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Corcovado - Tune Based
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Corcovado – Melodic Approaches & Diminished Clarity
In this new lesson, I take a close look at Jobim’s Corcovado, focusing on how to melodically address the diminished chords that so often confuse improvisers. We’ll clear up several common misconceptions about the tune’s progre...
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Theme From Mash (George Benson) - Topic Driven
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In this lesson I discuss George Benson's solo on the Theme From Mash. I consider this one of the best recorded guitar solos ever. It has something for everyone in it! Included is the full transcription and awesome backing track. Enjoy!
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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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Cisco (Pat Martino) - Tune Based
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This lesson has everything! Altered dominants, diminished lines, augmented scale lines and blues. I've also included the bebop scale and how to utilize the major triads in the diminished scale. 11 pages of transcribed examples in notation and tab!
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Someday My Prince Will Come - Tune Based
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In this lesson I discuss voice leading, three note voicings, the dominant II chord and biii diminished. Much more in this 50 minute lesson, including a 9 page PDF in both notation and tab with great examples of comping and soloing.
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Stolen Moments - Tune Based
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In this lesson I discuss the specifics of Oliver Nelson's arrangement and how to apply them to the guitar. I also discuss time feel at slow swing tempos and how to navigate the C minor blues. Tons of great information included on the 8 page PDF.
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Twisted Blues - Tune Based
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I didn't know you could squeeze so many ii-V's into one tune! Wes Montgomery's Twisted Blues presents two challenges, the key of Db and a relentless stream of short ii-v's. This is a great study on how to navigate short ii-V's and to appreciate the way Wes treated the tritone su...
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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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Giant Steps - Tune Based
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In this lesson I begin with a thorough explanation of the tune and it's unusual harmony. Included in the PDF are 13 pages of lines and comping examples. This lesson will teach you how to master this must know chord progression!
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Solo Construction - Essential
In this lesson I discuss ways of "story telling" in regards to building an interesting solo.
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Central Park West (John Coltrane) - Tune Based
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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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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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Find One Hundred Ways - Tune Based
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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...
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Groovin' High (Dizzy Gillespie) - Tune Based
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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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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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Modernizing II-V's - Topic Driven
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In this lesson I describe my method of sounding immediately modern by looking at any chord as slash chord harmony. It may sound difficult but in fact it's very simple. All it requires is an adjustment in the way you look at harmony that you are already familiar with. Anyone look...
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Old Folks - Tune Based
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A wonderful lesson based on the Pat Metheny recording from Question and Answer. Pat handles this tune expertly. His ballad playing in a trio is exceptional. This lesson focuses on some of his methods for playing in a trio as well as some slick harmonization techniques. Backing t...
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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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Slash Chord Harmony - Topic Driven
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In this video, I discuss every possibility of major triads over alternate bass notes. Examples would be E/Bb or D/Bb. For those of you who have trouble understanding how to treat these types of chords, this lesson is for you. A great PDF with full explanations of all of the theo...
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But Beautiful - Chord Melody
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This is such a great tune for a chord melody arrangement. I demonstrate a bunch of awesome reharmonization techniques, and walk you through the tune from top to bottom. A Full transcription of the arrangement is included on the PDF.
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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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Blues Essentials (Billies Bounce) - Essential
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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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Fretboard Mastery (Threading Positions) - Essential
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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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James (Metheny) - Tune Based
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A great lesson on Pat Metheny's "James". This is a fantastic study on playing melodically, and understanding voice leading when dealing with predominantly triadic harmony. It's a deceptively simple tune that requires the improviser to think completely differently... Included is ...
