Neo-Soul Fusion Masterclass: Vol.3

Welcome to Part Three of my Neo-Soul masterclass series!

One of the most interesting elements of the Neo-Soul style is the way the chords and melody are woven together, so in this volume I will teach you a powerful strategy for implementing this kind of sound in your playing. We’re going to take advantage of the notes surrounding the chord shapes, creating a sense of movement, and resulting in a modern and interesting sound which can be applied to any harmonic progression.

The first step is to be aware of the melodic possibilities for chords and to help you I have recorded 12 exercises where you can practise visualising the notes that surround the chords. These exercises are based on the most commonly used licks in this style. Another important detail is that you will notice that these exercises can also be used as licks – this means that while you are studying technique you are also acquiring vocabulary.

The second step is to learn the 10 licks and increase your harmonic and melodic vocabulary. There is a backing track which you can use to practise my licks and experiment with your own licks. It’s a really good idea to bundle together your favourite licks and the ones you’ve learned from this masterclass series, making the most effective and diverse use of your practice time.

Finally, for the third step, I played a full solo incorporating several elements of this masterclass, so you can have a broader view of how these techniques work in a more musical format. In addition to learning this solo, I also recommend that you create your own solos using the licks and ideas you learned in this masterclass.

Another important detail is to develop a basic knowledge of the major and pentatonic scales because these scales will form most of our vocabulary along with the chords. I’ll tell you what notes are in each scale as we progress, but do spend some extra study time practising these scales across the whole fretboard.

Now let’s go to the exercises. Good luck!