technique – Page 11 – Modern Music Theory Improvisation and Application

Alternate Picking Guitar Technique: The Plectrum/Pick Grip

Posted on July 9, 2023July 17, 2023 by Modern Music Theory and Application

Alternate Picking: Essential Grip for fast articulated picking

IMPORTANT: Please watch video above for detailed info:

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick look at alternate picking plectrum/pick grip.

It’s not so important how you hold the pick or what finger you use. But, it is essential not to have a wobbly thumb and/or finger .

A lot of guitar players when they start out with alternate picking often change the grip just as they are about the pluck the string! This makes it impossible to gauge distance.

When the thumb is rigid and the grip is solid, distance, articulation and timing fall into place automatically.

Pic 1: Good solid grip

Pic 2: Pick confidently plucks string

Below [Pic 3]: BAD! At the last moment the pick is turned as it is about to pluck the string and the thumb and finger wobble/collapse:

2 BASIC EXERCISES:

Here are a couple of exercises for practicing whilst getting the feel of gripping the pick firmly.

The first is a simple A minor Pentatonic scale in sextuplets. Counting basic 1 2 3 4 5 6

This starts on a down stroke:

alternate-picking-guitar-techniques-exercise

Next we have the same thing but in groups of four 16th notes.

It’s a good idea to play around with these two exercises by mixing the groups of 4 and 6 together and create little phrases out of them.

PDF DOWNLOAD:

alt-pick-guitar-grip Download

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McLaughlin-esque ii V7 I Alt Guitar Line [140 Bpm]

Posted on May 13, 2023May 24, 2023 by Modern Music Theory and Application

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John McLaughlin-esque ii V7 I Alt Guitar Line [140 Bpm]

Please watch video above for detailed info:

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick ii V7 I McLaughlin-esque lick

This is at 140 Bpm with an altered approach to harmony with strict alternate picking guitar technique.

The chords are as follows.

For the ii minor chord I employ a minor chord with a Major 7th and an added 9th.

mclaughlin-altered-harmony-guitar-theory

For the V7 chord I raise the 5th [#5] and add a flattened 9th note.

And for the I chord I make this augmented by raising the 5th.

So, the ii V7 I becomes harmonically altered and creates an interesting sound

john-mclaughlin-altered-harmony-guitar-theory

Guitar Line

The line starts on an upbeat with 3 target tones that deliberately set up the 1st note of bar one. This adds forward momentum and adds a colourful chromatic set-up.

mclaughlin-altered-harmony-guitar-chromatics-lesson

The target tones start on an “Up stroke” so that on the first beat of bar one you will land and start a “Down stroke”

mclaughlin-alternate-picking-guitar-how-to

Over the DmMaj7/9 chord I start with a Dm9 arpeggio and then exploit the D Harmonic minor scale by ascending in fragments.

mclaughlin-altered-harmony-guitar-improvisation-theory

Over the G+b9 chord I start on the third note B and then play an Eb 4-3 arpeggio.

mclaughlin-guitar-music-theory-improvisation

The Bb from this arpeggio then moves up to the B natural and then I play the b9 to tonic and #5 to5 which then finally moves down to the note C for the tonic of the next chord C+.

Whole Bar:

John-mclaughlin-altered-dominant-guitar-improvisation-theory

PDF DOWNLOAD:

mclaughlin-ii-v7-i-alt-lick Download

IF THIS LESSON WAS OF USE TO YOU THEN PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO US BELOW ON YOUTUBE, THANKS!

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

Posted on April 19, 2023April 23, 2023 by Modern Music Theory and Application

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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.

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.