by John Petrucci - courtesy of Guitar World.com

Over the years, people have noticed that when I play certain runs, my fingers move in the opposite direction of the notes that they hear.






For example, as my fret hand moves up the fretboard, the sequence of notes that is heard descends (and vice versa). For this month’s Guitar World column, I’ve put together a few runs that demonstrate this unusual approach as applied to both ascending and descending patterns.

This kind of “positional wizardry” can be used to generate interesting melodic patterns that can be used in a variety of ways.


In FIGURE 1, I begin on the low E string in a high fretboard position and end on a high string in a lower position. The run is based on the A Aeolian mode (A B C D E F G), which is also known as the A natural minor scale and is intervallically spelled 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7.

The overall concept behind this line is a consistent progression of six-note groups, or “cells,” that move to different areas of the fretboard while remaining diatonic to (within the scale structure of) A Aeolian. The run is played in a rhythm of even 16th notes, which, due to its inherent four-note grouping, results in a more unusual melodic “shape” than if I had played the pattern in a triplet or sextuplet rhythm.

I begin by ascending through the first six notes—E F G A B C—then “backpedal” slightly and descend to the previous two notes, B and A, in alternating fashion. The next six-note phrase begins on G, two scale degrees higher than the previous starting note, and consists of the notes G A B C D E, played in ascending form.

Once again, I alternate between the last two notes in the same way, which sets up the beginning of the next six-note phrase, starting on B on the fourth string’s ninth fret, which is two scale degrees higher than the previous starting point. This “up-six, back-two” pattern then repeats three more times, culminating on a high A root note. Be sure to use consistent alternate (down-up-down-up) picking throughout this figure, and, as always, strive for crystal-clear articulation.


In FIGURE 2, I begin on the high E string and work my way up the fretboard while descending gradually on each lower string, pitch-wise. Like FIGURE 1, this run is also based on A Aeolian/natural minor and six-note “cells” played in a 16th-note rhythm.

After descending through the first six notes—F E D C B A—I quickly shift up the fretboard to a note that is three scale degrees higher in the scale, D, and then repeat the descending six-note pattern. This second sequence ends on F (third string, 10th fret), so I begin the next six-note sequence three scale degrees higher, on B (third string, 16th fret).

This process repeats three more times, culminating in a low A root note (sixth string, 17th fret). Again, alternate picking is utilized throughout, so strive for even and precise execution.

FIGURE 3 provides a clearer picture of the shapes used in FIGURE 2 by illustrating them as eighth-note triplets. Here, one can more easily see how the six-note pattern descends through the notes of A natural minor across two beats at a time. When playing the run in a straight 16th-note rhythm (rather than in an eighth- or 16th-note-triplet rhythm), be cognizant of the difference in feel and where the downbeats fall.

HAVING STARTED her career in her teens, neo-soul singer, Angie Stone, has witnessed the monumental changes within the music industry first-hand, and now fears for its future.

"I love music. I live for music," says Stone.

"But what we've done is made such a commercial massive mess of the whole music industry."

Stone adds: "The actual core that music stands for and represents has been compromised, and now we're at a place where you don't love to do it as much as you live to do it. You have to do it to live these days."

A native of Columbia, South Carolina, the mother of two began singing gospel music as a child at the First Nazareth Baptist Church.

Her father, a member of a local gospel quartet, would take his only child to see performances by gospel artistes, including the Singing Angels and the Gospel Keynotes.

The 52-year-old, whose first claim to fame was joining '80s hip hop trio, The Sequence, at 16 years old, feels artistes now face too many restrictions.


She says: "It was exciting and fun before. Now, it's more of a job, and there are so many reins put on the industry as a whole as to what is acceptable and what is not."

"I think the music industry is in a state of emergency."

After The Sequence separated, Stone re-emerged in the '90s as the lead vocalist for RandB trio, Vertical Hold.

The group scored with the smooth urban dance track Seems You're Much Too Busy, a top-40 hit during the summer of 1993 that led to her solo career.


During this time, Stone, who already had a daughter from a previous marriage, started to date fellow neo-soul artist, D'Angelo. The soul couple had a son, Michael, during their four-year relationship.

With the release of her 1999 solo debut, Stone became one of neo-soul's leading lights, providing sharp insight into romantic relationships with her smoky yet up-front voice.

Update: Malcolm Young "Taking a Break" from AC/DC

It seems there's some sad truth behind all of the recent speculation surrounding AC/DC's imminent breakup due to Malcolm Young's health issues.

The classic hard rock band may not be breaking up, but their rhythm guitarist is, for the moment, stepping down to deal with serious health issues. 


