Jazz Blues 1 and 2 - plus more. From Jazz Guitar Online.

**Jona** · 11-09-2021, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

What you need above all (if I may be so bold) is a diet of active listening to the jazz greats. Try to hum along to their solos, mimicking their phrasing and articulation. Go to bed with the sound of it in your head. Think of it when you wake up.

Thanks Rob, great advice. I’ve been listening to Kenny Burrell quite a bit recently, just wonderful. I see there’s some recommended tunes from page 51 so will follow that too.

**Rob MacKillop** · 11-09-2021, 06:01 PM

Here's a little sideways glance at how shell voicings could be used on a standard like Summertime, itself a minor blues, kind of:

And here are the two pages of chord diagrams I've just done for your delectation...

**Rob MacKillop** · 11-09-2021, 07:17 PM

Notice my 2nd finger never leaves the 6th string.

**AlsoRan** · 11-09-2021, 11:54 PM

There is also a pretty detailed lesson on Summertime, available on this site. I think you need only look under "lessons."

"Summertime Melody & Solo Study for Jazz Guitar" Summertime Melody & Solo Study for Jazz Guitar

**fep** · 11-10-2021, 10:09 PM

Here is lick 4, 5, & 6 which wraps up the minor blues scale section of chapter 2.

On this one, I wrote a little riff-based head, and over the next 12 bars got in lick 4, 5, and 6 in order. That's the thing about playing the minor blues scale over the changes, you can practically ignore the changes and anything goes.

**patchr** · 11-11-2021, 12:11 AM

Trying to keep myself moving forward with these lessons. Here’s 2 mins of different rhythm attempts. I think the first time around I had the Charleston rhythm working. After that I moved to 4 to the bar and the remaining bits I just tried to make it feel good. Listening back though I feel it was too busy and probably not in a steady time. Appreciate any feedback and encouragement. This is a rough 1 take, so I’m generous with the clams.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Liarspoker** · 11-11-2021, 05:42 PM

This is a great group and I'd definitely like to practise and participate more however l have a few solo guitar gigs coming up and since I haven't played the tunes since summer they need some brushing up (to say the least).

I'll post videos when I can and in the meantime I'll enjoy all of yours. Well done to all so far, keep them coming.

**AlsoRan** · 11-12-2021, 01:42 PM

You folks raise several interesting thoughts that I have contemplated in learning what this course has to teach. My thoughts are:

1) I am learning to get a lot of mileage out of those three note chords
2) I finally feel I have some tools to attack the endless variations possible in a Jazz Blues progression
3) This is the big one: I am learning to use the shapes to get decent melodies when improvising, although many would say they sound "too much like noodling through scales." I would not argue.
4) I am finally figuring out when I might want to play with a major tonality, a dominant tonality, or a minor tonality to express what I am feeling at that moment, although for now, I am just sticking with alternating Major and Minor Blues Scales consistently with a given bar of the progression.
5) With my comping, I am not sure how busy I need to make it, especially not without a soloist to interact with...

I made a quick recording of the busiest progression, which I will post, and then I will record a solo to illustrate where I am at with this process - that will come later.

Thanks for all the encouragement!

**Rob MacKillop** · 11-12-2021, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by patchr

Appreciate any feedback and encouragement. This is a rough 1 take, so I’m generous with the clams.

I feel I’m talking too much on this study group, and hoped someone else would jump in with some feedback, but..

I think you did very well with your first video for this book. I like your approach using different patterns. It means you’ll be better-equipped to respond to what others are doing on the bandstand. Keep it up, and transpose to different keys.

**AlsoRan** · 11-12-2021, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

I feel I’m talking too much on this study group, and hoped someone else would jump in with some feedback, but..

I think you did very well with your first video for this book. I like your approach using different patterns. It means you’ll be better-equipped to respond to what others are doing on the bandstand. Keep it up, and transpose to different keys.

Rob,
You have been dropping a lot of gems in this thread. What you say is consistent with what I have learned (and can remember) in my journey.

Don't hold back! These simple, direct informational posts are excellent.

**Jona** · 11-12-2021, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by AlsoRan

Rob,
You have been dropping a lot of gems in this thread. What you say is consistent with what I have learned (and can remember) in my journey.

