Short Melodic Sketch #16 - 4x4 (Altered Space) - "Outside" phrasing over minor chords

Short Melodic Sketch #16 - 4x4 (Altered Space) Modern Melodic Phrasing using Intervals of a 4th - "Outside" phrasing over minor chords

In this short melodic exercise I continue my exploration of modern melodic phrasing on the guitar using the interval of a 4th as the primary building block and architectural element of the melodic line. This time around I am exploring the possible sonic textures that fourths can produce when "stepping out" over minor chords. For this purpose I am combining intervals of a 4th from the Dorian mode or minor pentatonic of the selected chord with 4ths from a minor pentatonic scale a half step higher as well as the melodic minor scale that contains the V7alt chord of my minor tonic.

Playing fourths on the guitar at fast tempos presents quite a few technical challenges as such intervals are always located on top of each other on two adjacent strings. Their clean execution and tonal control is something that requires a lot of practice. So here I am sharing with all of you these lines that exemplify how I like to partition the melodic minor, major scale and pentatonic mode fingerings in fourths and where to position the notes on the fretboard.

Hope you enjoy it!

Materials Included:

Short Melodic Sketch #16 (PDF file - TAB and Standard Notation).

"HD Video" of the Phrase (at tempo and slowed down).

For more info please e-mail: hristo@hristovitchev.com