Just a quick iim7b5 V7+ IMaj7 guitar lick in the style of John McLaughlin.
This employs alternate picking starting on a downstroke:
The first bar moves between D dorian mode and F melodic minor scale.
The next bar employs tetrachords with Eb pentatonic, C minor pentatonic and Dorian b2/C melodic minor leaning for an altered sound. [This resolves the flattened third to a B natural in the last tetrachord].
The example above is the most common and best example of how target tones work and how they are set up. Notice that the weak beat or off beat is the starting note. So, we have [4] e and a as an “Up Beat” [or Anacrusis]. This leads to the strong beat 1 in bar 1.
Now, for alternate picking we need to be aware of what picking stroke we will start on for this weak “Off” beat. Being the “Off” beat and syncopated it will be the “Up Stroke” as in [Down] Up down Up.
Target Tones- Alternate Picking Jazz Guitar Set-Ups
In the Exercise below we will now employ Target Tones within the improvised line itself from the second beat. Again, notice that the target tones start on the “Up Stroke” and resolve to the on [1st] beat of the next chord smoothly with the down stroke.
Target Tones- Alternate Picking Jazz Guitar Set-Ups
With this method you will always know where you are in the bar rhythmically, when you are on the off beat [Up Stroke] and what stroke you will start the next “On” beat with [Down stroke].
Here’s another example:
Target Tones- Alternate Picking Jazz Guitar Set-Ups
It’s also helpful to accent the 1st note in each four note grouping as this will create the jazz feel and thrust the target tones along rhythmically whilst moving your fretting hand into position.
Target Tones- Alternate Picking Jazz Guitar Set-Ups
Exercise 1: Ascending Line:
Target Tones- Alternate Picking Jazz Guitar Set-Ups
Exercise 2: Descending Line:
Target Tones- Alternate Picking Jazz Guitar Set-Ups
Exercise 3: Extended Line: [Ascending and Descending]
Target Tones- Alternate Picking Jazz Guitar Set-Ups
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