Alternate Picking Guitar Exercises/Runs 140 bpm ii v7 i

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

CLICK SUBSCRIBE!

alternate-picking-mechanics-guitar-exercise-fusion-fluidity-lines

Hi Guys,

Today, a couple of alternate picking guitar exercises.

mclaughlin-liquid-lines-fluidity-alternate-picking-exercise

These lines are through a ii V7 I chord sequence/cadence at 140 bpm, so they are not super fast but are at the tipping point of the fusion tempo.

I am starting on a down stroke with the pick and following through with strict alternate picking in double time with 16th notes.

This first exercise employs some chromaticism ascending with pentatonic movement. The last 2 notes have a big stretch so there’s also a quick moment of detailed finger precision in the fretting hand.

alternate-picking-mechanics-guitar-exercise
alternate-picking-guitar-mechanics

As always with these types of exercises it’s important to count time and feel the pulse.

jazz-fusion-double-time-counting

This will create the “Fluidity” in movement and help connect it all together.

Next, we have a variation of the exercise above. This time starting with an upbeat and an extension all the way to the top D note.

alternate-picking-mechanics-guitar-exercise-fluidity-lines
alternate-picking-mechanics-guitar-exercise-fluidity-lines

Lastly, we have another tetrachord exercise and variation going the other way,

alternate-picking-mechanics-guitar-exercise-liquid-lines

CONCLUSION:

As you can see from these short exercises, the only way to get the alternate picking effective with jazz/fusion is through the “Connections”, because the harmony/chord changes have to be dealt with whilst picking.

PDF DOWNLOAD:

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

Alternate Picking Groups of 6 notes for Jazz/fusion guitar

CLICK SUBSCRIBE!

Alternate Picking Groups of 6 notes for Jazz/Fusion Guitar

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick look at using groups of 6 notes for double timing in Jazz/Fusion.

Although these are sextuplets I am using them as a double timing musical tool and hence thinking of them slightly differently. This is because I am using a tempo marking of 100Bpm.

Why would I do this?

The reason being – Around this tempo demisemiquavers or 32nd notes might be too quick to play and offset the rhythm too much:

Alternate-Picking-Groups-6 notes-fusion-guitar

and 16th notes [tetrachords] may be too draggy and not pushy enough.

Alternate-Picking-Groups-6 notes-fusion-guitar

So, grouping 6 notes together over [1 crotchet] or 1 quarter note works really well rhythmically for clear cut phrasing. This is the sort of thing Al Di Meola or John McLaughlin would do.

Alternate-Picking-Groups-6 notes-fusion-guitar

You can count this how you want. Below are some common examples.

Alternate-Picking-Groups-6 notes-fusion-guitar-counting-time

In order to get forward momentum and shift the grouping along it is a really good idea to “Accent” the third note in each six note grouping: This also gives you a reference point and avoids muddying the groupings of notes.

Alternate-Picking-Groups-6 notes-accents-accenting

Here is the first exercise starting on a down stroke with strict alternate picking:

Alternate-Picking-Groups-6 notes-fusion-guitar-exercise

In the next exercise the second part goes the other way on the guitar fingerboard.

Alternate-Picking-Groups-6 notes-fusion-guitar-exercise

This is an extended exercise with strict alternate picking : Remember to count the groupings as you play to begin with so that you internalise them.

Alternate-Picking-Groups-6 notes-fusion-guitar-exercise

PDF DOWNLOAD:

John McLaughlin Altered Guitar Lick [YT SHORTS]

CLICK SUBSCRIBE!

Short McLaughlin-esque ii V7 I guitar lick

IMPORTANT: Please watch video above for Guitar Lick:

Hi Guys

Just a short John Mclaughlin jazz fusion acoustic guitar lick from my youtube shorts. This, as per usual, employs strict alternate picking starting on a “Down stroke”.

john-mclaughlin-guitar-technique

Also notice that the phrase starts in the bar with an anacrusis:

john-mclaughlin-guitar-technique

The Dominant chord G7 has been altered and resolves nicely to the tonic chord via the notes Eb to E natural.

john-mclaughlin-guitar-technique

 Full Lick:

john-mclaughlin-guitar-technique-tablature
John Mclaughlin Altered style ii V7 I alternate picking guitar lick

 

PDF DOWNOLAD:

 

If you found this short lesson useful then please SUBSCRIBE to us below on Youtube, Thanks!