Here's the official statement from the band, which appeared earlier today on the AC/DC official Facebook page:

"After forty years of life dedicated to AC/DC, guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young is taking a break from the band due to ill health. Malcolm would like to thank the group’s diehard legions of fans worldwide for their never-ending love and support.

In light of this news, AC/DC asks that Malcolm and his family’s privacy be respected during this time. The band will continue to make music."

Our thoughts go out to Malcolm and his family.

I'll keep you posted as I hear more.

Australian hard-rock group plan new album, yet confirm one member's "debilitating illness"

Courtesy Jason Newman Rolling Stone.com April 16, 2014 8:20 AM ET 


After two days of massive speculation, Australian hard-rock pioneers AC/DC have shot down rumors that they are retiring. Frontman Brian Johnson has instead revealed that the band is going ahead with plans to record a new album.

"We are definitely getting together in May in Vancouver," he told the Daily Telegraph.

"We're going to pick up some guitars, have a plonk, and see if anybody has got any tunes or ideas. If anything happens, we'll record it."

Rumors of the group's retirement began late Monday night when Australian radio station 6PR reported the breakup during their "Rumour File" section and tweeted that founding member Malcolm Young and his family "have moved back to Oz because he is very sick."


Australian news anchor Peter Ford fueled rumors on his Twitter, stating, "There is some quite sad detail about it all, that I will not be reporting on, but the band/management may choose to reveal this" and that the "boys played together privately a few weeks back."

"The suggestion being put to me is that that tour will not happen and we will never see AC/DC perform again or record again," Ford said. "The boys have a pact that they will not get anyone else in the group; nobody will be replaced and when somebody leaves, the group ends."

Australian music journalist Darryl Mason posted on his blog speculation that Young had had a stroke one month ago and was unable to play at his previous skill level. Choirboys frontman Mark Gable, a close friend of the band, confirmed Young's illness.

"That is true, Malcolm is sick," Gable told ABC radio on Wednesday morning. "From what I understand, and it's even been confirmed in part by his son Ross, that it would appear Malcolm is unable to perform anymore. It's not just that he is unwell; it's that it is quite serious. It will constitute that he definitely won't be able to perform live. He will probably not be able to record."

Johnson did admit to the Telegraph that one of the bandmembers is ill, but declined to go into specifics. "I wouldn't like to say anything either way about the future," he said. "I'm not ruling anything out. One of the boys has a debilitating illness, but I don't want to say too much about it. He is very proud and private, a wonderful chap. We've been pals for 35 years and I look up to him very much."

In February, frontman Brian Johnson revealed that the band was about to begin recording new music alongside a special 40th anniversary tour. The album would be the band's first since 2008's Black Ice. Bassist Cliff Williams revealed last spring that Angus and Malcolm Young were at work on new songs.


Despite one of the member's illness, Johnson said an upcoming tour was still a possibility. "That would be a wonderful way to say bye-bye," said Johnson. "We would love to do it. But it's all up in the air at the moment. AC/DC is such a tight family. We've stuck to our guns through the Eighties and Nineties when people were saying we should change our clothes and our style. But we didn't and people got it that we are the real deal."

Earlier this year, Johnson said of a possible tour, "It’s been 40 years of the band’s existence. So I think we’re gonna try to do 40 gigs, 40 shows, to thank the fans for their undying loyalty. I mean, honestly, our fans are just the best in the world, and we appreciate every one of them. So, like I said, we’ll have to go out, even though we’re getting a bit long in the tooth. You know what?! It’s been four years [since we last toured], and I’m really looking forward to it."

In 2010, Johnson shot down rumors of the band's retirement to the Telegraph. "Of course I don’t want to retire," he said. "But I’m telling you if the body or the voice packs in there’s nothing I can do. Pride is what it is. You don’t want to let yourself, the band or the fans down. I’ll go on as long as I can. Thankfully the old tubes have held up. They’ve got a little bluesier, that just happens with life. I’m 62 now and I know it. And I’ve got another birthday coming, which is a bit of a bugger but what better way to get old?"

"Anchorman" Ron Burgundy may be on to something with his flute playing. Though the instrument doesn't come close to the guitar or saxophone, it is on a list of the sexiest instruments, according to a new poll from "60 Minutes" and Vanity Fair.

They found that the top instrument was the guitar at 26 percent, followed closely by the saxophone at 25 percent. The remainder of the list was made of the piano (21 percent), violin (14 percent), drums (seven percent) and flute (five percent.)


The survey measures how Americans listen to music and what they like to hear. The magazine will have the complete results in its upcoming issue. Vanity Fair's digital director Mike Hogan joined "CBS This Morning" with a preview.

