Mastering Slash Chords: The B/C Explained

B/C GUITAR SLASH CHORDS GUITAR LESSON AND EXAMPLES

Hi guys,

Today, a quick look at the idea of employing slash chords.

To do this we will focus on one specific chord that of B/C.

In the notation/tablature below, notice the use of a B Major triad over a C bass:

John McLaughlin guitar Slash Chord B/C Example in TAB and music notation

Here, are a few more voicing’s:

1]

2]

3]

4]

This chord works well with the diminished scale. But, in order to come up with something unique we are going to take a different approach.

Because, we have the B Major chord we can exploit Pat Martino’s minor conversion technique.

In this case, we will employ the minor a Major 3rd up. This will be D#/Eb as the minor key:

Here, we will employ the simple Eb minor arpeggio:

This time, we will employ scale movement inside of the Eb minor arpeggio shape in a horizontal form.

diagram depicting guitarist John McLaughlin improvisation over Slash Chord B/C Example in music notation and guitar tablature

Let’s do the same, but, play with the notation and give it a diminished flavour:

Now, let’s take a B Major arpeggio and ascend it by making sure our C bass note is within it.

NOTE: There are also two open string notes of D natural [minor 3rd] and the open E. I used these as they make the arpeggio flow easily when alternate picking.

How to play a John McLaughlin guitar arpeggio example for altered slash chord of B/C

We can also add some chromaticism for smooth movement.

Finally, let’s see how composition can be exploited with our slash chord.

To do this, we will create a ii V7 I cadence:

diagram depicting guitarist John McLaughlin cadence and jazz composition

NOTICE: In the example above, we can see that the minor becomes diminished and the Dominant becomes 13b9 and the I chord becomes our slash chord that resolves yet hangs in the air.

Fripp Part 2 Download

Robert Fripp Guitar Techniques Lesson Fretting and Dynamics

Hi Guys,

Here, is the Pdf Download with the Music Notation and Tab for guitar for the Fripp Part 2 Guitar Concepts:

Master Octave Displacement: A Robert Fripp Style Guitar Lesson

Robert Fripp Octave Displacement Guitar Lesson

Hi Guys!

Today, a quick look at applying octave displacement into your alternate picking guitar technique.

This [12 tone] concept was originally taken from the brilliant 12 chromatic forms by jazz guitar great Pat Martino and then re-developed into a more 20c classical picking Fripp-esque guitar etude.

Sheet music titled '12 Chromatic Forms for Guitar' by Pat Martino, displaying various musical notations and finger placements for guitar.
Sheet music for Pat Martino’s 12 chromatic forms for guitar, illustrating the String Skipping exercise.

I am starting this little etude/exercise on an “Up” stroke with alternate picking guitar technique. [You may prefer to start on a downstroke]

Alternate Picking Guitar technique Icons representing 'DOWN' and 'UP' with bold letters in red.

As an example here is the first part:

Music sheet notation with guitar intervallic string skipping 12 tone Robert Fripp notes and symbols, including slurs and dynamic markings. Alternate Picking guitar lesson.
Notation for the ‘String Skipping’ guitar exercise exploring octave displacement.

The key to be aware of = The exploitation of “Octave displacement”. This creates unique harmonies and S.A.T [B] style 12 tone lines.

Musical notation showing octave displacement Robert Fripp guitar notes E, D, Db, C, Bb, A, and Eb with directional arrows indicating alternate picking guitar technique movement between notes.
Diagram illustrating octave displacement and the chromatic scale in guitar playing.

As you can see in the diagram above, this is just the chromatic scale, but, moving/resolving through the different registers.

This octave displacement technique, offers us a way to create/extract interesting colourful music from the chromatic scale [12 tone], whilst, complimenting our instrument through the high low high or low high low resonances.

A sheet of music notation featuring guitarist Robert Fripp's alternate picking octave displacement guitar technique. There are various notes and tablature for string instruments, arranged in multiple measures.
Musical notation for the ‘String Skipping’ exercise, highlighting octave displacement techniques in guitar playing.

Although, [for this etude] I have employed octave displacement, I have also incorporated some basic scale parts to link it all together and avoid intervallic monotony.

I am starting both of these scale fragments on an“Up” stroke with strict alternate picking once again:

A sheet music excerpt featuring various musical notes and notations by Robert Fripp, including highlighted sections and annotations. Alternate picking guitar technique lesson.
Guitar tab illustrating emphasizing alternate picking guitar technique

Musical notation on sheet music displaying Robert Fripp's guitar tablature and standard notation in 4/4 time signature. Alternate picking guitar technique is employed.
Tab notation for the ‘String Skipping’ exercise inspired by guitarists Robert Fripp and Pat Martino.
string-skipping-guitar-lesson-example
A sheet of music showing Robert Fripp guitar tablature and standard notation, consisting of various notes and rhythms across two staves. Alternate picking guitar technique lesson.
Guitar tablature for the ‘String Skipping’ exercise inspired by Robert Fripp, illustrating techniques of alternate picking and octave displacement.
A section of sheet music featuring a variety of Robert Fripp guitar musical notes and rests, typical for guitar notation, with both standard notation and tablature. Alternate picking guitar technique.
Musical notation for the ‘String Skipping’ exercise inspired by Robert Fripp, illustrating alternate picking techniques and octave displacement.