Before reading this review, I recommend reading my thoughts on the first volume of Arpeggios ala Matini here as a lot of what I’m about to say echoes the earlier review.
With multi-volume educational jazz guitar content, things can be either sequential (going with the same idea but with different chord qualities or different ideas with the same chord qualities) or more complex – building on what has been previously covered.
With Hristo’s second volume of Chromatic Methenyisms (Arpeggios ala Matini), Hristo concentrates on some lower- range arpeggio shapes which are mainly positioned between the 6th and 4th string on the instrument.
This is an interesting area to explore, mainly because it it a general weakness in my own lead guitar playing. Personally, I felt that a lot of my own lead guitar playing centered around the three higher strings of the guitar. With that kind of playing, I ended up having a hand posture that limited larger intervallic lines, especially when I first started learning to improvise.
My favorite part about working on these lines is that it opens up my technique and perspective of how I see the fretboard.
Hristo’s left hand fingering create a certain amount of consistency that is more common on string instruments that tuned in the same interval through (cello, violin, viola, mandolin etc.).
The main problem about the guitar is that pesky major third interval between the open 3rd string and 2nd string. A possible solution of course is Berklee rock guitar professor Jon Finn’s Warp Refraction Principle that he explained in his 1999 book, Advanced Modern Rock Guitar Improvisation. Another way is what Hristo has done by making the fingering symmetrical even with the tuning difference between those two strings.
Although challenging with his stretches on the left hand, we get the benefit of the consistent fingering patterns when playing lines.
Would I use this approach all the time? Probably not, but it certainly is an attractive way to view the guitar. It definitely helps my single note improvisation too.
In conclusion, get this book/video set if you like the previous volume. I don’t recommend starting with this volume but get at least Chromatic Methenyisms 1 first, followed by Chromatic Methenyisms (Arpeggios ala Matini) Vol. 1 (previously reviewed here).
Pros: Great sounding chromatic embellishments that make your arpeggios sounds more modern and cool sounding.
Cons: None.
TLDR: As with Volume 1, this is good addition for a guitarist who has been working on Hristo’s previous Chromatic Methenyism material. Get this if you’re looking for additional ideas/phrases/shapes beyond Chromatic Methenyisms 1.
How to Buy:
You can get the book & video here: https://gum.co/NkMyL
Thank you Hristo for the complimentary review copy.
=====
And here are the links to all of Hristo’s related products in this series:
Hristo’s main website: http://www.modernjazzguitarbooks.com/
VOLUME 1: CHROMATIC METHENYISMS
Get the Book (TAB and standard notation + HD Tutorial Video + Two backing tracks) here: https://gum.co/VXwiF
VOLUME 2: CHROMATIC METHENYISMS ii-V7-I Application (Chromatic Melodic Ornamentation in the Style of Pat Metheny)
Get the Book (TAB and standard notation + HD Tutorial Video + backing track) here: https://gum.co/KrzHB
VOLUME 3: CHROMATIC METHENYISMS (Imaginary Triads)
Get the Book (TAB and standard notation + HD Tutorial Video + backing track) here: https://gum.co/cvTVd
VOLUME 4: CHROMATIC METHENYISMS (Pentatonics Uncompromised)
Get the Book (TAB and standard notation + HD Tutorial Video + backing track) here: https://gum.co/FYCLQ
CHROMATUDE #1: (Solar) – Chromatic Methenyisms Technical Studies: melodic/chordal
Get the Study (TAB and standard notation + backing tracks) here: https://gum.co/GUesG
CHROMATIC METHENYISMS (Lines You’ve Heard #1) – Short Melodic Phrase Example (FREE DOWNLOAD)
Get the Study (TAB and standard notation + HD Video/Audio + backing tracks) here: https://gum.co/IxGVV
CHROMATIC METHENYISMS (Lines You’ve Heard #2) – Short Melodic Phrase Example (James by P. Metheny)
Get the Study (TAB and standard notation + HD Video/Audio + backing tracks) here: https://gum.co/LkMQd
CHROMATIC METHENYISMS (Lines You’ve Heard #3) – Short Melodic Phrase Example – Minor Blues in “D”
Get the Study (TAB and standard notation + HD Video/Audio + backing tracks) here: https://gum.co/JAGZo
CHROMATIC METHENYISMS (Arpeggios ala Matini)
Get the Study (TAB and standard notation + HD Video/Audio + backing tracks) here: https://gum.co/AKbvDa
CHROMATIC METHENYISMS (Arpeggios ala Matini) Volume 2
Get the Study (TAB and standard notation + HD Video/Audio + backing tracks) here: https://gum.co/NkMyL
CHROMATIC METHENYISMS (Arpeggios ala Matini) 2516 Illustrations
FREE DOWNLOAD – Get the Study (TAB and standard notation + HD Video/Audio + backing tracks) here: https://gum.co/yppyt
CHROMATIC METHENYISMS – Wild Triad Quilts (3 Ornamentation Techniques)
Get the Study / Video Masterclass (TAB and standard notation + 30 mins. HD Video Masterclass + backing track) here: https://gum.co/lhcwx
DIATONIC METHENYISMS (Volume 1) – Diatonic Melodic Ornamentation in the Style of Pat Metheny – Video Masterclass
Get the Book / Video Masterclass (TAB and standard notation + backing tracks + HD Video Masterclass) here: https://gum.co/uhgkp
DIATONIC METHENYISMS (Methenycise #1 – C minor blues)
Get the Study (TAB and standard notation + HD Video + backing tracks) here: https://gum.co/jmmtf
[Review Archive]
I wrote a lot of other book, course and video reviews too.
Check out the rest here:
[Read more reviews]
[Submissions for Review Consideration]
- Are you an author who wrote a jazz, guitar or music book?
- Have you created a DVD or an online video course or subscription based website?
- Would you like me to review your book/course?
Please send me a message at azsamad3 at gmail.com with:
For courses: a link to the course/video/product + access info etc.
For books: a link to the book (Dropbox) or PDF attachment (if it’s small) for review consideration.
Depending on whether I dig the book/course, I’ll let you know if I do plan to review it!
I cannot guarantee a review for every submission & if I’m not too into it, I may opt not to review it. I mean, it’s better to get a good review that for me to write a bad review just because it’s not a match for the kind of stuff I dig right? :p
NOTE: All reviews reflect my honest personal opinion so be aware that I will point out both cool Pros and Cons that I see in the work. You dig?
Leave a Reply