Bruce Arnold

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Trichord Sweep Pairs

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Trichord Sweep Pairs-Guitar Instrumentalist Sweep Arpeggios

Trichord Sweep Pairs is a comprehensive investigation into the possible sweeps created by stacking one 3 note group on top of another.  This course only explores the 3 note structure pairs that contain the same interval content. Further down this page you can watch videos where these Trichord Sweep Pairs are applied to various vamps and songs. The vamps and songs are also made up of the same two trichords as the sweeps being used.

What is a Trichord?

A Trichord is just a fancy name for any 3 note structure. “Trichord Sweep Pairs” means there are two 3 note structures stacked one on top of the other to create some of the most interesting sounding sweep patterns you will ever hear!

What’s in the Trichord Sweep Pairs Course?

It is a comprehensive exploration of 2,440 pages of sweep patterns!  It also includes:

• 30 minutes of live performance video showing the author Bruce Arnold playing sweeps in different groups and styles.
• 50 minutes of demonstration video covering 012, 013, 014, 015 and 016 pitch class sets. See example at bottom of page.
• Guitar Diagrams and fingerings showing which sweeps are a good choice for guitarists.
• For any instrumentalist –not just guitarist– this book contains all possible sweeps based on the previously stated criteria.
• 6 MP3s from Bruce Arnold’s recordings that demonstrate sweep playing.
• 12 études for reading or finding ideas for each sweep category.
• Sweeps based on 12 different three note groups. Believe it or not that’s all you need to get every possible combination.
• All sweeps are organized by interval content, but also divided up by which chord they work over.

How is the Trichord Sweep Pairs-Guitar Instrumentalist Sweep Arpeggios Course Organized?

The Trichord Sweep Pairs-Guitar Instrumentalist Sweep Arpeggios course is logical and easy to follow. It is divided into two kinds of PDFs. First, you have “Diagrams.”  This contains a small number of choice sweep patterns. This list is then optimized for guitarists by presenting fret board diagrams and fingerings for each sweep.

The second type of PDF is the “Suggested Fingerings” which is divided into four parts. These four PDFs give you ALL possible structures for each 3 note type. In many cases there are a large number of sweep patterns.  By including this list you now have a complete resource to find the right sweep for any situation.

With each of the 12 sweep types, information is presented about applying them, plus investigations on what else can be extracted from the two trichord pairs concept.

Is Trichord Sweep Pairs-Guitar Instrumentalist Sweep Arpeggios just a Book of Lists or Does it Teach You Something?

Trichord Sweep Pairs course gives you tons of unique information about how to apply the sweeps in including:

• Listing sweeps by their interval content.
• Categorizing sweeps by which chord they can be played over.
• Showing sweeps in a logical organized way for each type.
• Dividing the course up into multiple PDFs so you can stay focused.
• Videos so you can hear actual applications of sweeps in a real musical context.
• Compositions by Bruce Arnold that show how you can develop the ideas presented with each trichord sweep group.

Sweeps are Organized by Pitch Class Theory. What if I don’t understand that kind of Theory?

• You don’t need to understand Pitch Class Set Theory to work with the Sweeps
• If you want to understand Pitch Class Theory a simple explanation is given along with a video.
• Pitch class theory is used because it allows you to organize sweeps in a logical, mathematical way.
• The only pitch class theory in the book that you need to understand is the concept that sweeps are organized by their interval content. It’s that simple

Tell me more about Pitch Class Theory

Trichord Sweep Pairs-Guitar Instrumentalist Sweep Arpeggios uses pitch class set theory and specifically “prime form” reduction to express and organize each sweep. In a nutshell, pitch class set theory and “prime form” reduces any structure to its smallest interval content in order to help you organize and see internal relationship with any group of notes.

Video about Pitch Class Theory

I have included a video with this course to help you understand pitch class set theory and specifically “prime form.” The video moves along very slowly through the information so that you can grasp each concept. Much of the information used in this course was derived from my book “Sonic Resource Guide” which is a reference book for the improvising musician showing all scales and the chords that will function over these scales in all keys, among other things. I highly recommend this book because you will find pitch class theory to be a great way to help you organize and apply scales and other patterns.  You can also find out more about pitch class set improvisation and other books on the subject at Bruce Arnold Artist Website.

