Enhance Your Compositions with Polytonality Techniques

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

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Polytonality: For Concerto/OrchestralWriting lesson

Hi Guys,

This is the Re-Post that you requested.

Polytonality is the use of two or more keys at the same time:

poly-tonality-orchestral-composing-chords-example

In this first example we have 4 bars of Polytonality with Eminor/DbMajor and EbMajor/CMajor

Sheet music showing a polytonal example with E minor/Db Major and Eb Major/C Major labels.
Musical notation illustrating polytonality with E minor/Db Major and Eb Major/C Major.

This then resolves itself with a “Tonal” diatonic cadence of B7/D# to Em:

Polytonality-Orchestral Example

This example explores “Implication”. In this case it is implying the melodic minor but avoiding the cliche by employing the richness of Polytonality:

Sheet music showing C# minor, Fm7, A minor, Ab Major, and Gm6/A chords with annotations as examples for polytonality.
Musical notation illustrating chord progressions in polytonality, featuring C# minor, Fm7, Aminor, Ab Major, and Gm6/A.

From here, we will again employ diatonic harmony for a cadence.

To complete this short orchestral example we will go back into Polytonality with another melodic minor implication by employing Dminor/DbMajor:

Sheet music showing the chord labels 'D minor' and 'Db Major' in red text to demonstrate polytonality.
Musical chart depicting D minor and Db Major for a polytonal music example.

Here is the chart:

poly-tonality-orchestral-composing-example

Polytonality-Orchestral Example

In this final example we will just “Reverse” the chords. This time it is DbMajor/Cmajor which is then played the other way around with CMajor/DbMajor.

polytonality-orchestral-composing-chords-example

finally, we will employ a slash chord for an “Implied” cadence: This will also lighten the harmony:

Musical notation of a slash chord labeled 'G/C' with staff lines and symbols.
Illustration of a G/C slash chord as notated in music theory.

Here is the Chart:

polytonality-orchestral-composing-example

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

The End of Guitar Techniques Magazine: A Tribute

Hi Guys,

Just a quick video [above] looking at the death/closure of the guitar magazine:

For me, the guitar magazine was an important part of guitar culture and a great source of learning, especially in the old days where there was very little information about.

The most important, educational and best UK guitar magazine was “Guitar Techniques” which has sadly published its last copy.

For me, this magazine was an amazing concept with real in depth and valuable lessons from the likes of, Shaun Baxter, Pete Callard and Guthrie Govan.

Shaun Baxter……

guitar-techniques-magazine-shaun-baxter
guitar-techniques-magazine-shaun-baxter

guitar-techniques-magazine-shaun-baxter
guitar-techniques-magazine-shaun-baxter

guitar-techniques-magazine-shaun-baxter

Pete Callard…….

guitar-techniques-magazine-pete-callard

guitar-techniques-magazine-pete-callard
guitar-techniques-magazine-pete-callard
guitar-techniques-magazine-pete-callard

Guthrie Govan…..

guitar-techniques-magazine-guthrie-govan
guitar-techniques-magazine-guthrie-govan-shawn-lane
guitar-techniques-magazine-guthrie-govan-example

Every subject under the sun was investigated and captured in detail. Explained with clarity and easy to execute on our guitars!

So, enjoy the video above if you were like myself a guitar mag nerd [lol!], as it is really just a tribute to the great magazines and an age and culture of a time now seemingly gone by.

Robert Fripp Guitar Picking Exercise for Unique Phrases and Patterns

Robert Fripp Guitar Picking Lesson and Exercises

Hi Guys,

Today, a Robert Fripp style Guitar Picking exercise that incorporates various Fripp/King Crimson guitar picking patterns.

These are angular, string skipping and awkward intervals that can be picked with either strict alternate picking or “Down Down up”. I employ alternate picking mostly, but, there are parts where I exploit the “Down Down Up” pattern purely because some string skipping intervals are too wide and awkward for alternate picking alone.

The first bar is quite awkward and so I “Float” with my right picking hand. This way I am not stuck in any one position and I can freely pluck the passage without any intrusions.

king-crimson-fripp-guitar-picking-lesson-example

At this part of the bar you will notice the awkward string skipping part between the C and C# down to the E note. You will need to pivot with the fretting hand for this. [Please see video above for detailed info].

fripp-guitar-picking-lesson-example-intervallic

The next bar is starting on an “Upstroke” with strict alternate picking:

fripp-guitar-picking-lesson-example

The next Phrase is reminiscent of “Larks Tongues in Aspic III” by Fripp. Notice the C note to the open E string to the C# note. This connects the phrase nicely by breaking the chromaticism up and at the same time making it fluid.

robert-fripp-guitar-picking-lesson-example

In the next part we can see how phrases might be counted or felt as groups of 5 or 3. [See video above]

crimson-fripp-guitar-picking-lesson-example

To round the phrase off I employ a descending Eb Dominant pentatonic scale: This employs alternate picking starting on an upstroke. [I finished on the note F# purely becasue I like the sound].

fripp-guitar-picking-lesson-example

The final part employs a 5/8 chordal picking vamp:

The picking pattern I use is : “Down down down up up” and “Down down up down up” with the plectrum.

fripp-guitar-picking-lesson-example

This was just an exercise/example by taking some King Crimson, Robert Fripp signature licks, patterns and phrases and making a little etude from them. This in turn creates some familiarity with the right hand picking in order to create patterns of our own.

Making your own patterns and coming up with your own original and unique phrases is the key rather than to just copy.

There are so many variations to exploit, which gives any player a mountain of material to work with. So, anyone can make some really original, colourful and interesting music from this.

Fripp-guitar-lesson