GUEST COLUMNIST:

Alan Lennon

Arpeggio Inversions


1. These are the Arpeggio inversions you should know inside out. Make sure to practise them using some of your own progressions. I have included the recommended fingering. An inversion is basically the same notes of the main arp but starting on a different note so to speak.

Example. Notes of a C major arp - C E G. The 1st inversion will be E G C. Simply like getting the first note and throwing it to the back. The 2nd inversion will be G C E. Now you can have three different sections of the board and three different starting notes to work the same arp from. And you will have countless new shapes for your arp vocabulary.


2. This is one of my favourite Becker pieces. It shows just how much of a genius he trulys is. I have basically combined three parts of the song "End of the Beginning" which is from the Jason Beckers album 'Perspective' which is one of the greatest albums I have ever heard. This piece uses a lot of the different arpeggio inversions. Part 1 of the piece is probably the most easily recognisable Becker piece that anyone can try to play. It's just power chords with heavily muted fills in between. In the 2nd part I used a clean sound to let you hear the notes a little clearer. The main benefit to knowing all of your inversions is the ability to use different starting notes (either the root, 3rd, or 5th) of any arpeggio, and they can help you contain a certain progression to one area of the board a lot easier which can help if you are trying to play a melody line within your arpeggio passage. I have also included a backing track for you to play over. As always on my tab ignore the standard music notation. It's not even nearly correct :) Enjoy.


complete backing track


Alan Lennon is 24 years old, from Bagenalstown, Ireland, and has been playing guitar for 8 years. His main influences are Greg Howe, Shawn Lane, Jeff Beck, Marty Friedman, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Jason Becker.

He is currently recording his first album "Heavens Call" which he hopes to have finished by the end of summer 2002.

He was featured in the "Guitar9 Undiscovered" in February 2001. Be sure to visit Alan's website @ www.altheripper.moonfruit.com.