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In this lesson, I share my approach to internalizing the musical language found in bebop standards by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. While memorizing solos is key to deepening your jazz musicianship, extracting phrases from tunes like "Donna Lee" and "Groovin' High" can off...

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In this lesson, I discuss in great length the primary chord scales I use when dissecting tunes for analysis. This lesson contains almost 8 pages of transcribed material with time stamps to help you navigate the lesson. PDF in both Notation and Tab.

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In this lesson, I show you the modes of melodic minor I use most often. These modes unlock some of the most common chords we find in traditional and modern harmony. There are many transcribed lines in both notation and tab as well as some insight as to how to use the triad pairs...

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In this lesson I describe how the jazz blues differs from traditional blues and show you the methods used to create the ii-V's that give jazz blues it's definitive sound. This is designed as a beginner lesson but even intermediate to advanced guitarists will find something usefu...

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Without question the idea of the "Secret Jazz Chord" has helped me more than anything to gain fretboard mastery and harmonic confidence. The basis of the idea is simple, I explain it thoroughly by breaking it down into three steps. This is an update to a previous lesson I had do...

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In this lesson, I systematically go through the modes I use most often when improvising. They would include major, dorian, mixolydian, locrian, locrian#2, phrygian augmented, diminished, lydian b7 and the altered scale. There is much more in the 45 minute lesson. Includes 12 pag...

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In this essential lesson, I discuss the major II-V utilizing both chordal and linear examples. I have provided the exercises that gave me a great foundation during my earlier years. This material became apparent to me during the period of my life when I was transcribing a lot of...

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In this lesson I walk you through 5 positions on the guitar and give you my favorite chord voicings on the standard tune There Will Never be Another You. I have also included a chord etude completely transcribed for you to practice the voicings. An essential lesson for all jazz ...

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In this lesson I discuss the two types of dominant chords we deal with in jazz tunes, resolving and non resolving. I keep the discussion two the modes of melodic minor but discuss various reharmonizations, and give you 7 pages of melodic and chordal examples. Another essential l...

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In this lesson I discuss the way I approach the minor II-V. I use Dizzy Gillespie's tune Woody'n You as a vehicle for all of the demonstrations. Topics include thinking of the -7b5 chord a s a minor 6, and the usage of pentatonics and the melodic minor scale. This is an eye open...

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In this essential lesson I show how I use small melodic patterns to allow me to weave through the five positions I always use. The best part of this is that in every position, the fingerings remain the same. It's simple but mind blowing when you realize what this can do for your...

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Interested in taking your chord melody playing to the next level? In this one hour masterclass, I discuss several methods including the dominant, chromatic and diatonic approaches. You'll also find out about other topics like counterpoint and various techniques for spicing thin...

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Here we take a deep dive into what makes the harmonic minor scale such an important part of the jazz language, particularly in regard to bebop musicians like Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown and a host of others. A very important lesson on how to use this sound on dominant chords ...

In this short lesson, I demonstrate two technique exercises that were instrumental in building my chops. The patterns are simple but guaranteed to help develop your jazz guitar playing technique. PDF can be found here https://www.dropbox.com/s/wnl8zcnfypa7csj/2%20Technique%20Studies.pdf?dl=0

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In this lesson I describe my method of looking at the guitar and show you what I believe is a unique and beneficial way of developing a deep understanding of the instrument and its application to jazz. Topics include:

Creating Drop 2's
Creating Drop 3's
Understanding extensions...

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One of the most requested lessons is here! I discuss my methods of using back cycling as a tool for comping, improvising and chord melody arrangements. This lesson contains almost 6 pages of transcribed material with time stamps to help you navigate the lesson. PDF in both Notat...

In this lesson I show you some exercises and methods of developing good time feel. I discuss articulation, shaping phrases with volume and the very the important concept of laying back. I also spend time analyzing where the 8th notes line up by using Ableton live. This is demonstrated at varying ...

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In this lesson I discuss in length my thought process and physiology of the picking hand. I discuss my use of a metronome and at the end of the lesson I give you a lengthy birds eye view of my picking hand. I've also included a transcription of me playing Cherokee. One of the mo...

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In this 45 minute lesson, I go through the entire form of rhythm changes and discuss ways of creating interesting voicings and drastically improve your comping. I've included a 5 page PDF and a midi file that you can use to practice the one chorus etude I have provided. A really...

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I know a lot of us have problems trying to decipher which extensions to use on a given tune or chord progression. I found a surprisingly easy way to determine the "correct" extension choices in any given situation. I have used the tunes There is No Greater Love, The Days of Wine...

In this lesson I discuss ways of "story telling" in regards to building an interesting solo.

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In this lesson I discuss my methods of connecting lines through chord changes. I show you how I visualize the linear material over chord forms and how I see the connections from one position to another. After laying the groundwork for these concepts, I use the John Coltrane tune...

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This is a must have lesson! I had a request to demonstrate turning transcribed material into musical solos. The lesson does that but it also contains the methodology I use to transform a single line into many permutations and how to use that line over more than one chord type. I...