Cool Blues is a jazz blues composed by Charlie Parker in 1947. It’s a blues in C and one of Parker’s well-known heads built on a simple, catchy idea. In this lesson, you’ll learn the theme of Cool Blues, a solo chorus based on Grant Green’s recording, and one chorus of my own. Recommended listening: […]
Cool Blues (Charlie Parker) Read More »
In this study, you will learn how to play a melodic solo over the chord changes of Bluesette (Toots Thielemans) using simple triad shapes. Rather than relying on full scales or 7th arpeggios, this approach zooms in on compact three-note structures that outline chord tones or extensions. Triads are a powerful melodic tool because they:
Jazz Guitar Soloing With Triads – Bluesette Study Read More »
One of the most common chord progressions in jazz is the blues. A straight 12-bar blues typically consists of three dominant seventh chords (I–IV–V). In jazz, this basic form is expanded with added harmony, such as ii–V–I progressions and more sophisticated turnarounds. Jazz blues also uses a more advanced melodic language and phrasing, which is
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Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise was composed by Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein II in 1928 for the operetta The New Moon (a kind of light opera). Artie Shaw’s recording of Softly (1938) brought the song into the jazz world and made it the popular jazz standard it is today. In this lesson, you
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Half-diminished seventh chords are minor chords with a flat five and are commonly used as the first chord in minor-key ii V I progressions. It’s important to have this type of chord with all its inversions under your fingers because they are used in almost every jazz standard. In this lesson, you will learn how
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Learn how to play jazz-funk guitar, combining smooth jazz chords with the rhythmic fills of funk.
This lesson covers the basics of funk guitar, including chord rhythms and soloing.
Tritone substitution is one of the most popular chord substitutions in jazz. The tritone concept is very versatile and can be used for soloing, comping and composition.
In this lesson, you will learn what tritone substitution is and how you can apply it on the guitar.
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Chromaticism is an important concept for any jazz guitarist to study and master in his playing. In this lesson, we’ll look at how you can take all of the scales and arpeggios you have learned over the years and turn them into “jazzy” sounding phrases by using chromatic approach notes. This is a big obstacle
Chromaticism – How to Add Chromatic Notes to Scales and Arpeggios Read More »
The harmonic minor scale is a seven-note scale that has the same notes as the natural minor scale with the exception of the seventh note that is raised by one semitone. This seventh note works as a leading tone to the tonic, that’s why it is used often on dominant chords going to a tonic
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Autumn Leaves is a must-know jazz standard.
In this lesson, you will learn a chord/melody version of Autumn Leaves. You will also learn how to solo over Autumn Leaves’ chord changes.
Autumn Leaves Chord Melody & Solo Read More »
Phrasing is how we shape a line. But it’s actually more than that. In the bigger sense it is how we tell a story, and telling a musical story in a conversational sense is how we express ourselves. When we have a conversation, in the traditional sense, we use words to help get our meaning
Jazz Phrasing – Target & Approach Tones Read More »
Take Five is known for its famous alto saxophone solo, played by Paul Desmond on the 1959 recording with the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Desmond’s playing is melodic and relaxed, relying on strong phrasing and repetition rather than flashy technique. This makes his solo a great example for anyone who wants to learn how to develop melodic
Take Five Solo – 5 Paul Desmond Licks For Guitar Read More »
This lesson is the result of a survey among our subscribers. The question was “What is the best jazz guitar solo ever played?”.
The names that made it to the top 10 are Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Pat Metheny, George Benson, Charlie Christian, Pat Martino, Jim Hall, Django Reinhardt, Kenny Burrell, and Grant Green.
Top 10 Best Jazz Guitar Solos ( + 10 Licks) Read More »
Maj7 arpeggios are a must-know concept for any jazz guitarist, but they can be difficult to get under your fingers when working these shapes around the entire fretboard. Finding a system to organize your maj7 arpeggios can make playing and soloing with maj7 arpeggios easy, as you will be able to think less about the
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Upper structure triads are useful for bringing new elements into your solos and comping. Upper structure triads and superimposition are something that you will hear popping up all on recordings by just about every single well-known jazz musician. As with every new improvisational device, the most important part is getting your ear acclimated to this
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When learning how to play jazz guitar chords, one of the uncommon, yet cool-sounding shapes, which you will run across, is the maj7#5 chord (aka augmented major seventh chord). Though it is not as commonly used as the maj7 or maj7#11 chord shapes, the maj7#5 chord is an interesting sound that you can add to
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