ABILITY RATING
Info
Key Dm
Tempo 110bpm
CD TRACKS 23-34
Moderate /Advanced ****
Will improve your…
-
Application of the Altered scale/SuperLocrian
-
Colour, consonance and dissonance
-
Note selection and delivery
Robben Ford is one of the most significant of all electric guitarists. He has maintained a successful solo career as a blues singer, guitarist and composer, with a stream of blues flavoured releases. Robben has also had an illustrious career as session player to the stars, with credits that include Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, Little Feat, Michael McDonald and many more. In recent years he’s also pursued collaborative projects along with fellow legendary guitarists Larry Carlton, Mike Landau and John Scofield.
An expert at mixing orthodox blues phrasing with sophisticated swing and be-bop lines, evidence of his earlier jazz roots, he’s just as at home juxtaposing Pentatonic ideas with symmetrical Diminished scale and Melodic Minor modal action. Robben is able to integrate these concepts in an expressive and artistic way. Each melody is the perfect balance of consonance and dissonance, to create both drama and beauty.
Here we’ll be exploring how Robben, and legendary jazz, blues and fusion guitarists, use the seventh mode of the ‘jazz’ Melodic Minor, the Superlocrian or Altered scale, to provide that tension and release. Here comes some theory. But, to paraphrase the great Bill Hicks, don’t worry; there will be some licks coming!
This story is from the August 2021 edition of Guitar Techniques.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2021 edition of Guitar Techniques.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
Stuart Ryan presents another hero of the \"outlaw country' movement alongside Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings.
GEORGE KARAYIANNIS
In this month's JTC Guitar lesson we meet a brilliant Greek guitarist, teacher and performing musician who mixes rock and metal with jazz and prog influences.
LARRY CARLTON
This month Stuart Ryan has five intro licks from his latest Fundamental Changes book, based on the sophisticated style of a guitar icon.
BLUES SCALE LICKS
This month Simon Barnard shows how adding one chromatic note to the scale can dramatically spice up your standard Minor Pentatonic licks.
ERIC JOHNSON
This month Andy G Jones focuses on the legendary Texan guitarist whose fast flowing lines and Pentatonic flurries continue to amaze.
MATTEO MANCUSO
Charlie Griffiths takes a journey through the style of an Italian virtuoso who chooses classical guitar fingerstyle over other picking approaches.
JUDAS PRIEST
This month Jamie Hunt examines the riffs and rhythms of Glen Tipton and KK Downing, from one of Birmingham’s greatest ever metal bands.
KINGS OF LEON
Kings Of Leon formed almost 25 years ago in Nashville, Tennessee and consist of the Followill brothers Caleb, who plays rhythm guitar and sings lead vocals, drummer Nathan, and bassist Jared, along with their lead guitar-playing cousin Nathan Followill.
ALBERT COLLINS
Put a cold shot into your playing this month as David Gerrish explores the ultra-cool licks of the Master Of The Telecaster, aka The Iceman.
WOLFGANG A. MOZART Marriage Of Figaro: Duettino
Dust off your cravat as Declan Zapala has prepared a charming arrangement of the classic scene from Mozart’s opera masterpiece, as heard in The Shawshank Redemption.