In this lesson we will look at some interesting neo-classical ideas that made Yngwie Malmsteen Popular. Even though he can be slightly over-the-top, he is still a fantastic and popular player. Even if this style of music isnt your thing, a lot can be learned, and applied to other styles.
Arpeggios
These are a great way to add melody to a solo, because they capture the chord tones at different voices and give a sense of purpose to a solo. They are used in most forms of music, and are very useful. The principle of an arpeggio is to take a chordal triad (can be an extension too) and pick the notes individually instead of strumming. For the Context of this lesson we shall look at a few minor triads (very rock). The minor triad is made up of 1 b3 5, and below are some examples in different keys.
Bm (B, D, F#)
--------------10--14--10----------------
-----------12------------12-------------
--------11------------------11----------
-----12------------------------12-------
--14------------------------------14----
----------------------------------------
Cm (C, Eb, G)
---------------11--15--11---------------
-----------13-------------13------------
--------12-------------------12---------
-----13-------------------------13------
--15-------------------------------15---
----------------------------------------
Dm (D,F,A)
--------------13--17--13----------------
-----------15------------15-------------
--------14-------------------14---------
-----15-------------------------15------
--17-------------------------------17---
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Although these are often sweep picked in a neoclassical context, I prefer to alternate pick through the arpeggio, for clarity and cleanness. Pedal Point Licks or Pedal tone licks are musical phrases that take one note, and alternate an ascending or descending scale with that note. For example C-D C-E C-F etc. These are very classical inspired licks and sound great in a rock context. See Malmsteen's Black Star for examples.
-13-12-13-10-13-8-13-----12-10-12-8-12-7-12-----
---------------------12----------------------10-
------------------------------------------------
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The two examples above can be seen in several ways. The first uses F as its pedal, and descends through the F Lydian Mode. The second uses E as its pedal and descends through E Phrygian. However, both are made up of the notes of C major, and therefore the relative minor, A.
So these licks can be used in an F major, E minor, C major, or an A minor context. Nice! Harmonic Minor Scale Runs No lesson on Neoclassical rock would be complete with out mentioning the Harmonic Minor, so here are some straightforward scale ideas in the Key of E, alternate pick slowly before building up speed
1)
-12------------------------------------------------
----16-13-12---------------------------------------
--------------14-12-11-----------------------------
------------------------14-13-10-------------------
----------------------------------14-12-10-9-7-6-7~
---------------------------------------------------
2)
--------------------------------11-12-----
-----------------------10-12-13-----------
---------------9-11-12--------------------
---------9-10-----------------------------
-7-9-10-----------------------------------
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Ascending Arpeggio Sequence
To finish with, here is a very melodic ascending idea that is a mixture of pedal point
and arpeggio. Pull off every note onto the high E (Fret 12 1st string) and pick the others.
See Jason Becker, Vinnie Moore, and especially Malmsteen's Demon Driver for examples.
-14-12-----15-12----17-12----15-12----14-12-------
-------12--------12-------12-------12-------12/13-
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-14-12----15-12----17-12----15-12----14-12--------
-------13-------13-------13-------13-------13/15--
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-15-14----17-14----19-14---17-14---15-14----------
-------15-------15------15------15-------15/17~---
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Good luck! And remember these sound good slowly too and you don't need big hair to play them!
