The Guitar Player's Resource
Welcome Back! In this lesson I will be showing you some string skipping ideas you can loop, meaning continuously repeat. This is a technique I love to do in my music and it is very good for your technique. In the audio examples I supplied, you will notice most of these I repeat into a loop and the notation does not include repeat signs. You have to use your imagination with some of these phrases and be sure to incorporate different rhythmic patterns and practice these with a metronome or a drum machine.
Example 1. This first example is based off the D Phrygian Dominant scale (D, Eb, F#, G, A, Bb, C). The concept behind this phrase is the D pedal tone is continuously played after each note. The phrase is based off an ascending, 4-note scale sequence and then a descending pattern in 3rd intervals. This is a technique used in different types of music, especially Classical music. Be sure to start slowly, and then build up speed.
MP3 - Example 1
Example 2. This next example is in the key of G major (G, A, B, C, D, E, F#). This is a string skipping pattern that starts off with eight note triplets and then in the 3rd bar the same phrase is played with 16th note triplets. The tempo is the same throughout; we are just changing the note value. This is a great technique you can use to develop your right hand technique and to add excitement to your playing.
MP3 - Example 2
Example 3. Here is another string skipping pattern, this one is in the A Mixolydian scale (A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G). You will notice the same pattern repeats through the scale with a 6-note pattern. The notation is written using straight 16th notes, try converting this phrase using 16th note triplets. I begin this pattern with an upstroke, so the right hand alternate picking pattern will be up, down, up down, etc. You can experiment with the right hand picking that is comfortable for you.
MP3 - Example 3
That wraps up the lesson. Be sure to make up your own examples based on what I have given you. Be sure to check out my CDs on this amazing site and visit mikecampese.com for more information.
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.
