Tag: John Mclaughlin

alternate picking guitar style and jazz fusion improvisation lessons in his style. Looking at Mclaughlins use of altered dominant chords and chromatics in john’s improvisations. Lessons in john mclaughlin’s guitar style and improvised line using altered scales, harmonic minor and melodic minor scales. Mclaughlins use of modes, dorian, phrygian,aeoloean,ludian,mixolydian, locrian. Also the modes of the diminished scale.

Blue in Green Chords:John McLaughlin Guitar Voicing’s

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application

Please watch video above for detailed info:

Hi Guys,

Today, a look at the unique chord voicing’s of John McLaughlin’s take on the Bill Evans/Miles Davis classic tune “Blue in Green”.

These, are taken from Rob Carroll’s transcription from live at the Royal Festival Hall London album.

PART 1:

Here, are the chord voicing’s with the odd variation.

The first chord voicing has a barred shape that has the 4th finger fret the high note of G

Musical notation image showing John McLaughlin guitar chord voicing of D minor 11. Diagram highlighting essential chord notes.
Chord diagram for Dm11, illustrating finger placements and positions on the guitar fretboard.

From here, we have a lovely G7b9 chord voicing.

Musical notation depicting a John Mclaughlin G7b9 guitar chord voicing with corresponding fret numbers and tablature.
Chord voicing for G7b9 featured in John McLaughlin’s interpretation of ‘Blue in Green’.

This shape then falls nicely into the Cm9 shape,

Chord diagram for C minor 9 (Cm9) with finger positions shown on guitar strings for John McLaughlin's interpretation of 'Blue in Green'.
Chord voicing diagram for Cm9 used in John McLaughlin’s interpretation of ‘Blue in Green’.

From here, we have one of John’s favourite chords the 13b9. [In this case it is F13b9]

Chord diagram for F13b9 with chord tones indicated on a guitar fretboard. John McLaughlin's guitar chord voicing for 'Blue in Green'.
Chord diagram of F13b9, showcasing the voicing for this jazz chord.

This leads us nicely to BbMaj#11

Music notation for B♭ major chord including #11, with tablature for guitar showing frets 5, 7, and 6. John McLaughlin's chord for Blue in Green
B♭Maj#11 chord diagram, illustrating its unique voicing in the context of jazz guitar.

The next chord is A13 where the C natural note is then added creating A13#9

Sheet music showing the A13 chord notation and tablature, featuring notes and finger positions.
Chord diagram for the A13#9 chord, showcasing its unique voicing.

Once again, we have a barred chord with quite a wide stretch,

Musical sheet notation showing John McLaughlin's D minor 7 chord with numbers 12 and 15 circled in red for blue in green.
Chord diagram for Dm7 showcasing finger placements and fret numbers.

Now we employ the classic 7#9 chord. In this case it is E7#9

And finally, we cadence to a lovely AmMaj7 with a 9th voicing

Guitar chord diagram for AmMaj7, showing finger placement on the fretboard with labeled frets for John McLaughlin's Blue in Green guitar chords..
Diagram illustrating the AmMaj7 chord with a 9th voicing for enhanced tonal richness.

PART 2:

OTHER VAIOUS CHORD VOICING’S USED IN DIFFERENT VERSES:

Here, we have another voicing for Dm9 with the bass resolving a half step to a 1st inversion A+ chord:

Musical sheet displaying the chords Dm9 and A/C# with a highlighted sharp note indicated by a red arrow.
Chord voicing for Dm9 leading to A/C# in a guitar lesson.

Here we have another simple barring chord for Cm9

Musical notation showing Cm9 and F7b9 chords on staff, with corresponding fretboard diagram for guitar.
Chord voicing for Cm9 and F7b9 in the context of John McLaughlin’s interpretation of ‘Blue in Green’.

The next voicing, is a lovely A7b9 voicing that resonates beautifully on the guitar

John McLaughlin's guitar chord diagram for A7b9 guitar chord showing finger positions and fret numbers.
A7b9 chord voicing for John McLaughlin’s Blue in Green guitar chords

This falls naturally into a diminished 7th voicing

Musical notation for E diminished seventh chord over A, showing finger placements for guitar.
Chord diagram of E7 diminished/A, showcasing a complex voicing that requires a wide stretch on the guitar.

This chord is probably the most difficult as it requires a wide stretch. [Please see video above for safe detailed fretting explanation]

John McLaughlin's blue in green Chord diagram for D7sus with tablature indicating finger placement on guitar.
Chord diagram for Dsus7, highlighting its voicing and finger placement.

To complete this verse we have a nice colourful cadence

Sheet music displaying the D7b9 and GMaj7#11 chord notations with corresponding finger positions on a guitar fretboard.
Chord voicings for D7b9 and GMaj7#11, including fretboard diagram.

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Hexatonic Scale building from the Harmonic Minor Scale Part 1

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application
John McLaughlin Hexatonic Harmonic minor Guitar Scales Lesson and Explanation

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick look at creating a 6 note Hexatonic scale from the harmonic minor scale.

This works really well on the guitar as the harmonic minor scale is generally a clumpy and awkward affair in regards to the fingering.

