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Nica's Dream - Tune Based
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Advanced players will love this lesson. Nica's Dream is filled with opportunities for the use of some exciting harmonic devices. Topics include derived pentatonics from melodic minor, the augmented scale, triad pairs, and much more. Join me for this one hour lesson and expand yo...
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How I Write Tunes - Topic Driven
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In this video lesson I write two tunes in real time to demonstrate some of the methods I use for tune writing. This is an eye opening lesson that you will enjoy immensely. PDF of both tunes and backing tracks included. Thanks for watching!
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Triste - Tune Based
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Dive into the world of Bossa Nova with my latest lesson, meticulously crafted around the timeless classic, "Triste" by the legendary Antonio Carlos Jobim. In this comprehensive video, I delve deep into the heart of the original composition, using it's original key and chord chan...
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You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To - Tune Based
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In this 40 minute lesson, I discuss this wonderful Cole Porter classic in great detail. I teach you numerous substitutions, look at minor ii-v's, talk about triadic playing and give many chordal and linear examples in both notation and tab. The 11 page PDF will guide you through...
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Killer' Comping - Topic Driven
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I received a great email from a fellow guitar player who thought that the comping I was doing with Larry Coryell on the Have You Met Miss Jones video was killer! In this lesson I go through some of the techniques that I use when accompanying one person. Lots of information that ...
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Confirmation - Tune Based
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In this lesson, we take a thoughtful look at Charlie Parker’s Confirmation, one of the most iconic and intricate bebop heads in the jazz repertoire. The melody poses unique challenges for guitarists, as Parker’s saxophone-specific phrasing and embellishments don’t always transla...
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The More I See You - Tune Based
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Barry's approach to time is an essential lesson for all jazz guitarists. The goal of this lesson is simple: you learn the methods behind creating a quality jazz time feel. If you are struggling to improvise at a slow-medium tempo or if your lines could stand a bit more direction...
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Question and Answer - Tune Based
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This is such an amazing tune by Pat Metheny, it has elements of minor blues, some Bach inspired chord motion and John Coltrane's countdown progression. Deceptively simple until the countdown changes sneak up on you... As usual, I walk you through the tune from top to bottom and ...
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Donna Lee - Tune Based
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In this lesson I take a close look at Charlie Parker's classic bebop head Donna Lee. I explore the ways that he would delay resolutions of his bebop lines in order to make them sound less "practiced". This lesson features 10 pages of notated examples featuring the augmented scal...
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Invitation 2021 - Tune Based
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I've had several requests to do another Invitation lesson. Well, here it is. As usual, the tune is discussed from top to bottom and includes topics such as the diminished scale, triad pairs, the Coltrane pentatonic and much more. Includes a PDF and backing track.
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Round Midnight - Chord Melody
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One of the most important jazz ballads ever composed. I have taken Monk's composition and arranged it for guitar. I have made it very playable while sticking closely to Monk's original chord changes. This is one of those tunes that gets played "incorrectly" very often, I have ta...
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Nardis - Tune Based
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A deep look at Miles Davis's tune Nardis using the Bill Evans 1961 recording as a reference. This tune isn't just about phrygian, there are many more harmonic elements in the tune that are rarely touched on. I explore them all. An epic composition that will broaden your understa...
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How to Play Ballads (Misty) - Topic Driven
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In this lesson I discuss how to conceptualize ballads, and how to avoid the major pitfalls that frequently occur when playing at very slow tempos. I discuss the rhythmic components as well negotiating such a "large" quarter note. This lessons includes many examples in both notat...
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Comping on Turnarounds - Topic Driven
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A very often requested topic! In this 40 minute lesson I show you my techniques of bringing the boring I-VI-II-V to life! Topics include the "one note method", the "chromatic scale method" tritone subs and III for I. I also discuss turnarounds in minor as well as the turnaround ...
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Softly as in a Morning Sunrise - Tune Based
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We all love this tune, but it also a fantastic vehicle for playing turnarounds in minor and discovering ways of manipulating the harmony to make things bit more interesting 🎸Triad pairs, modal playing, outside playing and the reharmonization of diminished chords are all discusse...
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Mr. PC - Tune Based
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In this 40 minute lesson I take a step by step look at C minor blues. Topics include comping, line playing, dominant approach, Oliver Nelson chord progression and much more. Includes 9 page PDF in notation and tab.
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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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Developing Vocabulary - Essential
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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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There is No Greater Love - Tune Based
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This is a great lesson on dominant chord functions especially in regard to cycle patterns like the bridge of Rhythm Changes. 16 pages of great examples for you to practice!
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You Go To My Head - Tune Based
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In this lesson, I take a deep dive into the classic standard You Go to My Head. The focus is evenly split between chord melody and improvisational concepts, giving you a complete approach to playing the tune both as a solo guitarist and in a small-group setting.
This lesson al...
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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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Four on Six - Tune Based
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A great lesson on the classic Wes Montgomery tune Four on Six. 13 pages of transcribed chordal and linear examples. I walk you through the entire tune from beginning to end. PDF in notation and tab.
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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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Fee Fi Fo Fum Lesson - Tune Based
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What a great lesson on navigating through modern harmony! Although there is plenty of conventional chord movement, there are a few tricky spots where your knowledge of diatonic 7th chords and secondary dominants is not that useful. Learn how I divide the neck and gain fluidity w...
