Contrary Motion For Guitar
Contrary Motion For Guitar
Discover how contrary motion unlocks melodic depth and harmonic balance on the guitar. This course guides you step by step through intervals, fretboard navigation, and creative exercises that transform technique into expressive musical lines.
This Course Includes:
- Synced Notation & Tab
- Downloadable PDF Notation
- Lifetime Access
- Student Community
Unlock Melodic Depth and Harmonic Balance
Contrary Motion for Guitar is a deep dive into one of the most expressive and overlooked aspects of guitar playing: the art of movement between intervals. This course breaks down the technical foundations, right-hand mechanics, and the creative possibilities of contrary motion to help you expand your phrasing and compositional voice.
Through carefully structured lessons, you’ll explore intervals across the fretboard, develop right-hand fluency, and learn how masters of African and classical traditions have used contrary motion and sixths to craft iconic lines. You’ll practice these concepts in progressive exercises before applying them to create your own musical ideas.
This course is not about copying licks, it’s about understanding the mechanics of the guitar and unlocking a new way of thinking about harmony and melody. With Niwel’s guidance, you’ll discover how to connect theory, technique, and creativity into one seamless approach.
Whether you’re a classical guitarist, an improviser, or a songwriter searching for new textures, this course will give you the tools to create lines that move with clarity, contrast, and musical depth.
Key Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, participants would have:
Build Interval Foundations
- Identify and play intervals across the fretboard with accuracy.
- Recognize the role of intervals in shaping harmony and melodic lines.
- Apply interval exercises to strengthen both hands.
Build Interval Foundations
- Identify and play intervals across the fretboard with accuracy.
- Recognize the role of intervals in shaping harmony and melodic lines.
- Apply interval exercises to strengthen both hands.
Developed Right-Hand Technique
- Execute chord-based and interval-based picking patterns with control.
- Strengthen finger independence and dexterity in the right hand.
- Understand how muscle coordination and finger mechanics impact technique.
Developed Right-Hand Technique
- Execute chord-based and interval-based picking patterns with control.
- Strengthen finger independence and dexterity in the right hand.
- Understand how muscle coordination and finger mechanics impact technique.
Mastered the 6th Interval
- Use the interval of a 6th in creating melodic and harmonic ideas.
- Practice across positions to achieve fretboard fluency.
- Draw inspiration from Franco Luambo’s use of 6ths in African guitar music.
Mastered the 6th Interval
- Use the interval of a 6th in creating melodic and harmonic ideas.
- Practice across positions to achieve fretboard fluency.
- Draw inspiration from Franco Luambo’s use of 6ths in African guitar music.
Expand Contrary Motion
- Combine 3rds, 6ths, and other intervals in contrary motion.
- Apply classical approaches of contrary motion to guitar playing.
- Experiment with intervallic variation to create musical tension and release.
Expand Contrary Motion
- Combine 3rds, 6ths, and other intervals in contrary motion.
- Apply classical approaches of contrary motion to guitar playing.
- Experiment with intervallic variation to create musical tension and release.
Create Musical Lines
- Build complete melodic lines using intervals in contrary motion.
- Integrate 2nds, 3rds, and 6ths into improvisation and composition.
- Transform technical exercises into creative tools for writing guitar parts.
Create Musical Lines
- Build complete melodic lines using intervals in contrary motion.
- Integrate 2nds, 3rds, and 6ths into improvisation and composition.
- Transform technical exercises into creative tools for writing guitar parts.
Meet Your Expert
Niwel Tsumbu
Niwel Tsumbu is an internationally acclaimed guitarist and composer whose work bridges African traditions, European classical music, and contemporary improvisation. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, he has developed a unique voice on the guitar that blends rhythmic intricacy with lyrical expressiveness.
Over the past two decades, Niwel has performed at major festivals, collaborated with global artists, and released music that showcases his mastery of melody and groove. His teaching reflects not just technical expertise, but a deep understanding of how guitar can be both a solo instrument and a voice within an ensemble.
In this course, Niwel shares his personal approach to intervals and contrary motion, concepts he has refined through years of study and performance. His guidance will help you move beyond exercises into music-making, giving you tools to develop your own style while connecting to a broader tradition of guitar artistry.
The Ultimate Learning Experience
Contrary Motion for Guitar
5+ hours of in-depth lessons exploring intervals, 6ths, and contrary motion. Learn how to blend classical concepts with African guitar traditions to create rich, expressive musical lines.
Interactive On-Screen Notation
Follow along with precision using our interactive tools. Access on-screen notation, tablature, virtual fretboards, slow motion, and looping to master each exercise at your own pace.
Niwel Tsumbu – Masterclass
Join Niwel's next masterclass on October 1st or revisit the recording. This session is a great opportunity to connect and get your questions answered in order to take your guitar technique even further.
Frequently Asked Questions
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