The poll showed that 42 percent of Americans believe "this decade" has had the worst music in 45 years and it's not just older Americans that feel that way. Those under 30 are also most likely to think that this decade has had the worst music since 1970!

"I really do think it takes a really long time for the music that you hear ... for people to make sense of it, right? So we look back on the 70s and we're only thinking about the great stuff. We're not thinking about all the terrible stuff. I remember when people used to think the 70s was the worst music ever," he said. "So, I think as time goes on, it becomes clearer, this is the great stuff. Right now people might just be like 'All I hear (is) a lot of loud teeny-bopper music on the radio. And I don't get it.'"


Also, 39 percent of those polled would rather take their daughters to see Taylor Swift in concert over other artists like Katy Perry (26 percent), the boy band One Direction (11 percent) or Miley Cyrus (five percent.)

"We didn't ask the daughters what they want, but Taylor Swift has done a good job of cultivating her own image to be safe and clean, where as Miley is kind of constantly twerking everything and joking about drugs. And Justin Beiber, who is even lower on the list, has got border control issues and things," said Hogan. "So I think Taylor is sort of this safe choice if you're going to go to a concert with your daughter."

When asked which musical artist they'd like their child to study, the survey found 33 percent of parents would prefer their children study the Beatles; 32 percent voted for Mozart.

"I think it's because the parents don't know Mozart either, so they'd rather their kids learn something that they can listen to together," he said

Taming a wandering brain on demand isn’t easy, especially when you need to be able to focus, understand what you’re working on, and meet a deadline!

A lot of people work with music in the background and say it helps them focus – but not some.

Many people, have for a long time disagreed – finding their brain is tuning into the music rather than what they're meant to be working on. It’s even caused arguments over noise levels within various work environments.

When there’s music going on around some people they find themselves having to read, and then re-read a sentence to understand it and focus more on not singing the latest pop-song in their head rather then the article in front of them.

So, lucky for us, now there's a music service based on neuroscience which has been designed to help you focus not only on demand but for extended periods of time!

Many people have been surprised to find that when they trialled the streaming service it helped them pay better attention.

This isn't just your normal mainstream music playing, flowing through your headphones.


Neuroscience based music company focus@will said listening to the right kind of music can help you retain information and lengthen your attention span.

Music which doesn’t connect with your emotions can boost your focus levels and cut out distractions, focus@will said.

While a lot of offices have music playing in the background, the company said a lot of mainstream music is designed to connect with the listener intellectually and emotionally and can prove to be a bigger distraction.

The company’s playlists include smooth rhythms which don’t put you to sleep and are based on the idea that music can help you tap into your concentration flow.

But it’s maintaining that focus which many users have found to be the best part – the playlists help you stay in the zone, essentially blocking out the part of your brain (the flight or fight mechanism) which is on the lookout for “danger, food, sex or shiny things,” the company said.

The average person can concentrate for about 20 minutes at a time (that’s most of us) but when people turn the focus@will playlist on they find themselves getting lost in what ever it is they're typing away at.


User's Comment:
"At one point I even forgot I had pasta boiling away on the stove top because I was so engaged with what I was working on."

Focus@will claims its tool can boost your productivity cycle up to about 100 minutes before you need to have a rest.

“Most people can only concentrate for a maximum of about 100 continuous minutes before needing to take a quick break to stretch, move about, maybe get a drink of water, and so on before they resume for another session,” focus@will said.

The company said when people are working or studying it takes about 20 minutes to get used to their environment before the brain can begin tuning out the distractions but their science based playlists cut out this adjustment time – allowing you to get on with your work when you need to.

Whether it’s the placebo effect or the real deal, the streaming service which is similar to Spotify or Pandora, is definitely helping a lot of people concentrate and zone out the distractions around them.

Here’s an example:

Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith has hit out at US authorities for using the band's music to torture prisoners in Guantanamo Bay.

As NME reports, US Officials speaking anonymously to Al Jazeera confirmed detailed techniques used by the CIA during the George Bush administration following the declassification process for the report on its own "enhanced interrogation" procedures used after September 11.



Amongst the bands listed in the report were the Red Hot Chili Peppers, whose music was played to terror suspects on repeat. Smith responded to the news with the following statement:

"I've heard that they use more ... Like, hard rock, metal ... Our music's positive man, it's supposed to make people feel good and that's ... It's very upsetting to me, I don't like that at all. It's bullsh-t."

"Maybe some people think our music's annoying, I don't care, but you know ... (they) shouldn't do that. They shouldn't be doing any of that sh-t."