8/07/08: Arlen Roth - Contrary-motion Licks and Turnarounds

[Guest Gibson Lifestyle]

Arlen Roth's Daily Lesson: Contrary-motion Licks and Turnarounds

 

08.07.2008

 

 

Playing octave notes simultaneously in various runs is a great way of both improving and adding to your own style of playing. As evidenced in Arlen Roth’s exclusive lesson from yesterday, Wes Montgomery brought this unique style to the forefront of jazz guitar playing, leading the way for other artists to take into their own respective musical genres.

 

In today’s lesson Roth takes this style one step further, progressing from the “octave” technique to the contrary motion technique, which is the use of positions and licks where one note goes down while the other goes up—or vice versa.

 

Roth considers this style one of the more “acrobatic” techniques on the guitar, and you’ll see why as you watch him demonstrate his mastery of it through the use of two-, three-, and even four-string spreads.

 

He also examines the use of only a pick, pick and finger, or thumb only as ways to effectively incorporate this interesting technique into your own style of playing. As you’ll soon see, the technique works great for fills, rhythm work, and soloing.

 

Click here for today’s exclusive Arlen Roth lesson from Gibson Lifestyle.

 

And don’t forget to check back tomorrow for the replay of this week’s lessons, all available only at Gibson Lifestyle!