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Polka Dots and Moonbeams - Chord Melody
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In this video lesson, I present my chord melody arrangement of Jimmy Van Heusen’s “Polka Dots and Moonbeams.” We will explore the harmonic choices behind the arrangement, designed to be both accessible and musically captivating. A PDF of the complete arrangement is included for ...
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Solar - Tune Based
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This lesson has everything. Modal playing, new ways of looking at major II-V's, re-harmonizing the first 4 measures and much more. Full lesson contains a 10 page PDF with backing track.
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Blackbird - Tune Based
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In this lesson I walk you through all of the changes to this great tune. Included is the most thorough PDF I have created. It contains an equal amount of both linear and chordal examples. I discuss turnarounds in major and to the II chord, tri-tone substitutions, the diminished ...
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Oleo - Tune Based
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This lessons covers one of the most important song forms in jazz, Along with the blues, rhythm changes is a necessity in any jazz musicians repertoire. I treat this lesson in a fundamental manner, breaking the tune down into its major components. Turnarounds, ii-v to the IV with...
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Witchcraft - Tune Based
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In this lesson I walk you through the tune and discuss all of the harmony as well as some potential reharmonizations. Topics include the biii diminished chord, the I diminished chord, chromatic II-V's, turnarounds and much more. The fully notated PDF comes with great chordal and...
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The End of a Love Affair - Chord Melody
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In the lesson I discuss how I created a solo guitar arrangement of this beautiful tune. There are a lot of fun moments here including many chances to use the Io7 sound. Full arrangement on the PDF in both notation and tab.
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Favorite Things - Tune Based
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In this lesson I discuss one of the most popular jazz waltzes. I cover modal playing and the use of pentatonics on both Major and Minor chords. Triad pairs are also discussed in regards to modal playing. Great linear and chordal examples in this 30 minute lesson. 10 page PDF inc...
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Sunny (Pat Martino) - Tune Based
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One of my favorite Pat Martino tracks! This lesson is all about 16th notes and the challenge of creating lengthy compelling lines on a very basic chord progression. Included are fantastic notated examples for you to practice and learn from. I describe how guitarists like Pat and...
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Someone to Watch Over Me - Chord Melody
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One of the more challenging Gershwin standards, "Someone to Watch Over Me" is riddled with diminished chord challenges. I take you through the tune, and provide a very cool chord melody arrangement. If you were ever wondering how to deal with passing diminished chords, this is t...
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Line Connections (Moments Notice) - Essential
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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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Modal Comping - Topic Driven
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In this lesson, I explore techniques for using fourths to comp horizontally rather than vertically. By inverting fourth voicings, you can uncover unique and unexpected harmonic textures. I demonstrate how to apply these concepts to modal tunes and II-V progressions. A PDF is inc...
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The Wes Montgomery Tritone Sub - Topic Driven
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It's in so many of his tunes and all over his solos. Wes's ingenious way of simply adding the II chord to the tritone changes the whole approach to this common substitution. Great examples on the PDF using Autumn Leaves, Another You, Blues and Rhythm Changes. This lesson is so i...
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The Song is You - Tune Based
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If the diminished chord has been giving you trouble, you must check out this lesson! I show you how to use the diminished scale on diminished chords and the auxiliary diminished scale on dominants. I discuss ways of making diminished ideas sound less like patterns and more like ...
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Time Feel - Essential
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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Pent-Up House - Tune Based
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In this lesson, I'm deconstructing the iconic jazz gem by Sonny Rollins, "Pent-Up House." While it maintains a simple structure of major II-V progressions, Clifford Brown's solo adds subtle nuances of alternate changes not present in the original score. And that's not all – you'...
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Joe Henderson's Invitation - Tune Based
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In this lesson I discuss a modal approach to playing these chord changes. I show you how to weave the the bridge section by connecting chord scales in a stepwise manner. Other topics include the diminished scale, tritone subs, triad pairs and voicings in 4ths. Included are 15 pa...
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Body and Soul - Chord Melody
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Join me in this 45 minute lesson as I discuss all of the methods of harmonization used in the arrangement. I discuss each and every chord and also address chord scale relationships. Include on the PDF is the full arrangement and some practice exercises for generating reharmoniza...
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Lean Years (Pat Martino) - Tune Based
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One of my all time favorite Pat tunes! In this lesson I discuss the different versions Pat has played this tune over the years and look at some interesting ways of approaching the static D-7 sound. I also discuss the ramifications of a modal approach versus a bebop approach. As ...
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It Might as Well be Spring - Chord Melody
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Hey jazz guitarists! Check out this new chord melody lesson on "It Might as Well be Spring". In this lesson, we'll go over harmonization techniques, solo guitar playing, and how to create an effective arrangement. Get ready to take your solo guitar playing to the next level! The...
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Waltz For Debby - Tune Based
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This lesson explores Bill Evans’ Waltz for Debby through the lens of jazz guitar. Focus on comping and lyrical soloing over the changes, with special attention to mastering the classic turnaround in F major. Perfect for guitarists seeking to deepen their improvisation skills and...
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Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Chord Melody
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One of my favorite Christmas tunes. This is a wonderful arrangement that you can get under your fingers way before Christmas. Play it for friends and family. The lesson contains a full walkthrough of every chord from the intro through the ending with every chord choice explained...
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Yardbird Suite - Tune Based
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Bebop time! If you've wanted to improve your bebop playing, this lesson is for you. I have come up with a method for navigating chord changes that has worked incredibly well for me. I share it with you in this lesson on Charlie Parker's Yardbird Suite. Let's get to work! PDF and...
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Airegin (Sonny Rollins) - Tune Based
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In this lesson I look at one of Sonny Rollins's most popular tunes. Airegin is part minor blues and part major II-V madness! I show you how to use the dominant approach to keep the static minor harmony moving and how to overcome the temptation of just using sequenced ideas on th...
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Triad Pairs - Topic Driven
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You'll love this lesson! Step away from purely linear improvisations and implement the sounds of triads on all kinds of jazz harmony. PDF in tab and notation included🎸