Why are There Only 12 Different Types of Sweeps in the Trichord Sweep Pairs Course

There are 12 possible 3 note structures that are explored in the Trichord Sweep Pairs-Guitar Instrumentalist Sweep Arpeggios Course; they are derived from reducing all 3 note combinations into “prime form.” These 12 forms are listed below in “prime form.” This is only a very partial listing. A complete list  for all 12 sweep types is found within the Trichord Sweep Pairs Course.

• 012 7, 7sus4
• 013 All Chord Types
• 014 7
• 015 Δ7, -7
• 016 7
• 024 Δ7, -7
• 025 Δ7, -7
• 026 7
• 027 Δ7, -7
• 036 7, °7
• 037 All Chord Types
• 048 7, 7sus4

All three note structure reduce to one of these 12 possible structures. This reduction gives any student a manageable system to recognize and learn all 3 note structures.

Most students are only used to “triadic” structures when working with 3 note combinations and commonly refer to them as “triads.”

This course uses the terminology “Trichords” which includes not only triads but all possible structures that you can built with any 3 notes.

How do You Suggested I get Started with The Trichord Sweep Pairs-Guitar Instrumentalist Sweep Arpeggios Course?

For most students I would recommend starting with the “Diagram” sweeps found in this PDF and then later move into the “Suggested Fingering” sweeps when you feel that you want to expand a particular set of trichord sweeps. Please keep in mind that both the “Diagram” and the “Suggested Fingering” sweeps have important information supplied at the beginning of each new section. I’ve also included videos when available, so you can listen to compositions composed with the a specific pitch class set. You will also find an excerpt from a sweep arpeggio study for each of the 12 trichords included in this course.

All 12 trichords in this course are useful, but some are used more specific situations and may not be a combination that you find appealing depending on your interests. As a general statement I think it is best and easiest to hear the trichord sweeps based on 027 and 037. Most students are comfortable with this type of sound so it’s a good place to start.

Example of using an 013 Trichord Sweep Pairs

The video below shows you a vamp that was created using Trichord Sweeps and improvisation where 013 is used. You will notice the exact trichord sweep pair showing up on the screen as the video progresses. The course download will contain the full version of this video which is about 9 minutes in duration.

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Trichord Sweep Pairs

Are These Sweeps just for Heavy Metal Musician?

Although we may associate sweeps with Heavy Metal, they are usable by any musician in any idiom and add excitement and color. Here is a recommended way to start based on style:

• For students who are Blues-based, I recommend taking a look at 016 because of its affinity with a Dominant 7th chord.
• Jazz musicians who love Thelonious Monk’s playing will find 013, 014 and 016 to be go-to sounds for that style of Jazz.
• For other Jazz musicians, really any of the 12 combinations will be useful in various types of applications.
• For Rock and Folk musicians, the 015, 025 and 027 will be very useful because of their ability to flow into those styles seamlessly.
• There are a few trichords like 012 that create a very unique sound and if you are bordering on the “free improv” side of things, you will find them to be super awesome sweeps.

Example of using an 014 Trichord Sweep Pairs

The video below shows you a excerpt from a composition that was created using 014 Trichord Sweeps and the improvisation montuno is made up of 014’s. The exact trichord sweep pair used will show up on the screen as the video progresses. The course download will contain the full version of this video which is about 9 minutes in duration.

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How to Approach Trichord Sweep Pairs Course

Since the number of possible trichord sweep pairs is enormous, the tendency is to think that this is an overwhelming course that will take years of study. While mastering everything presented in this course would be quite an undertaking, that isn’t a common- sense approach. Here are some suggestions:

• Stick with the trichord chord sweep pairs that are found in the “Diagrams” PDFs and only use the “Suggested Fingerings” PDFs if you are concentrating on a specific group of sweeps and want to explore more possibilities.
• I recommend starting with 0, 2, 7 sweeps over Major and Minor chords and then expanding from there.
• Play each trichord sweep pair cycle 5 to help ingrain the information in all keys.
• Apply trichord sweep pairs that work over Major and Minor to the Pure Country Jam Tracks. This will really spice up your Country Music style!
• Use the “720 Sweep Arpeggio Patterns” course for either “All Instrumentalists “or “6 String Bassists” (bass clef) to play the trichord sweep pairs in different patterns.

