Allan Holdsworth - Secrets Lesson & Tutorial

[@lex.cordis]

"Secrets" is one of his most amazing solos/composition. Absolutely mind-blowing.

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

Totally! There's a lot of tuning silliness in the solo. I think after I do my video, I might do a transcription video of that solo with tab and everything going on.

[@aharchives]

Allan: "I think of "Secrets" as a song, but primarily as a vehicle to improvise over. The harmonic structure of the piece was inspired by a thought I had about how no one can ever really figure out what anybody else is thinking. And Rowanne Mark is really fantastic at taking an idea and creating lyrics. Apart from that, she sings fantastically. Quite often with me, titles come as I’m writing something, but this time there was only a feeling. I also usually write the melody after the chords, but on this piece I played the melody as the top line of the chord voicings."

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

Whats strange about this was in that Guitar maganize we talked about, Allan says he writes the melody and than tries to figure out chords that work after. But it makes more sense the chords come first then the melody.

[@bassheadjazz2708]

@@TurrigenousOfficial The way Allans melodies make all the "non fucntion" make sense is his genius. Without the melody, and often times the bass line, the chords themselves are really out there.

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

@@bassheadjazz2708 Yes! Its quite free and the melody is usually kinda simple but the harmony underneath it is where the interest comes from. I find that freedom very appealing and more exciting than traditional harmony.

[@CrisOriol]

Thank you mate ! I’ll play that with the lads . You’re the man ! The outro is one of my favorite music compositions ever made …..🙏🏻

[@leegollin4417]

The last Major 7 in the intro is the 3rd inversion we all learn for the 6432 string group. In the old days one of the first chords we learned is the C7 with a G in the bass. That chord is the same with the 7th raised and really common.

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

When I learned guitar it was out of a beatles book. I just memorized the shapes but never really experimented. When i learned that chord I gave myself a big 'Duh'! Haha. Im not a jazz guy so i never came across it before

[@ferfalcongtr]

A really amazing work you've done there. Thanks a million for sharing! I'm already singing along to the chords 😊🤘

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

Thank you!

[@ferfalcongtr]

@@TurrigenousOfficial 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@stephen0793]

Oh boy, my favorite Allan piece, transcribed at last. What a treat. Some of those chords are completely bonkers though

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it

[@oselini]

I love this song.. It reminds me the Mahavishnu CD Apocalypse / smile of the beyonds

[@joaohenriquesales9184]

thx man!! really thank you!! this music is incredible, it really brought tears to my eyes

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

My pleasure 🙂

[@agus6115]

Another good one. Fantastic man!

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

Thank you!

[@aharchives]

Great job! I thought the intro playthrough using the volume pedal worked great musically. I understand your reservations about the Synthaxe tunes, but I think it would be wonderful to hear a chord melody transcription of "All Our Yesterdays" :-)

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

I wish I could but it switches from standard to 5ths tuning :/. Otherwise it was actually pretty easy to transcribe actually.

[@aharchives]

@@TurrigenousOfficial Well, the notes are still the same, aren't they? :-)

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

@@aharchives yeah but theyre out of the range of the guitar to get the full effect :(. Maybe if i can think of another way I could. If i played keyboards i could haha

[@pranavphx]

I thought this would never get covered!!

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

Me too haha

[@patriziomameli9812]

@@TurrigenousOfficial my fave album and....buddy...you made me so happy with this. Thanks for listening to my begging lol

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

@@patriziomameli9812 haha I did this for you and Per Nillson voted on it. Since I was pretty confident on it I figured why not? Thanks again for the kind words and hope you enjoy it! Maybe a cover? :)

[@patriziomameli9812]

@@TurrigenousOfficial thanks again buddy. Love the tutorial 🤘

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

@@patriziomameli9812 Thank you so much :)

[@jazzualdo]

Finally found it. Great work and analysis! Do you also have the transcription written in regular notation not tablature, so the piano player could read it?

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

I do not sorry ☹️

[@jonathanharrington7950]

Guitarist Lee Ritenour has a Synthaxe, He used it on the "Earth Run" Album. Try contact him, I'm sure he'd help with your questions. R.I.P. Allan.

[@VODECI]

amazing mate

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

🙏

[@erictripton]

Great once again. Since I dove into using Aturia Synths using the Fishman TPlay, 'Spokes' is one I am trying to sift through. Also the song 'Curves' is a topic of study Any input you can lend would be awesome.

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

Thanks! I didn't attempt Curves or anything off of Flattire (except Bo Peep, since it was played live). I hate to say that i'm not a huge fan of that record. Also since its very 'soundscape'ish I can't tell whats overdubbed. Spokes, was a REAL challenge. The tuning on that song is in standard but i've spent so much time trying to get it right. This is why I don't do a lot of synthaxe tunes. I don't want to teach anyone something that could be actually wrong. If you come up with something let me know! :)

[@bradking658]

Thank you so much man, awesome birthday present for me! I hope you are well God bless you 🤗🐼❤️✝️💐🤟P.S.- what Meshuggah do you recommend?? Peace, rock on in Jesus name!

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

Thanks! Meshuggah is a really heavy death metal band so if you're not into that, you might not like it since its so aggressive. If you ARE into that, I really love their most recent album "The Violent Sleep of Reason".

[@bradking658]

@@TurrigenousOfficial Ha! That odd time signature heavy stuff is Kool though! 🤗🐼❤️✝️💐🌹🤟✌️Stay safe.Psalm 103

[@bassheadjazz2708]

whens that book coming out?!

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

Im working with a company right now about it. I might have to add more to it though but i'm really hoping for this year. Especially if I don't need to add any more to it. Thank you!

[@elotro100]

Great stuff! How can we get your book of Allan Holdsworth chords?

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

Thank you! It's not out yet but i'm working on getting it released ASAP

[@elotro100]

@@TurrigenousOfficial Thank you, that's good news. Can't wait ;

[@secrets7301]

🥇 🧡

[@dinger7608]

Why not keep his secrets?

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

Hm? Not sure what you mean.

[@Galactu5]

@@TurrigenousOfficial Either he is suggesting that you keep the mystery of his sound to yourself so the World can stay ignorant of how his magic is made OR hopefully, he is making a joke about the title Secrets and is asking why not keep the "secret" of Secrets, secret!? Keep up your GREAT work!

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

@@Galactu5 Thanks! If thats what he's implying, its no 'secret'. Anyone can figure it out if they have the time.

With my tiny chicken hands I made it only to the second chord. These reaches are impossible for me, or at least impossible to play clearly.

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

Don't give up! Its not totally impossible. There might be another tune thats easier for your hands. You have to ease into some of these voicings.

@@TurrigenousOfficial thanks for the encouragement! Any particular tune you think it's easier to start with? Not that any song by Alan is easy.

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

@ Leave Them On, def. Also a majority of Devil Take the Hindmost. Letters of Marque is a little weird at times but it can be altered to be easier.

@@TurrigenousOfficial thanks a lot!

[@TurrigenousOfficial]

@ Have fun! Lemme know how it goes

[@damianrodd7821]

Chord junkie