Robben Ford Discussion

[sutra1]

Can anyone explain to me in a way that makes sense how to spell out this Super Arpeggio Larry and Robben use. Everything I read says Maj3-min3-Maj3-Min3. In what cycle? Starting where? No problem with diatonic arpps but how do you get to non diatonic? Read 1 post over Dm vamp--goes through diatonic arpps then jimps to gm or Bbmaj Arpps--How did they get there. Probably makes more sense over Dom chords.
Please--can anyone explain in a way that makes sense?

[nineacres]

The book "Original Larry Carlton" by Jesse Gress, published by Amsco Publications, starting on page 11 gives a full explanation of this melodic\harmonic concept. The example given uses a Dm7 as the basis for this "super arpeggio", which is constructed by using alternating ascending minor and major thirds, building triads (which have been termed the building blocks of Larry's playing) on each of the resulting scale tones. The resulting triads would be: Dm F Am C Em G Bm D, and it is the substitution of these triads over Dm that provides the practical application of all of this: Dm + F = Dm7; Dm + Am = Dm9; Dm + C = Dm11; Dm + Em = Dm13. What is interesting is that the further away the superimposed triad is from the orginal Dm triad, the more "outside" the resulting tones become. If possible, record yourself playing a Dm groove (or use Band-In-A-Box if you have it) and then play around with an F major triad, and Am triad, etc, over the top of it. However, the difference between grasping the fundamentals of this super arpeggio and actually applying it in a live situation is, needless to say, quite immense. However, it's certainly food for (a great deal of) thought. By the way, the book itself developes the concept to a much greater degree and is certainly worth obtaining. Hope this helps.
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"Creativeness often consists of merely turning up what is already there. Did you know that right and left shoes were only thought up a little more than a century ago?" - Bernice Fitz-Gibbon 1894-1982

[FatTeleTom]

Larry explains it himself in his (excellent) instructional DVD. Here's a link to one online source:

http://www.jklutherie.com/browseproducts/LARRY-CARLTON--Instructional----(DVD).html