Jazz Guitar Alternate Picking Exercises: ii V7 i [Double Time]

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

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Jazz Guitar Alternate Picking Exercises: ii v7 I [Double Time]

Hi Guys,

Today, we will look at some alternate picking guitar technique exercises for jazz improvisation when double timing

We will exploit ii V7 I’s as a basis for honing our alternate picking skills whilst employing 4 note tetrachord groupings.

In the first exercise it’s a good idea to accent the third note in each four note grouping. We are also starting on a downstroke:

jazz-guitar-alternate-picking-lesson-exercies

Here is the same exercise but with a variation in the second bar:

jazz-guitar-alternate-picking-lesson-exercies
jazz-guitar-alternate-picking-lesson-exercies

The next exercise will employ groups of 6 notes called sextuplets: As an exercise we will start with an “Upstroke” this time. This will be played over an AmMaj7 pad:

First Part:

jazz-guitar-alternate-picking-lesson-exercies-sextuplets

2nd Part:

jazz-guitar-alternate-picking-lesson-exercies-sextuplets

Full Exercise/Line:

jazz-guitar-alternate-picking-lesson-exercies-sextuplets

The following exercise uses some chromatic movement that smoothly connects to pentatonic movement starting on a downstroke:

jazz-guitar-alternate-picking-lesson-exercies
jazz-guitar-alternate-picking-lesson-exercies

In our final exercise we will join together some of these principles.

jazz-guitar-alternate-picking-lesson-exercies-double-time
jazz-guitar-alternate-picking-lesson-exercies-double-time

This was just a brief look at how to create alternate picking guitar exercises for improvisation through chord changes by applying simple patterns/fingerings that work naturally.

This was only around 140 bpm. But, this is essential before moving onto much quicker tempos with the alternate picking guitar technique.

With the 4 note “Tetrachord” groupings you will get fluidity through the changes. They will give you stability. They can then be broken up to create anticipation and syncopation-which will in turn create the natural expression of musical phrasing.

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

Alternate Picking “Upstroke” Guitar Exercise

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

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Alternate Picking Guitar explained in detail-“The UP STROKE”

Hi Guys,

Today, just a short alternate picking guitar technique exercise starting on an “Upstroke”.

The first part of the exercise employs a scale fragment that starts on an upstroke .

alternate-picking-guitar-explained

Although, this creates an odd grouping of 5 notes, it works really well because when you cross over the strings you will be starting on a “Down stroke”

alternate-picking-guitar-explained

This, also works well because this is a simple two finger pentatonic movement.

alternate-picking-guitar-explained-how-to

In the second bar we imitate the first part of the first bar by starting on the “Upstroke” again, creating another 5 note grouping,

alternate-picking-guitar-explained

In the next part we start on the “Down stroke” again. Also, note the fingering as we cross the strings. This is a favourite of guitarist John McLaughlin. This is crossing with the 2nd finger.

alternate-picking-guitar-explained-lesson

Here is the 2nd bar in full,

alternate-picking-guitar-explained-lesson

FULL EXERCISE 1:

alternate-picking-guitar-exercise

Here, is a variation for the second part of the exercise.

alternate-picking-guitar-exercise-lesson

Note, the semitones and the crossing over with the second finger to easily cross the strings:

alternate-picking-guitar-exercise-technique

FREE DOWNLOAD OF EXERCISE:

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

UP-STROKE Alternate Picking Concepts

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UP-STROKE Alternate Picking Guitar Concepts

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick look at starting alternate picking runs on an upstroke.

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

Starting on an upstroke can be useful when playing stepwise scalic patterns/runs. This can be modal, pentatonic or major/minor.

Here, is the first little exercise/idea: [Note that this starts on an upstroke and finishes on a downstroke]

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

We, will now extend this and complete the bar.

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

As you can see when starting on an upstroke it is easy to connect together fragments of scale and create extended fluid lines.

Here is another example of extending and varying by employing simple scalic movement starting on the up stroke.

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

Connecting scale fragments is a bit like taking the first half of the bar and imitating it into 2 phrases.

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

In this next example we have rests. These are useful as they give you a split second to get your fretting hand into position.

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

This time we will employ the open string to create an even pattern to an odd pattern to set up the upstroke for the next phrase.

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

This time we will use the same concept to ascend with a simple piece of pentatonic/scale:

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

Now we will descend starting on the up-stroke [no open string]:

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

Finally, we will employ a repeated note with some scale and open string distance.

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example

Notice that the repeated note and the open string are on the off beat:

One last thing: When doing these and any exercises it is essential to count time. Below is an example:

upstroke, alternate, picking, guitar, technique, example