Pat Martino’s “Symmetrical Parental Forms” is pure genius. He saw the Augmented triad (1-3#5) as a 3-note perfect equilateral triangle, on a 12-point grid (representing the 12 notes). He saw the Diminished 7th chord (1-b3-b5-bb7) as a perfect square on that same 12 point grid. - Now, by moving any one note DOWN within the Augmented triad, you will get 3 different MAJOR triads; and instead move any one note UP within the Augmented triad, you will now get 3 different MINOR triads. So each symmetrical Augmented triad can “parent” 6 other chords, 3 major and 3 minor triads. - - - - Now take any 4-note Diminished 7th chord. Move any one note DOWN by 1/2 step, and you will form or “parent” 4 different Dominant 7th chords. Pat Martino’s OBSERVATIONS, and that’s what they are, are simply observable fact about how the guitar functions in standard tuning. It isn’t a topic for debate; it just IS. Just as CAGED is observable fact, so are Martino’s “Symmetrical Parental Forms”. Martino noticed things about how a guitar “works” in standard tuning. I so admire Martino’s genius. A true master of the fretboard!
--Great comments, and agreed on all points. I've been watching some of the 'Quantum Guitar' series where Martino describes his "Symmetrical Parental Forms" theory; utterly fascinating! I don't recall the name of the famous text, but I believe his theory was inspired by ancient Eastern sacred geometry. He also developed ideas about 'dualism' and how polar opposites like 'consonance' and 'dissonance' work. Martino is an extraordinarily deep thinker and his concepts seem like a great new way to visualize guitar music. --Off topic, but you might be the person to ask. In a different video, Les Paul recalled meeting a then twelve year old Pat Martino and commented about Pat's unusual picking technique. I'm not the most observant person perhaps, but I don't see anything highly "unusual" about his technique other than it is unusually good. What makes Martino's picking unique?
Pat Martino’s “Symmetrical Parental Forms” is pure genius.
He saw the Augmented triad (1-3#5) as a 3-note perfect equilateral triangle, on a 12-point grid (representing the 12 notes).
He saw the Diminished 7th chord (1-b3-b5-bb7) as a perfect square on that same 12 point grid.
- Now, by moving any one note DOWN within the Augmented triad, you will get 3 different MAJOR triads; and instead move any one note UP within the Augmented triad, you will now get 3 different MINOR triads.
So each symmetrical Augmented triad can “parent” 6 other chords, 3 major and 3 minor triads. - - -
- Now take any 4-note Diminished 7th chord.
Move any one note DOWN by 1/2 step, and you will form or “parent” 4 different Dominant 7th chords.
Pat Martino’s OBSERVATIONS, and that’s what they are, are simply observable fact about how the guitar functions in standard tuning. It isn’t a topic for debate; it just IS.
Just as CAGED is observable fact, so are Martino’s “Symmetrical Parental Forms”.
Martino noticed things about how a guitar “works” in standard tuning.
I so admire Martino’s genius.
A true master of the fretboard!
--Great comments, and agreed on all points. I've been watching some of the 'Quantum Guitar' series where Martino describes his "Symmetrical Parental Forms" theory; utterly fascinating!
I don't recall the name of the famous text, but I believe his theory was inspired by ancient Eastern sacred geometry. He also developed ideas about 'dualism' and how polar opposites like 'consonance' and 'dissonance' work. Martino is an extraordinarily deep thinker and his concepts seem like a great new way to visualize guitar music.
--Off topic, but you might be the person to ask. In a different video, Les Paul recalled meeting a then twelve year old Pat Martino and commented about Pat's unusual picking technique. I'm not the most observant person perhaps, but I don't see anything highly "unusual" about his technique other than it is unusually good. What makes Martino's picking unique?
Awesome! Finally checked this out and am so glad! Thanks for capturing this!
Pat has left us. Today is Nov 2. 2021.
Thanks so much for posting this performance. Do you have the entire performance recorded?
Just this and my color upload of another tune.
Which´s the song name?...
I really don't know. But I'm sure it's on one of his later albums.
The title of this song is called “Catch” by Pat Martino