So, if we take a look at the Harmonic minor scale in its classic, stock form, we have:

But, for effective guitar fingering, especially on a clean guitar or acoustic guitar this is not the most fluid way for the fretting hand.

So, what to do?

Well, the key is to break it up in the most Shakti way possible:

Here’s what we will do: We will employ 6 notes only of the scale. These will be: G# A B D E F

Musical notation illustrating a hexatonic scale built from the harmonic minor scale for music theory.
Hexatonic scale diagram with notation showing finger placements for guitar.

This simple 6 note Hexatonic scale gives us an easy 3 notes per string repetitive figure/pattern to alternate pick.

We can now play this across all 6 strings and create a nice line/phrase/scale that is easy to execute, pick and fret.

ASCENDING:

Sheet music displaying musical notes and tablature for a hexatonic guitar scale built from the harmonic minor scale.
Notated example of ascending and descending patterns for the Hexatonic scale on guitar.
Sheet music featuring a sequence of musical notes form the hexatonic harmonic minor scale.
Hexatonic scale notation for guitar, showcasing ascending and descending patterns.

DESCENDING:

Way 1:

Sheet music featuring guitar tablature and standard notation, for the hexatonic guitar scale built from the harmonic minor scale.
Musical notation illustrating the descending pattern for the Hexatonic scale in harmonic minor.

WAY 2:

Sheet music displaying John McLaughlin's hexatonic guitar scale built form the harmonic minor scale
Notation for the Hexatonic scale, illustrating finger placement and notes on guitar.

In Part 2 we will look at composition and improvisational techniques with the Hexatonic.

FREE PDF DOWNLOAD:

Hexatonic 2 (1)Download

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Guitar Techniques: Safe Fretting for Better Performance

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application

Please watch video above for detailed info:

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick look at the fretting hand and fretting notes “Safely”and easily on the guitar.

This is essential to ensure a relaxed hand, relaxed elbow and relaxed shoulders that are aligned and in sync with the right alternate picking hand at uptempo BPM’s.

PART 1:

To begin with, let’s take a simple 5 note prime number pattern and alternate pick it.

This will be done starting on an upstroke.

Musical notation featuring alternate picking guitar technique notes on a staff, with markings indicating measures and guitar tablature below, highlighting certain fret positions.
A guitar sheet music notation featuring a simple 5 note prime number pattern with for alternate picking.

From this simple 5 note pattern, we can move the fretting hand quickly avoiding pressure on the tendons.

Now that we have this let’s add another 3 note prime number pattern.

When these are connected together we have a “Smooth” little phrase of picking and fretting in sync.

Sheet music showing guitar alternate picking tablature with notes and finger placements, including various symbols and measures.
Standard music notation for a combined 5 note and 3 note alt pick pattern on guitar.

Now, let’s turn the 2 prime number patterns into “Standard” music notation – as 16ths.

Sheet music featuring Shakti McLaughlin guitar tablature with notations and finger positions, including a section labeled '4 + 4'.
Standard music notation for a 5-note prime number pattern as 16ths.

From here, let’s add a chord, so that what we have starts to become/sound like music:

Musical notation with a staff displaying notes, rhythmic values, and a guitar tab indicating specific frets and strings for fretting hand when alternate picking technique is employed.
Shakti/McLaughlin style alternate picking technique on guitar

PART 2: Ascending/Descending:

In this example, we will start with a chord and then comfortably play off of that chord ascending and descending into the next chord.

As you can see we have what looks like a bit of a stretch.

But, it is only a barred 2nd inversion C Major triad, with an F# note in the bass on the 4th finger.

The point here is that from that F# note we will start the alternate picking line from that 4th finger as it is already in position.

This makes it easy to do and connect to the next chord as the 1st finger will be in position to play the next chord.

Sheet music notation showing John McLaughlin style notes with finger positioning instructions, including '1st finger' and '4th finger' indicated on a staff and corresponding tablature for guitar.
Diagram illustrating the finger placements for the C/F# and D/E chords on guitar like John McLaughlin

The second part then descends nicely into the last chord of F#+7

PART 3: Ascending 5

Here, is another group of 5 + 3. Again, this is easy to fret and pick, and as before we will start on an upstroke.

Musical notation with standard staff lines showing notes and tablature for guitar, including finger positions indicated by numbers.

The beauty of this is that when we finish the chord on the downstroke it is natural to then go into the opposite direction and descend into another chord connection.

A sheet of music notation featuring notes on a staff and guitar tab indicating finger positions on the guitar.

PART 3: Sextuplets.

Finally, let’s finish with a much favoured guitar picking pattern that encapsulates 6 notes [Sextuplets]

We will employ our 5 note prime number pattern and add 1 note.

This will give us a nice and quick 6 note sextuplet pattern to execute.

Sheet music showing musical notes, including key signatures and bar lines, along with corresponding tablature for string instruments.

Now, we will shift this up the fretboard as we repeat it.

Sheet music showing John McLaughlin and Al Di Meola guitar tablature and notation with various notes and techniques.
Standard music notation for John McLaughlin/Al Di Meola style alternate picking pattern/exercise

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