Alternate Picking Groups of 6 notes for Jazz/Fusion Guitar
IMPORTANT: Please watch the video above for detailed info:
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:
and 16th notes [tetrachords] may be too draggy and not pushy enough.
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.
You can count this how you want. Below are some common examples.
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.
EXERCISE 1:
Here is the first exercise starting on a down stroke with strict alternate picking:
EXERCISE 2:
In the next exercise the second part goes the other way on the guitar fingerboard.
EXERCISE 3: EXTENDED LONG LINE:
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.
The good thing with alternate picking and the reason great players and improvisers employ it is because it offers the keys to performing rhythmically complex and fast tempo music. This is especially true with Jazz, Fusion and World Music.
Applying Indian Konokol or even Western Classical Tradition we can change the alternate picking patterns/groupings into rhythms for musical phrasing.
But, before we break these rhythms up though we need to get the basic idea and fundamentals down. This way we can nail any chords changes especially ambiguous ones.
PART 1:
This simple “Rhythmic Unit” of a group of 5 notes can be broken up. This gives clarity when nailing the changes at a very fast tempo.
Alternate Picking 5’s John Mclaughlin 180 bpm jazz improv “Nailing the Changes”
The Group of 5 now becomes one “Tetrachord” and the 5th note becomes the first note of the next chord [DbMaj9]. This way the changes are “Nailed” by the rhythm which has become 4+1
Alternate Picking 5’s John Mclaughlin 180 bpm jazz improv “Nailing the Changes”
So, as we can see the Ta Ka Di Me Thom or 1 2 3 4 5
Alternate Picking Fives Rhythmic Subdivision
Becomes 1 e and a2
or Ta ka di mi Ta
For anybody having problems with their alternate picking at fast tempos whilst nailing the changes this will really help you because you will automatically land on the first note of the next chord.
Below we can see a few examples with John Mclaughlin employing 5’s.
This time we will take a group of six notes [Sextuplets] and make a tetrachord and a half from it.
This will make 4+ 2 which will make us nail the changes with 4 notes on the first chord and 2 notes on the second chord with a short rest to reset our fretting hand to repeat the pattern again on the next two chords.
Alternate picking exercise warm up in Sextuplets/Triplets
Sextuplets John Mclaughlin guitar style into 4+2 Alternate Picking
1 2 3 4 5 6 or 1 trip let 2 trip let
or Ta ki ta Ta ki ta or Ta ka Ta ka di me
INTO:
1 e and a 2 e
Or Ta ka di me Ta ka
The first pattern for playing through the changes in Sextuplets
Sextuplets John Mclaughlin guitar style into 4+2 Alternate Picking
The first pattern is now changed into 16ths. From 1 2 3 4 5 6 into 1 e and a 2 e
or Ta ka di me Ta ka
Sextuplets John Mclaughlin guitar style into 4+2 Alternate Picking
The second part of the chord sequence in sextuplets
Sextuplets John Mclaughlin guitar style into 4+2 Alternate Picking
The second pattern is now changed into 16ths. From 1 2 3 4 5 6 into 1 e and a 2 e
or Ta ka di me Ta ka
Sextuplets John Mclaughlin guitar style into 4+2 Alternate Picking
Finally, the full one bar alternate picking chord sequence nailing the changes
Sextuplets John Mclaughlin guitar style into 4+2 Alternate Picking
VARIATION:
Sextuplets John Mclaughlin guitar style into 4+2 Alternate Picking
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