Known for his enormous contribution to jazz and electric guitar, Pat Metheny has become a household name over his long and illustrious career. But, while Pat has elevated the electric guitar in jazz, he has also brought attention to the acoustic guitar and its role in jazz improvisation. One of his most memorable acoustic releases is the duo album he recorded with Charlie Haden, Beyond the Missouri Sky.
On that record Pat brings his slippery lines and unique articulation to the acoustic guitar on many of the album’s tracks, including the song Two For the Road. In this lesson you learn and break down 5 licks from Pat’s solo on that tune.
You don’t have to play them on acoustic guitar for them to work in your playing. Taking licks from the acoustic guitar and playing them on electric is a great way to expand your soloing vocabulary and bring a fresh approach to those lines.
Have fun with these licks, learn them in several keys and positions on the guitar, and add them to your next guitar solo. They’ll expand your soloing chops and bring a Metheny vibe to your lines at the same time.
Video
Two for the Road Lick 1
This first lick uses the A natural minor scale (aka Aeolian scale):
| A Natural Minor Scale | A | B | C | D | E | F | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | b3 | 4 | 5 | b6 | b7 |
Listen:
Backing Track:
Two for the Road Lick 2
This second lick uses the A natural minor scale as well, combined with an E major triad in the second half of bar 2 and the first half of bar 3.
Listen:
Backing Track:
Two for the Road Lick 3
The third lick starts with an E7 arpeggio (combined with chromatic and approach notes).
The second bar starts with the A natural minor scale and goes to the A minor blues scale in the second part.
Listen:
Backing Track:
Two for the Road Lick 4
In this outside sounding lick, Pat uses a technique called sidestepping. He starts with the B major scale (B-C#-D#-E-F#) and moves on to the C mixolydian scale (G-A-Bb-C-D-E). He then plays a chromatic line and finishes with the C major scale.
Listen:
Backing Track:
Two for the Road Lick 5
This last lick is in the A minor blues scale.
Listen:
Backing Track:
5 Pat Metheny Licks.pdf
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The PDF is a great help. Is this feature going to be on every email post? Learnt a lot from these posts. Thanks
Hi
Very good idea to have put these lines ! Could we have more idea and line on that tune ?
Thanks to revert.
Nice
I love your lessons!Thank you so much