I think its cool how we come up with our own formulas! Its like....everyone is working on the same problem from different viewpoints. Its exciting to see the different answers to the problem!
AAhhh goodt! This would also bring us to the exercise of Shawns...playing 9s! But this would be 3 note per string patterns...but again...apply the idea to the patterns!
I had been working on two note per string shapes in an effort to mimic the Indian Modes. I had derived the "THAT" from an Indian Classical Music book I had found at a library. Of course the darn book was written in another language...but...heck it had the definitions in it and gave me the chance to derive them. You can find them in english on the web. One thing I noticed was the overlap of definitions we already knew! Derived from the standard Minor Pentatonic scale. The rest I believe can be "overlapped/derived" from other definitions we know....Melodic Minor...Harmonic Minor...and our Modal Pentatonics as well. One can use a drop note method to derive a pentatonic(omit 2 notes from a 7 tone scale) Where and how they came from...Pebber would know.
Any ways....being highly interested in the slippery playing style of the sarod players I began to experiment with sequences of these patterns in terms of drop note pentatonics and the Major scale...omitting two notes creating a pentatonic scale(a way to derive the Modal Pentatonic patterns---somewhat). I came up with a technique/term---"Outside/Inside" patterns. This can be seen on a vid I have...
I quickly noticed what this was doing to my left hand. It has the same effect as the trill! Since it is basically two notes moving back and forth....but...it gave me an edge because it allowed me to access a random pattern with this technique...of course I will have to make a vid explaining the whole technique. But take a look at the vid I have now....it is a nut shell of the idea.
I am wondering if this is what I am getting at...since my thumb is screwed up? That bouncing up and over the string...rather than the scalpel blend. The scalpel hybrid is really powerful...very exact....and effortless..different in the attack.
The vid you sent to us is excellent....trill exercises/over patterns. I tried to send a note back but didnt go through. Do you want us to start a new thread?
The one thing I could never see is John using(blending) scalpel picking for the intricate parts....is it more true he uses his wrist more to get up and over the strings for alt picking and the forearm for the powering of sarod?