Though closely related in form and harmonic movement to its major blues cousin, the minor blues requires an understanding of a number of new scales and modes when first learning how to solo over this common jazz form. In this lesson, you will learn all the scales needed to improvise over a minor blues. Though […]
Jazz Guitar Scales For The Minor Blues 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
The Harmonic Minor Scale for Jazz Guitar Read More »
Learn how to play jazz guitar arpeggios and discover how they can improve your solos. Arpeggios are the best tool to improvise over chord progressions and jazz standards and give your solos that instant “jazzy” sound. In this lesson, you will learn all you need to know to start using guitar arpeggios in your solos.
Guitar Arpeggios For Beginners Read More »
Guitar modes are a type of scale that you need to master to be able to improvise in jazz.
Modes can be a bit confusing at the start, but once you get your head around the basic idea, you will notice modes can be quite simple and very useful for improvisation.
In this lesson, you will learn the modes of the major scale. You will learn the theory behind guitar modes, the different fingerings on guitar, and how to use them in your solos.
The Beginner’s Guide to Guitar Modes and Scales Read More »
Being able to analyze jazz harmony is an important skill for any jazz musician.
In this lesson, you will learn how to use Roman Numerals for musical analysis and transposing on the guitar. This essential music theory lesson includes full song examples.
Roman Numeral Analysis for Jazz: How to Analyze Chord Progressions Read More »
Learn these 7 guitar scales and you will be able to solo over almost any jazz standard. Understanding and knowing how to play these scales is essential for any beginning jazz guitar player. This lesson includes diagrams, audio, scale patterns, exercises, and solo examples.
7 Easy Jazz Guitar Scales For Beginners Read More »
Rhythm Changes is one of the most popular song forms in jazz and essential to get under your fingers.
This doesn’t mean that it is an easy chord progression. Playing an inspired jazz solo over a Rhythm Changes can be hard because of the many chords and the fast tempo it is usually played in.
Introduction To Rhythm Changes (+ Chord & Solo Study) Read More »
The ii V I chord progression is the most common progression used in jazz, that’s why it is important to master this progression.
In this jazz lesson, you will learn 20 ways to play through 2 5 1 chord progressions, in both major and minor keys.
20 Ways To Play ii V I VI Chord Progressions Read More »
In this music theory lesson, you will learn how to construct jazz guitar chords from scratch.
Understanding this essential theory will make finding chords on the fretboard much easier and it will take the guesswork out of playing jazz chords.
Besides learning this essential piece of theory, you will also learn how to apply the theory to the guitar. After all, that’s what you are here for!
Jazz Guitar Chord Theory – How to Construct Chords? Read More »
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 »
Summertime is another one of those popular jazz standards that every jazz player needs to know.
In this lesson, you will learn a chord/melody arrangement of Summertime. You will also learn to improvise over the chord changes and learn a few soloing concepts.
Summertime Melody & Solo Study 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 »
A definite must-know standard, Autumn Leaves is one of the most commonly called tunes at jazz jam sessions. It can be played in Em or Gm, and therefore is an introduction to tunes that are commonly played in more than one key, forcing you to learn it in both keys. There are also major ii
Autumn Leaves Guitar Melody for Beginners Read More »
When learning jazz guitar, the blues is an essential topic that any guitarist should tackle. But, how do you move beyond the standard 12-bar form? One of the tunes that get called at jam sessions and is blues related (but not 12-bar), is Watermelon Man. Watermelon Man, a jazz funk classic written by Herbie Hancock who
Watermelon Man – Guitar Chords, Chord Melody, and Solo Read More »
Learning how to play chord melody is one of the most sought after skills by jazz guitarists of all levels and musical tastes. It’s one of those concepts that’s both alluring and intimidating in its design. In this video, jazz guitarist Greg O’Rourke demonstrates the possibilities that studying chord melody produces on the guitar. He
After You’ve Gone for Solo Guitar Read More »
Brazilian music had a great influence on players such as Stan Getz and Pat Metheny and lots of Bossa Nova songs are part of the jazz repertoire.
In this lesson, you will learn to play Brazilian jazz guitar licks and solos as you study the work of Baden Powell, Hermeto Pascoal, and more.
Brazilian Jazz Guitar Licks and Solo Read More »
In this lesson, you will learn 4 easy tips to create a chord melody arrangement of your favorite jazz standard.
Joe Pass, Lenny Breau, and George Benson concepts are covered.
Chord Melody Made Easy Read More »
I remember myself struggling with jazz improvisation. It was so complicated! My teachers demanded that I played tensions, substitutes, super-imposed chords, while I was having a hard time just keeping the form… During my travels in Europe, I played with gypsy guitarists and learned from them. One of the most important things I learned was
Gypsy Jazz Guitar – The Magic of Triads Read More »
Maiden Voyage is is a classic modal jazz tune written and made famous by pianist Herbie Hancock. With a cool groove, hip slash chords, and a memorable melody, this tune has become a jazz jam session essential since first being released. While Maiden Voyage is a commonly called tune, it can often handcuff guitarists who
Maiden Voyage Chords – Modal Comping Study Read More »
One of the things that attracts me to the Gypsy swing style is that it has a systematic technical method. Before I started to play Django style, none of my teachers talked to me about technique or how to improve my sound. I noticed that every guitarist has a different way of playing and
Gypsy Jazz Guitar – Introduction to Arpeggios and Picking Read More »
Listening to Wes Montgomery play jazz can be both a liberating and intimidating experience. For a guitarist still learning the ropes of chord soloing, trying to play like Wes is daunting from the get-go. As far as chord soloing goes, Wes is known for his incredible speed, rhythm, and musical sensibility. Using familiar shapes, most
Wes Montgomery Chord Solo – Jazz Blues & Yesterdays Read More »
When searching for a jazz guitar tone, many guitarists will focus on their guitars and amps as the main source of their sound. But, there is often one important sonic ingredient that players ignore when it comes to finding the perfect guitar tone, the strings. Just as there are many styles of jazz, there are
The Best Jazz Guitar Strings (Top 30) – Survey Results Read More »
The melodic minor scale is built of seven notes. It contains a minor third (b3) and major sixth (6), but also has a major seventh (7) which gives it a unique sound compared to other minor scales such as the Dorian mode. Outside of the major scale system, the melodic minor scale is the most
How to Use the Melodic Minor Scale Read More »
A guide for those that want to take their guitar playing to the next level and are looking for a jazz guitar university program.
Finding and making a choice between the available schools can be though. This guide will help you make your choice.
Top 25 US Jazz Guitar Schools Read More »
In this music theory lesson, you will learn what guitar positions are and how they can help you become a better guitar player.
What Are Guitar Positions? Read More »
While there are many jazz soloing techniques that use chromatic notes and other outside sounds, not every important concept steps outside the key center. The most popular example of this is the diatonic enclosure, which is built by playing two diatonic notes surrounding a diatonic target note in your lines. Used by just about every
The Diatonic Enclosure – Application and Practice Guide 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 »
Joe Pass is one of the greatest jazz guitarists of all time and a master of chordal playing.
Study how Joe builds his classic chord sound on the guitar by learning to play Joe Pass chords with these essential lines and concepts.
Joe Pass Chords – Essential Lines and Concepts Read More »
One of the first things you’ll notice when playing jazz guitar chords, is that there are a lot of variations for each chord type to get under your fingers. When playing over major family chords, for example, you can play C6, Cmaj7, Cmaj9, C6/9, etc., and they all have a similar function but sound different
How to Play 6 Chords on Guitar Read More »