Example of using an 015 Trichord Sweep Pairs

The video below shows you a excerpt from a composition that was created using 015 Trichord Sweeps and the improvisation is only made up of 015 combinations. The exact trichord sweep pair used will show up on the screen as the video progresses. The course download will contain the full version of this video which is about 7 minutes in duration.

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Suggested Ways to Work with the Trichord Sweep Pairs Course

• Pick a sweep based on the criteria presented above and learn the sweep in all twelve keys
• Use the 720 Sweep Patterns Course to vary the internal organization of sweeps.
• When practicing trichord sweep pairs all in one key use the MetroDrone. This will drastically improve your ability to hear these sweeps.
• You should be able to sing any of the sweeps you choose to learn.
• Focus on your technical control of arpeggiation.
• Apply 016 Dominant 7th sweeps to Jam Tracks Volume Four-Harmonic Major Modes so that you immediately hear it within a musical context.
• Write compositions based on the same pitch class set as the sweeps you are learning; it is a great way to get new sounds into your compositions and improvisations.
• These sweep patterns are excellent for sight reading, because of how often accidentals and ledger lines are used.
• For guitarists, make sure you first pick sweeps that don’t call for vast stretches of your fingers. This can cause repetitive stress injuries so add these “stretch sweeps” later in your study.

Examples from the Trichord Sweep Pairs Course

Example One from 014 Trichord Sweep Pairs. This is from the “Diagrams” section of the course which can be used by any instrumentalist but is optimized for guitarists. These 014 sweeps work over a C7 chord. Sweeps are presented in ALL KEYS:

Example Two from 027 Trichord Sweep Pairs. These are some of my favorite Trichord Sweep Pairs. This is again from the “Diagrams” section of the course which can be used by any instrumentalist but is optimized for guitarists. These 027 sweeps work over a C-7 chord. Sweeps are presented in ALL KEYS:

Example Three from 016 Trichord Sweep Pairs are your go-to sweeps for Dominant 7 chords. This is from the “Suggested Fingerings” section which can be used by any instrumentalist but is optimized for guitarists. These 016 sweeps work over a F7 chord. Sweeps are presented in ALL KEYS:

Example Four from 025 Trichord Sweep Pairs-Guitar Instrumentalist Sweep Arpeggios. 025 Trichord-Sweep-Pairs-Guitar-Instrumentalist-Sweep Arpeggios use the same intervals as the Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales. They sound great on Major, Minor and Dominant chords. Again from the “Suggested Fingerings” section, which can be used by any instrumentalist but is optimized for guitarists. These 025 sweeps work over a Bb7 chord and are some of my favorites. Sweeps are presented in ALL KEYS:

Applying the Trichord Sweep Pairs-Guitar Instrumentalist Sweep Arpeggios Information

Trichord Sweep Pairs-Guitar Instrumentalist Sweep Arpeggios has been divided into two parts because of the high number of sweeps found in this course.  The following organizational principles have been used:

• Trichord Sweep Pairs-Guitar Instrumentalist Sweep Arpeggios have been broadly divided into “Diagram” and “Suggested Fingering” groups.
• The trichord sweep pairs have been organized by chord type.
• Each trichord sweep pair lists all possible chords in which the structure can be used.
• “Diagram” and “Suggested Fingering” groups are found in separate PDFs.
• All “Diagram” and “Suggested Fingering” groups are shown in all keys.
• “Diagram” trichord sweep pairs utilize a guitar fretboard diagram for guitarists, as well as fingering.
• “Suggested Fingerings” show fingering for guitarists where the sweep is more easily played on the guitar.
• “Suggested Fingerings” also contains more info on application of each sweep plus études.

Improve your arpeggio playing skills and much more with the Trichord Sweep Pairs