Indian-esque “Style” Octave Raga Strumming

Modern Jazz Fusion Chords part 2. Steely Dan, Dan Chord and Slash Chords

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Hi Guys,

Today, a quick blog on using octaves and open strings on the guitar to create Raga style compositions.

This is not “Classical” Indian” music but a means of adding an implication and fusing western guitar strumming with the Indian scale sound.

Below, we can see the scale we will employ. This is the Lydian mode. Here we have D lydian in a Hexatonic format.

indian-guitar-strumming-octaves-raga-example

Now, instead of using single notes we will double them creating octaves.

Adding to this we will employ the open strings of the guitar as we strum to create interesting rhythms. [See video above].

indian-guitar-strumming-octaves-raga-example

We can also use quick slurs and slides to create a dynamic Indian-esque effect

indian-guitar-strumming-octaves-raga-example

Now, let’s move over to the 4th and 2nd strings and do the same thing with the lydian octaves and open guitar strings. [see video above]

indian-guitar-strumming-octaves-raga-example

Finally, we will move over to the 3rd and 1st guitar strings and do the same thing. This time creating the C lydian mode.

indian-guitar-strumming-octaves-raga-example-c-lydian

Due to the guitars tuning you will notice that we are moving up in 4ths or down in 5ths.

This works well for composing becasue it creates a strong pull in terms of movement and power that can then be manipulated by percussive rhythmic strumming on the guitar.

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Modern Jazz Fusion Chords part 2. Steely Dan, Dan Chord and Slash Chords

E Pedal Note Rhythm Guitar Alternate Time Signatures

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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.

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John McLaughlin Rhythm Guitar Riffs/Strumming Techniques

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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

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