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In this lesson, I address one of the most challenging—and rewarding—skills for jazz guitarists: comping while soloing in a duo or trio setting without a piano.

Many players find this situation intimidating, as the guitarist becomes fully responsible for both harmony and melody....

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In this lesson I walk you through each measure of the tune and discuss all of the harmonization methods used for the arrangement. I love the use of open 3 note voicings and putting the minor cliche in the bass! Enjoy the preview and get the lesson with the arrangement fully nota...

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Who needs chord scale relationships?! In this lesson I show you how to use the overall shape of the melody to create interesting improvisations on the standard On The Sunny Side of the Street. I also talk about guide tone lines as well as some eye opening tips on how to look at ...

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In this 30 minute lesson I break down Just Friends chord by chord while paying special attention to the bIII diminished chord. Most of us use the Ab-7 Db7 change, but the diminished can be a lot of fun. The lesson includes numerous chordal and linear demonstrations, along with a...

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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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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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In this lesson I discuss the two biggest challenges to playing this tune; time feel and connecting 4 different key centers. Ballads have always proved to be the biggest challenge to jazz musicians, in this video, I show you ways to create continuity while addressing ways to inte...

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This month’s chord melody lesson features Erroll Garner’s beautiful standard Misty arranged for solo guitar.

Over the course of this 60-minute lesson, I walk through the entire arrangement, explaining the reasoning behind every harmonic choice and musical decision. Beyond simpl...

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In this lesson I go through ways of dealing with this amazing tune. Topics include reharmonization, chromatic substitution, the Major7#5 chord, hip voicings and the diminished scale. Much more included in the fully transcribed PDF in notation and tab. This is one of best PDF's I...

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As always, my goal is to make great sounding arrangements that are easy to play. I'd like to imagine that you will playing this for friends and family in a matter of weeks. The lesson contains a full walkthrough of every chord from the intro through the ending with every chord c...

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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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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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An amazing lesson. Turnarounds, the I diminished, chromatic II-V's, tons of linear and chordal examples. You will love the 50 minute lesson on Dizzy Gillespie's Groovin' High.

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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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One of my favorite tunes to play! It's a relatively easy tune but the deceptively simple first 8 measures are a gold mine of awesome reharmonization techniques. I'll walk you through the whole tune but the most interesting stuff happens in the front section. A 14 page PDF and ba...

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This was a fun lesson to create. I discuss George's superior sense of phrasing and his uncanny ability to create lyrical melodic statements along with chop filled 16th note lines. I had no idea this was a Stevie Wonder tune but have always loved it. Great written examples on the...

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What an amazing lesson on chromatic II-V's! As usual, great examples on the included PDF. I also discuss ways to use chromaticism regardless of the tune your playing and give several examples to demonstrate this. A really enjoyable lesson. Backing track with Ulysses Owens included.

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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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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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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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In this lesson, I walk you through my full process for arranging Johnny Mercer’s Moon River for solo guitar. Rather than simply teaching a finished arrangement, the focus is on understanding the musical decisions behind each phrase—so you can begin to develop your own voice in s...

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In this lesson, we’ll explore a solo guitar arrangement of the beautiful jazz standard “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most.”

The arrangement is played in a rubato style, allowing the melody, harmony, and natural decay of the chords to determine the pacing. Along the way, we...

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In this lesson, I discuss Bill Evan's rehearmoniaztion of the tune. The movement of -7 chords in minor thirds was the catalyst for my idea of re-targeting II-V's. There is plenty more to discover in this deep look at "I Hear a Rhapsody".

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This tune is another great example of a pop tune with the chord changes of an American Songbook Standard. There is however a big difference in the rhythmic aspect of approaching this tune as it has a contemporary groove with a bit of swing feel. I walk you through the two approa...