avoidance of the usual tired diminished cliches .

Here, is an excellent example where John sequences in minor thirds. This though is an original, fresh and highly unique way of approaching diminished harmony and hence breaks the chain of cliches.

These 4 note groupings of tetrachords work great for sequencing with quick alternate picking guitar technique. [Starting on a down stroke]

THE INTERVALS: Key to creative lines

Looking at our example more closely we can clearly see the manipulation of intervals within the diminished scale/harmony.

This is what sets the great improvisers apart.

In this disguised manner the ascent in minor 3rds has a fresh interest to the ear due to the creative use of these intervals.

FULL ii V7 I Line

EXAMPLE 2

Here, we have the same thing in a different key:

Once again, acknowledge the use of intervals and tetrachords for rapid ascending movement with the picking hand.

Full Line:

IN CONCLUSION

This was just a quick look at how John McLaughlin exploits the diminished scale in interesting and unique ways that work extremely well not only for jazz, but, also specifically for the guitar.

John’s sequencing by exploiting 4ths, 3rds, triads and semitones creates an inspirational path, because it demonstrates that fresh life can be brought out from the diminished scale. This in turn makes the worn out cliches very easy to avoid.

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