Tag: speed

Improve Your Guitar Skills with Alternate Picking Techniques

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application
Alternate Picking Guitar Technique Lesson

Please watch video above for detailed info:

Hi Guys,

Today, a few alternate picking guitar exercises.

These differ slightly as they incorporate alternate picking to chord and back to alternate picking technique.

Adding a chord [or chords] can throw some players off when alternate picking, so these exercises can be really helpful.

All of these little exercises are around the 140 bpm metronome marking.

EXERCISE 1:

In this primer exercise we will have two sets of 16th notes that then accent a D quartal chord.

This exercise starts on a Downstroke and accents the 3rd note in each 4 note grouping.

Sheet music with notes on a staff, featuring a clef, and measures containing various rhythmic patterns and symbols for alternate picking guitar technique.

By accenting these pitches it will make picking the exercise much smoother, due to the the last 2 notes in each 4 note grouping being prepared for and hence plucked in a deliberate fashion.

Sheet music showing a 4/4 time signature alternate picking guitar technique featuring a melody line with notes and guitar tablature below.
Musical notation for a guitar exercise focusing on alternate picking with accents.

EXERCISE 2:

This time we will extend the previous exercise, but, start in the bar on the 2nd semiquaver.

Again, these simple concepts will affect how you pick. So, this is set as if it is for a riff or hook that is doubled up with another instrument, hence, creating a much more compositional approach.

Sheet music with two measures in 4/4 time signature, featuring dotted quarter notes and half notes for alternate picking guitar technique.
Sheet music for alternate picking guitar exercise focusing on chord integration.

Here is the Full Exercise:

Musical notation for alternate picking guitar technique exercise on a staff in 4/4 time with notes for guitar, including standard notation and tablature. How to alternate pick easily.
Musical notation and tablature for Exercise 3, showcasing alternate picking techniques for guitar.

EXERCISE 3:

This time we will ascend and descend.

This exercise demonstrates the different amount of notes per string.

Many, alternate picking exercises revolve around the 3 notes per string concept.

But, real music dosen’t work that way as we have – Melodies/Vamps/Hooks/Riff/Unison Instruments-this means, there maybe 1 note on one string and 4 notes on the next string and then 2 notes on the next string and then 3 notes etc.

This exercise is tailor made for the above, as, it employs the two main music devices being that of an arpeggio and scale.

Here is the first part.

Musical notation showing an alternate picking guitar exercise with arpeggio, scale, and chord, with a guitar tablature notation underneath.
Guitar alternate picking exercise showing arpeggio, scale, and chord for varied note patterns.

The second part, starts on an Upstroke, because, we finished the last phrase on a downstroke as we plucked the chord.

Musical notation showing a series of alternate picking guitar technique notes in 4/4 time signature, including both treble and bass clef sections, indicating a melodic sequence and finger positions.
Sheet music for Exercise 3, illustrating descending guitar patterns for alternate picking.

EXERCISE 4:

This exercise involves crossing over to the 1st string and back again, with different amounts per string.

So, to begin with let’s break this down into a simple 2 string exercise:

As before, notice the accents on the 3rd note in each 4 note grouping:

Musical notation sheet showing alternate picking guitar technique a series of notes and symbols, including two sections of tablature indicating finger placements on a stringed instrument.
Detailed notation for a guitar exercise focusing on alternate picking with accents on specific notes.

Full Exercise:

Sheet music showing alternate picking guitar technique in a series of notes in 4/4 time signature with labels for a minor third and arpeggio.
Musical notation and tablature for a guitar alternate picking technique exercise, highlighting a minor third and arpeggio.

In conclusion:

These exercises are just a few ideas that are really useful when working on alternate picking guitar technique.

This is because many hooks and vamps and compositional devices don’t work on 3 note per string picking.

The great improvisers like John McLaughlin, Don Mock and Pat Martino play long fluid phrases along with weaving in and out of chords, chromaticism and implied harmony [double stops/Octaves]. So, being able to pluck odd and even groupings [or any amount of notes per string] with embellishments and chords is essential.

Hopefully, these exercises will be of some help with that.

PDF DOWNLOAD:

Alternate PickingDownload

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Alternate Picking Leverage:Open String Concept:

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application

Please watch video above for detailed info:

Hi Guys,

Just, a quick response Blog to a video I made about employing the “Open” [2nd] string ascending with alternate picking guitar technique.

Why do this?

The main reason that this works, is because it is an “Even” grouping, and, by plucking the open 2nd string it gives the fretting hand a fraction of a second to relax and get into position.

This in turn gives us some natural and excellent leverage. This also, means that we have the “Up” stroke to descend with.

This technique works really well for the precise picking passages both in Fusion and World Music, like, for example the precise lines of McLaughlin’s “Shakti” compositions.

This extra note, or even pattern, works in principle like a Be bop scale in that the extra note creates a smooth picking line for the right hand.

EXAMPLE 1:

4 note “Even” Pattern:

Here, we can see the employment in action by crossing with the open B string on the “Upstroke”.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_expalained

This gives us, the 4 note “Even” grouping.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_expalained

EXAMPLE 2:

In this example, we can see where the “Up” stroke occurs, which, sets us up nicely to descend:

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_expalained

Here, is the whole scale passage.

Also, notice that the open B string is “Off” the beat.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_expalained

EXAMPLE 3: Descending:

There are, other open strings that we can exploit. But, for the sake of a quick response blog we will just look at one more idea and that is for descending:

Here, will will pluck the open G string and then add a chord. [Again, notice the the open string is off the beat]

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_expalained

Finally, let’s extend this:

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_expalained

Conclusion:

This is only touching the surface. There are many variations on this and any string can be employed both ascending and descending.

Now, you might say what if the open B note isn’t in the key? Well, this doesn’t matter as it is only one note and can add colour. John McLaughlin does this to great effect. Also, due to the picking and the velocity the ear of the listener is not really affected, it’s very difficult to tell.

Lastly, this is not a shred gimmick or a means of tremolo picking and trying to play fast. It is a concept for really precise picking awkward lines, when, for instance you are doubling with a Sax or Piano or as a Rhythmic “Shakti” style line with a tight drum/drummer/percussionist.

PDF DOWNLOAD:

ap open stringDownload

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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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