Don't hold back! These simple, direct informational posts are excellent.

what AlsoRan said

**losaltosjoe** · 11-13-2021, 12:49 AM

Here's my take on Page 25: Example 7 (Lick 1)

I played the lick over a 12 bar blues (page 16) in Bb at 100 bpm. I played it straight just to get something posted.

On to page 26 and Examples 8 & 9!

**Rob MacKillop** · 11-13-2021, 03:11 AM

You’ve nailed that one, Joe. Good groove throughout!

**losaltosjoe** · 11-13-2021, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by fep

Coming up with a lick practice method:

1. Use the lick as a motif over the blues progression
2. Play it in various positions on the neck
3. Spontaneously come up with variations of the lick (didn't do that on this video)

Hi Frank, Your videos have helped me with applying the licks we are learning in Chapter 2. Thanks!

**fep** · 11-13-2021, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by losaltosjoe

Hi Frank, Your videos have helped me with applying the licks we are learning in Chapter 2. Thanks!

Thanks Joe. Not sure I'll be able to play the same lick over the entire progression like that when we move on to the other scales. Works pretty well though with those first licks based on the minor blues scale.

**AlsoRan** · 11-13-2021, 06:22 PM

OK, as I promised, here is my track of the full Blues progression form that has the Gmi 7 and the D7b9.

I made this slow recording so that I can practice soloing with it. Once I get nice and comfy with soloing on this track, I will record another track and post. For now, I tried to play in such a way that I increased the intensity of the progression as it progressed.

One thing I notice is the ringing second string here and there. I am working to correct it by muting it with the finger playing the adjacent string. Also, some of the chords have a bad attack. Working on that too!

Thanks.

**Rob MacKillop** · 11-13-2021, 06:33 PM

Not bad, Also. It's easy to get distracted when playing along with a digital backing track, sometimes the brain or fingers switch off momentarily, but you kept it together to the end. I sense you walking a tightrope between laid back and tight, and again that is something difficult to do with a backing track. A real musical situation would help there. Keep it up!

**fep** · 11-13-2021, 08:15 PM

AlsoRan, good to hear you playing, sounds good, nice thick tone, well done.

And laid-back and slow, that's my favorite speed.

**fep** · 11-13-2021, 08:16 PM

The missing scale?

**AlsoRan** · 11-13-2021, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

Not bad, Also. It's easy to get distracted when playing along with a digital backing track, sometimes the brain or fingers switch off momentarily, but you kept it together to the end. I sense you walking a tightrope between laid back and tight, and again that is something difficult to do with a backing track. A real musical situation would help there. Keep it up!

Like I said before, I appreciate your weighing in. Great points about the human factor, and how that can help with time, which I know I need to practice with copious amounts of comping. I never really thought of the true benefits of having a human to lock in with, as opposed to backing tracks. Well, I know now!

**Donplaysguitar** · 11-14-2021, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by fep

The missing scale?

Cool Fep! Never heard of it but it sounds like BB alright.

**Rob MacKillop** · 11-14-2021, 03:24 AM

That’s also known as the Robben Ford scale, I believe, but I might be wrong as I am not a fan of scales being named after players, no matter how tempting. It’s all too easy to fall into playing like that player when using the scale, when it has many other uses. OTOH, if you are going for that BB sound, then it will definitely help. It’s good for playing over both the I and the IV chords.

**fep** · 11-14-2021, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

That’s also known as the Robben Ford scale, I believe, but I might be wrong as I am not a fan of scales being named after players, no matter how tempting. It’s all too easy to fall into playing like that player when using the scale, when it has many other uses. OTOH, if you are going for that BB sound, then it will definitely help. It’s good for playing over both the I and the IV chords.

I was turned on to that scale from a Robben Ford video from the 70s I think. He says he thinks he picked it up from BB. See 05:40 of this video:

**digger** · 11-15-2021, 11:54 AM

Apologies to all in this thread, I've not been able to give it the attention it deserves. It's just time - and I guess this is why i'll never be a jazz guitar player!

Anyway, I'll come back and comment on the posts I've missed, but meantime I've just been working on the first lick in Chapter Two and playing it in the 5 positions of the Minor pentatonic that we've been studying in the preceding pages. I'd like to play this in all positions an octave higher. Maybe that'll be my next exercise!