Tag: lesson

Alternate Picking from Ascending 5’s

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application

PLEASE WATCH VIDEO ABOVE FOR DETAILED INFO:

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick look at building from the “Ascending group of 5” with alternate picking guitar technique.

This group of 5 exploits the “Up” stroke. It works well as a tool for building longer and longer lines/phrases.

This is NOT shred and is really only for jazz, fusion and world-esque music like John McLaughlin’s super creative outlet Shakti. It is an improvisers tool.

ASCENDING 5:

Here is an example of the 5 figure. It consists of an open string and starts on an upstroke.

This 4 note + 1 sets up the upstroke for the string cross.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

Here’s how it would be as a tetrachord to the next beat. [As opposed to a quintuplet or Ta ka di mi Thom.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

EXAMPLE/EXERCISE 1:

Let’s now build off of the ascending 5 figure.

In the example below, we can clearly see the extension from the 5’s to 7’s to two groups of 4 note tetrachords.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

From here, we will add a Dom7th chord to the scale/phrase.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

This sets us up nicely to descend smoothly starting on the upstroke.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

EXAMPLE/EXERCISE 2:

Here, we will do exactly the same thing, except that this time we are moving from G7 to C Major. [Notice the open string and 5 figure extended].

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

Once again, the descent is on the upstroke.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

FULL EXAMPLE:

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

EXAMPLE/EXERCISE 3:

Here, we see the process in action again. The line building from the 5 figure.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

The descent starts on the upstroke as before, but, this time leads to a perfect V I cadence:

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

VARIATION:

Here is a variation, but, this time in the key of A Major.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

The same form of descent is employed that once again ends in a V I cadence.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

FREE PDF DOWNLOAD:

5-GuitarDownload

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Counting Rhythms for Alternate Picking Guitar “Right Hand” Technique:

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application

Please watch video above for more detailed info:

Hi Guys,

Here are a few of the Rhythms that I like to count and/or practice when alternate picking:

These are based around Indian Konokol: But: I am using them to INTERNALISE patterns. This could be Ta ka di mi but felt/internalised as du du du du–

WHY is this?

It’s because I am in “Standard” tuning and the syllables of the counting help to “Connect” quick rhythmic patterns together to create “Musical phrasing” for composition and improvisation.

These, I find help me enormously with the right hand picking, as I can connect phrases together from the internalised beats/syllables.

These are NOT cast in stone and are only a few ideas that I use personally, and are not aiming at strict Indian classical music technique, but, are employed as reference points/patterns/beats in the way that they are enunciated.

4 note grouping:

1] Ta ka di mi [1 2 3 4]

2] Ta ki ta Ta [more as 123 1]

5 note grouping:

1] Ta ka di mi thom [1 2 3 4 5]

2] Ta ka di mi Ta [1 2 3 4+1]

3] Ta ki ta Ta ka [1 2 3 1 2]

7 note grouping:

1] Ta ka di mi Ta ki ta [4+3]

2] Ta ka di mi thom Ta ka [5+3]

8 note grouping:

1] Ta ka di mi Ta ka di mi [4+4]

9 note grouping:

1] Ta ki ta Ta ki ta Ta ki ta [3×3]

2] Ta ka di mi Ta ka di mi Ta [4+4+1]

11 note grouping:

1] Ta ka di mi Ta ka di mi Ta ki ta [4+4+3]

13 note grouping:

1] Ta ka di mi Ta ka di mi Ta ka di mi Ta [4+4+4+1]

16 note grouping:

1] Ta ka di mi Ta ka di mi Ta ka di mi Ta ka di mi [4×4]

IN CONCLUSION:

These are only ideas that I personally find useful, and, as I say they are not for strict Indian classical music. But, they do function well as reference points and a way of enunciating beats for the picking hand to pluck at a fast [alternate picking] tempo.

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Mastering John McLaughlin’s Guitar Techniques

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application

Please watch video above for detailed info:

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]

john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example

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

john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example

OR: Ta ka di mi-Ta ka di mi

john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example

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

john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example

Example 5: 5+5 to chord:

john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example

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

john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example

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

john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example

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

john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example

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

john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example

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

john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example

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.

john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example

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.

john_mclaughlin_guitar_technique_example

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konokol_guitarDownload

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