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Odd Note Groupings
Odd Note Groupings For Creative Solos
Many of my licks and ideas consist of odd note groupings. You will find many sequences consisting of 5 notes, 7 notes, 11 notes, etc.
What Are Odd Note Groupings?
Odd note groupings are groups of notes that contrast the rhythmic subdivision. If, for example, you are playing an improvised solo consisting of constant semiquavers (16th notes), and you are playing obvious groups of 4 notes or 8 notes, your solo will sound uninteresting.
If you mix melodic groups of 3 notes, 4 notes, 5 notes, etc., the accent will be displaced and will not always coincide with the pulse. This rhythmic device can transform a constant stream of semiquavers from a boring exercise, into a beautiful and creative melody.
Different Rhythmic Subdivisions
Just to be clear, I am not talking about rhythmic subdivision which is dividing the beat into different parts.
If a crotchet has been established as the beat, this can be divided into two (quavers), three (triplets), four (semiquavers), etc. Odd note groupings mean the number of notes played together to form a unit, which can then be expanded upon to create a melodic sequence.
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7 Note Sequence Over E7
This lick uses a 7-note group to create a long, flowing chord-specific idea.
Alternate picking is the way to go when practising this lick and it will give you a great alternate picking workout. You might find this lick challenging when attempting to play it at speed.
It is relatively easy to modify this guitar lick so that it can be used with any type of chord.
11 Note Sequence Guitar Lick
It is best to start using smaller groups of 2 notes, 3 notes and 4 notes and mixing them up when working with odd number groupings. 11 notes repeated results in a long sequence and you need plenty of time if you are to use groups of 11 notes.
Try this lick over a static dominant 7th chord vamp. It is not a lick that you can use effectively when playing over chord progressions that have constant harmonic movement.
Diminished Scale Jigsaw Sequence Guitar Lick
This guitar lick uses a 7-note sequence which I think of as the jigsaw sequence. I have used this sequence for a previous lick, so you might want to check out the Guitar Sequences And Melodic Patterns post.
Any idea using the diminished scale can be repeated horizontally along the fretboard in 3-fret jumps. Take parts of this lick and move your hand up or down 3 frets to further expand the idea.
I have plenty of diminished scale sequences with which you can experiment and add to this lick in various other posts.
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