Outside the BOx
TRIPLE TREAT Robin Henderson demonstrates how to spice up your lead work with useful triplet phrases…
The most common time signature in modern rock/pop music is good old 4/4. This means there are 4 quarter notes (crotchets) in a bar. So naturally the easiest way to solo over this rhythm is to keep your lead phrases within a 4 note grouping using 8th notes (quavers) or 16th notes (semi quavers). Try some pentatonic and Aeolian phrases in 4 note groupings and you’ll be well on your way to replicating licks from your axe idols. But if you wanna riff with the big boys you need to mix in some alternative rhythms to really make those chops come alive! Why not try experimenting using triplets? As its name suggests, a triplet is when you play three notes over one beat. Mixed into your solos triplets create an effect that blurs with the pulse adding a new funky feel. To get things started, practice picking 3 notes per click along the low E string in time with a steady tempo on your metronome, but be careful! Because you’re picking alternately in three’s, you’ll notice that each triplet group starts with the opposite pick stroke, e.g. DOWN-UP-DOWN/ UP-DOWN-UP. Try the exercises opposite starting with triplets in an A minor pentatonic scale, then move on to a natural minor scale and you’ll soon be punching above your weight, replicating solo styles practiced by guitar legends such as Eric Clapton, and contemporary bands like My Chemical Romance.
Robin Henderson has over ten years experience in teaching guitar and band coaching. His students have gone on to win national awards: XFM Rockschool 2005 and 2007, Vodafone Live Music Awards Best Live Unsigned Act 2007, Kerrademy Award Best Unsigned Band 2008. Realistic Rock Academy is based in
Epsom, Surrey and can be contacted on - 01372 740300,
www.realisticrock.com.
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Ex2: Ascending the pentatonic is the opposite of Ex1. You might find it more difficult because the picking action is less natural, but practice with a metronome and you’ll soon get the hang of it. Follow the pick strokes on the diagram and use hammer-on’s to develop smoothness. This sounds very effective when used as a flurry of notes within a solo; I’ve also finished with an up bend on the B string to give a lick feel.
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Ex1: Descending A minor pentatonic in a three note group. Turn on your metronome and play three notes over one click. Listen how the scale seems to ‘bend’ the timing and creates an interesting tempo change effect.
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