ALEX SILL Video Masterclass
This amazing fusion player plays and explains a great solo on Jason Sidwell’s track, Buoyancy.
In his final masterclass Alex demonstrates his chord and lead style over Jason Sidwell’s fusion groover, Buoyancy. The solo has some sophisticated semiquaver syncopation and offers a great chord voicing lesson. Jon Bishop is your guide.
This month we have another tastefully crafted solo courtesy of fusion wizard Alex Sill. Jason’s track Buoyancy clocks in at a 108bpm and features a number of non-diatonic chords and key changes, so we have chosen an open key signature (no sharps or flats). This will make it easier to see clearly how the note choices relate the chords.
m7b5- The track starts with a II-V (F# B7) that Alex sets the scene with some precomposed single-note phrases that feature mainly chord tones to align with the changes. While the intro suggests a move to E Minor, the verses are actually based around E Major, and even that is a loose reference as F# chords (suggesting E Lydian), G chords (suggesting E Dorian) and D chords (suggesting E Mixolydian) all feature. Certainly, the E bass note pedalling helps create a sense of unity and those who know Joe Satriani’s pitch axis theory (the shifting modality around the A tonal centre in his Satch Boogie) will appreciate this compositional technique.
No single scale will fit properly over all of this section so Alex uses triad arpeggios. For example, on the G/E (=Em7) he favours notes from the G Major arpeggio (G-B-D) and for the F#/E (=Emaj13#11), he focuses on F# Major arpeggio notes (F#-A#-C#). This works wonderfully well although what is crucial is to know where the chords happen and then interact with them accordingly, a far cry from Pentatonic phrasing over all chords.
The main rhythmic subdivision here is 16th notes with a shuffle feel. Alex often starts and ends phrases off the beat and this adds a sophisticated edge to things. As usual there’s plenty of articulation including hammer-ons, pull-offs, bending, slides and vibrato.
Em7b5The Bridge features a minor II-V ( A7sus4) in D Minor where Alex opts for melodic single notes, not unlike the intro. For the solo’s chords, Jason referenced and expanded on a progression from Alex’s tune, The Activity, from his debut album. This is a 12-bar progression with a tonal centre based loosely around D Dorian (D-E-F-G-A-B-C) with other modes referenced due to chords
Bb7 Eb such as and (D Locrian) and Dmaj7 and Gmaj7 (D Major).
While Alex has a more open approach here, playing more freely through the chords, his focus is largely around chord tones and arpeggios. Again, to solo over this intense sequence with confidence, a strong knowledge of all the chords and their notes is required. To this end, Alex spends most of his video discussion dealing with the chords and his favourite voicings. From studying this, you will gain both new chords and a broader understanding of the fretboard. As regards phrasing, Alex favours playing across the bar line to add propulsion and excitement to his
solo ( see Technique Focus on the next page).
After the solo, there’s a return to the verse which finishes with four bars of chord stabs that are mainly maj9 orientated. These chord stabs are played with a fingerstyle approach, so various notes from the shapes can be plucked while others are left out. The closing single-note line is played solo before the band joins him for the final B/E chord.
As ever, the backing track and chord charts are included here for you to work with, as well as the video to watch (and re-watch) for the excellent detail in Alex’s playing and chat. We hope you’ve enjoyed learning from this unique six part series and many thanks to Alex for his time, creativity and insights, it’s been quite a journey!
Alex is the guitarist for Simon Phillips’ Protocol band and his debut album is Experiences; Real And Imaginary. See www.alexsill.com for more info.
Next issue - Marty Friedman solos over an exclusive new track by Jason; Majestical!
Alex used his Kiesel guitar (bridge pickup) into a Fender Deluxe Reverb ’65 Reissue. Distortion is courtesy of a Tube Screamer set at 8 into a RAT pedal set at 3 for extra colour. Reverb is from his MXR Reverb, set at 4. To duplicate this tone, use bridge pickup and a smooth overdrive with plenty of sustain. Be prepared to experiment with the guitar’s controls to achieve the desired sound. Add ambient reverb for a sophisticated studio touch.
“For the solo’s chords, Jason referenced and expanded upon a progression from Alex’s tune, The Activity”