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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How to do a tremolo on the guitar: Right hand technique

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How to “TREMOLO PICK” Basics Guitar Technique

PLEASE WATCH VIDEO ABOVE FOR DETAILED INFORMATION:

Hi Guys,

Today we will look at the basics of doing a tremolo with the pick on the guitar.

For this basic overview we will start by pivoting our palm on the bridge of the guitar.

tremolo-picking-guitar-technique- how-to

Now we will alternate pick “Down Up Down Up” continuously whilst counting 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and in simple 8th notes on an open string.

tremolo-picking-guitar-technique- how-to

Now we will double the time with 16th notes and count: 1 e and a 2 e and a 3 e and a 4 e and a and “Accent” the first note in each four note grouping.

tremolo-picking-guitar-technique- how-to

We will now double this with 32nd notes: Below is a music notation diagram to see the tempo build up for a tremolo;

tremolo-picking-guitar-technique- how-to

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Al Di Meola Arpeggio Guitar Picking Part

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Al Di Meola Arpeggio Guitar Picking Part 2

PLEASE WATCH VIDEO ABOVE FOR DETAILED ANALYSIS:

Hi Guys,

Today we will look at Al Di Meola’s approach to picking chordal arpeggios. He terms it “Chordal Picking”.

I have composed a short riff based on “Meeting of the Spirits” performed by the guitar trio.

This is deliberate in order to show how the picking patterns can be the same but interpreted differently.

In this case it is 3/4 :

al-di-meola-arpeggio-guitarpicking-lesson

Or 6/8 [or 12 3 1 2 3]

al-di-meola-arpeggio-guitarpicking-lesson

What remains the same is the picking pattern which is “Down Down Down Up Up Up”

al-di-meola-arpeggio-guitarpicking-lesson

The next part deliberately employs a different time signature of 2/4

This is just to show how easy it is to fit alternate time signatures with these chordal picking patterns:

al-di-meola-arpeggio-guitarpicking-lesson

It might sound or look complex in words and notation, but, in reality it is quite natural to play, compose with and perform.

The next part employs “Dampening”. This is just simply resting my palm on the guitar strings and plucking the rhythm.

In this case the picking pattern is our old friend “Down Down Up”

al-di-meola-arpeggio-guitarpicking-lesson

For the strumming part please watch video at the top of the page as it is easier to show visually than with diagrams or notation.

Lastly, we finish with the “Down Down Up”pattern once again:

al-di-meola-arpeggio-guitarpicking-lesson

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