A Natural Minor Scale/Chords/Arpeggios:

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

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A Natural Minor Scale/Arpeggio:Basics

Hi Guys,

Today a quick look at the Chords,Scale and Arpeggios of the A natural minor scale.

To begin with this scale is exactly the same as the C Major scale but starting on the 6th degree:

c-major-chords-of-scale-diagram

a-minor-natural-chords-of-scale-diagram

Next we will play through and exploit and “Colour” the arpeggios of the scale:

a-minor-arpeggio-diagram

b-dim-arpeggio-diagram

c-major-arpeggio-diagram

d-minor-arpeggio-diagram

e-minor-arpeggio-diagram

f-major-arpeggio-diagram

g-major-arpeggio-diagram

We will now descend in broken chords in groups of 4 notes.

arpeggios-c-major-scale

Here are a few examples of playing a different arpeggio over a different chord of the scale:

arpeggios-c-major-scale-superimpositions

Here is a basic way of breaking up the scale by employing triplets:

First we will do this on one string:

a-minor-scale-triplets-example

Now we will cross all 6 strings:

a-minor-scale-triplets-example

This time we will employ 16th’s in 4 note groupings of “Tetrachords” creating a double time smooth pentatonic line.

tetrachords-a-natural-minor-scale-example-pentatonic

We can change the Dominant [minor] chord in the A natural minor scale and make it Major:

With this in mind we realise that the G natural is now a G# and so we can employ the A Harmonic minor scale to play over it.

Here is a simple 2 finger fingering:

a-harmonic-minor-scale-dominat-chord-example

Now, let’s extend this:

a-harmonic-minor-scale-dominat-chord-example

We could also use the E7 Arpeggio:

e7-dominant-arpeggios-example

Finally, we have a lick with an arpeggio [that also implies a triad pair] going to a pentatonic phrase:

E-dominat-chord-guitar-lick

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

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Alternate Picking Guitar Tetrachords Part 2

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

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alternate-picking-jazz-guitar-tetrachords-example

Hi Guys,

This is a response video to the previous video/blog. This is to explain and demonstrate the application of “Tetrachords” a bit further.

Here, I will add the video examples in Tab/Notation:

RECAP= What are Tetrachords:

“Tetrachords” are 4 note groupings to connect harmony/lines together for improvisation [and composition]

alternate-picking-jazz-guitar-tetrachords-example

When mastered they can be broken up into musical phrasing/punctuation:

Broken up/Shifted: Thus creating an upbeat

alternate-picking-jazz-guitar-tetrachords-example

Notes chopped off in the bar: Creating space and rhythmic interest.

alternate-picking-jazz-guitar-tetrachords-example

Breaking up the tetrachords like this helps to create smooth syncopations, anticipations or go the other way and play on the beat:

Now, let’s follow this through to a short extension of the phrase

tetrachords-guitar-improvising-lesson

As always it’s essential to count the time when doing this so that you know where you are in the phrase.

alternate-picking-jazz-guitar-tetrachords-example

In this video and for these examples I am employing strict alternate picking starting on a “Down Stroke”. Down Up Down Up etc.

alternate-picking-jazz-guitar-tetrachords-example

Practicing ii V7 I’s and iii Vi ii V7 I’s in various guises will really help you connect and nail the changes with your alternate picking: Below is an example with II V7 I:

alternate-picking-jazz-guitar-tetrachords-example

Now, let’s connect the harmony/chords together via tetrachords: This first example is in the style of John McLaughlin.

alternate-picking-jazz-guitar-tetrachords-improvisation-example

Notice, how smoothly the pentatonic 4 note groupings connect together

This time we will take a more basic approach with very simple fretting/fingering:

alternate-picking-jazz-guitar-tetrachords-improvisation-example

So, even through these basic examples it’s easy to see how to exploit these 4 note groupings to nail the changes and then break them up into musical phrasing/punctuation: As a further resource I would recommend John McLaughlin excellent DVD called “This is the way I do it”

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

Alternate Picking Groups of 6 notes for Jazz/fusion guitar

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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

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