Mattias IA Eklundh Pt3 Back On The Road

Swedish guitar virtuoso Mattias AI Eklundh demonstrates more of his eccentric, signature lead work over another great sounding backing track. Jon Bishop is your guide.

- Jon Bishop

This month we move things up a notch in the third part of our video masterclass series. We’re looking at another Jason Sidwell track, this one entitled Back On The Road. You may well find this particular track very user-friendly as the thrust of it is essentially a minor blues in the key of C.

As Mattias explains, his main scale of choice for soloing over this type of progression is C Aeolian mode, also referred to as C Natural Minor (C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb). We have included a popular fingering for the scale for you to experiment with, as it will work for all the sections of the track. You may also wish to simplify the tonal palette by opting for C Minor Pentatonic (C-Eb-F-G-Bb), adding Aeolian’s extra D and Ab notes once you are more comfortable with the track.

One of Mattias’s neat tricks is to use a volume pedal to fade the notes in. This clips off the attack from the front of the note, providing a more synth-like quality and offering a departure from the typical sound of guitar’s attack.

Unsurprisingly, Mattias includes the odd ‘exotic’ note from outside the C Minor scale. In the video, the main two ‘outside’ target tones he demonstrates are the diminished 5th interval (Gb) and the major 7th interval (B). He very naturally brings in tapping to complement his regular picking styles, which he does in a precise and always very rhythmic fashion.

Mattias is quick to offer a bit of wise advice about not using a face-melting amount of distortion for your tone. He suggests using just enough gain so that the results remain cleanly articulated and avoid becoming messy. The tempo for all the sections is fun to play along to, 114bpm.

As with the first two instalments, Mattias continues to demonstrate plenty of harmonics as well as those tapping ideas; technical facets that form important elements of his style.