The Guitar Player's Resource
Hello! Welcome to part 2 of the coordination lesson. I hope you spent some time with the examples in part 1. Here are some more examples that are great for getting in sync. Don't forget to start off playing very slowly at first, then gradually building speed, with your left and right hands in sync. The musical examples have tempos on them. Work up to those speeds - don't start there! Play the following segments with alternate picking, and also use right hand palm muting. OK, get your metronome or drum machine and let's get started.
Example 3 - This is a two string phrase which is great for developing your cordination. This example is in E minor (E, F#, G, A, B, C, D) using 16th note triplets. Repeat the main phrase over and over and then move down in key. Strive for accuracy, gradually building speed.
MP3 - Example 3 - Slow
MP3 - Example 3 - Fast
Example 3a - These next four examples are short segments that can be moved around the neck. In this example we are using the same phrase as Example 3, but this time we're using string skipping. Loop this over and over, then move this up and down the neck in the key of E minor. You will notice on the audio example how I move this phrase down the neck.
MP3 - Example 3a - Slow
MP3 - Example 3a - Fast
Example 4 - This is a great single string idea for developing your picking. It is in the Key of D major.(D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#). Move this one up the neck. Also, make sure your right and left hands are in sync. Start slow, gradually building up to the marked tempo.
MP3 - Example 4 - Slow
MP3 - Example 4 - Fast
Example 4a - Now we have a three string idea in E Lydian (E, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#). This is more of an arpeggio style phrase. It is based on an F#m7 arpeggio. Move this up the neck, running through each arpeggio in E lydian. In the audio example, I move up to the next arpeggio,G#m7b5 (G#, B, D, F#).
MP3 - Example 4a - Slow
MP3 - Example 4a - Fast
Example 5 - Our final example is another three string phrase using the notes from a D minor pentatonic scale (D, F, G, A, C). Move this pattern up in 4th intervals. For example, the first phrase will start with F then the second one will start with Bb etc. On the audio example, I move this pattern up in 4ths. This is a cool way to make use of patterns.
MP3 - Example 5 - Slow
MP3 - Example 5 - Fast
This wraps up the lesson! I hope you had fun with these examples. So make sure you experiment and develop your own ideas. If you have any questions feel free to email me. Also check out my CDs "Full Circle" and "Total Freedom", and for more information visit www.mikecampese.com. Good luck!
Mike Campese is an all-around music performer, session artist and teacher competent in many musical styles, electric and acoustic. He has studied at G.I.T. (Honors Graduate), and with Paul Gilbert, Norman Brown, Stanley Jordan, Scott Henderson and Keith Wyatt.
