Music in Theory and Practice

Please watch video above for detailed info: Hi guys, Today, a quick look at the idea of employing slash chords. To do this we will focus on one specific chord that of B/C. CHORD VOICING: In the notation/tablature below, notice the use of a B Major triad over a C bass: Here, are a few more voicing’s: 1] 2] 3] 4] SOLO LINE EXAMPLES: This chord works well with the diminished scale. But,…

Hi Guys, Here, is the extended version for the 2nd finger John McLaughlin motif: MOTIF: The motif is a 4 note [Tetrachord] in 16th notes- D C# D E Notice that this starts with the 2nd finger on the first note: Now, let’s extend this and add a “set up” by employing the Mixo-lydian mode to create a more Indian/Shakti flavour to the phrase: I am starting this on an upstroke with strict…

Hi Guys, Apologies for not creating video’s recently, but I have had a serious internet/creator burn out [hard to believe I know, but it’s been difficult to get motivated]. Also, the heat here in the UK has made even practicing difficult as it’s gone up to 37/38 degrees at times. But, I will eventually add a video for these wonderful John McLaughlin “Open” chord voicing’s found in “Belo…

Please watch short video above for detailed info: Hi Guys, This John McLaughlin guitar motif/fingering made famous from his video “This is the way I do it” is something I get asked about a lot. The reason being, is that it is unique in the way that the alternate picking and the fretting hand can produce really fast/quick compositional and improvisational lines. For this blog, I am going to…

Hi Guys, I have re-posted an old post here [as requested] due to some of my old posts being hard to find. I have done my best to catalogue them here: https://jazzimproviser.com/category/fripp-counterpoint-plectrum-technique/ . But because of the amount that I have created/published over the years it’s been difficult to archive them in any other way. [Apologies] Okay, back to the original…

Please watch video above for detailed info: Hi Guys, If there are two scales that I am always asked about, these are the whole tone scale and the diminished scale. But, out of the two, it’s the whole tone scale especially!…And it’s due to the general textbook cumbersome and awkward fingering that puts guitarists off. So, today let’s take a look at how to play the Whole Tone Scale with a…

 CLICK SUBSCRIBE! Please watch video above for detailed info: Hi Guys, Today, a look at Messiaen’s mode 5 and 6 as a musical analysis and as compositional and improvisational music techniques. PART 1 Mode 5: Messiaen’s 5th Mode [of limited transposition] is well known for its semitones, two major 3rds and its tritone possibilities. TRANSPOSITIONS: Messiaen Mode 5 [5th mode 6…

Please watch video above for detailed info: Hi Guys, Today, a look at the unique chord voicing’s of John McLaughlin’s take on the Bill Evans/Miles Davis classic tune “Blue in Green”. These, are taken from Rob Carroll’s transcription from live at the Royal Festival Hall London album. PART 1: Here, are the chord voicing’s with the odd variation. The first chord voicing has a barred shape that…

Frank Zappa Octave Displacement Composition/Improvisation Concepts Please watch video above for detailed info: Hi Guys, Today, a quick look at the way Frank Zappa exploits octave displacement. This, is a really useful compositional device especially when writing for a string quartet or stringed instruments. EXAMPLE 1: In this example we can see the use of the displaced octave [or Maj7th…

John McLaughlin Hexatonic Harmonic minor Guitar Scales Lesson and Explanation Hi Guys, Today, a quick look at creating a 6 note Hexatonic scale from the harmonic minor scale. This works really well on the guitar as the harmonic minor scale is generally a clumpy and awkward affair in regards to the fingering. So, if we take a look at the Harmonic minor scale in its classic, stock form, we…

CLICK SUBSCRIBE! Chords of guitarist John McLaughlin Lesson and Examples IMPORTANT: Please watch video above for detailed info: Hi Guys, Today, we will look at some more Modern Jazz Fusion Chords. These are primarily based around a Major Triad [played] over a different bass note: Commonly called “Slash” chords. Here, are some essential common slash chords employed in/for…

CLICK SUBSCRIBE! The Chords of Guitarist John McLaughlin IMPORTANT: Please watch video above for detailed info: Hi Guys, Welcome to part 2 of the John McLaughlin Modern Jazz Chords series. First we will have a look at making chords from the whole step half step diminished scale: The Diminished Scale Musical notation displaying the diminished scale starting on the note C, for creating…

John McLaughlin/joe Zawinal “In a silent way” Guitar Analysis Lesson Please watch video above for detailed info: Hi Guys, Today, a look at the amazing performance/improvisation of “In a Silent Way” by John McLaughlin and Joe Zawinal. PART 1: The key to this is to look at the 16 bar structure and view the two main chords and acknowledge how the melody is/can be contained within them. FORM…

Robert Fripp Guitar Techniques Lesson Fretting and Dynamics Fripp Part 2 -Video Re-Edit : Hi Guys, Here, is the Pdf Download with the Music Notation and Tab for guitar for the Fripp Part 2 Guitar Concepts: Fripp-2Download

Robert Fripp Octave Displacement Guitar Lesson Please watch video above for detailed info: Hi Guys! Today, a quick look at applying octave displacement into your alternate picking guitar technique. This [12 tone] concept was originally taken from the brilliant 12 chromatic forms by jazz guitar great Pat Martino and then re-developed into a more 20c classical picking Fripp-esque guitar…

Alternate Picking Guitar Technique Lesson Please watch video above for detailed info: Hi Guys, Today, a few alternate picking guitar exercises. These differ slightly as they incorporate alternate picking to chord and back to alternate picking technique. Adding a chord [or chords] can throw some players off when alternate picking, so these exercises can be really helpful. All of these little…