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The Great Stream - Tune Based
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In this video lesson, I guide you through the renowned composition "The Great Stream" by Pat Martino. While it may seem harmonically straightforward, Pat's remarkable talent in seamlessly crafting endless musical phrases is truly exceptional, forming the core of this video. The ...
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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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Full House - Tune Based
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This is one of my favorite Wes Montgomery tunes! The A sections are fairly easy, but so much fun to play. I show you how Wes would use the G-7 sound on top of the F dorian sound - it's classic! The bridge of this tune takes listeners on an exciting musical journey, exploring a s...
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Voyage - Tune Based
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In this tune based lesson I discuss Kenny Barron's composition Voyage. It's comprised of a small modal section followed by some fairly common bebop harmony. The bridge is a bit tricky... ascending chromatic ii-V's that will keep you on your toes! The included PDF contains pages ...
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In Walked Bud - Tune Based
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Another great Tune Based lesson on Thelonius Monk's "In Walked Bud". I walk you through the tune from top to bottom giving you insight into ways of approaching the tune. Backing track and PDF included. The backing track features Ulysses Owens in drums. Enjoy!
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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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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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Freight Trane - Tune Based
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From the Kenny Burrell and John Coltrane album. This Tommy Flanagan tune is a 12 bar Bird blues in Ab. The head is great and the changes are so much fun to play over. I use this chord progression as a substitution on regular blues all of the time. Great lines and chords on the 1...
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The Shadow Of Your Smile - Tune Based
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What a beautiful tune! An absolute must for your bossa nova repertoire. I explore the tune from top to bottom and show you several ways of approaching the chord changes. Topics include secondary dominants, the diminished scale and much more. Fully notated PDF and backing track f...
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We All Remember Wes - Tune Based
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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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Punjab - Tune Based
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In this lesson I discuss some of the more modern aspects of jazz playing. This tune is a perfect vehicle for studying pentatonics, voicings in 4ths, triad pairs, weaving lines through unrelated key centers and of course playing over Major7 chords, Joe loved the Major7 chord:)
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East of the Sun - Tune Based
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I've borrowed the intro and tempo from the Diana Krall version of this tune. So swingin! I walk you through the whole tune and discuss some of my favorite substitutions. Topics include soloing on Maj7 chords, the Io7 chord and soloing on the V7/Vi chord. Great examples on the PD...
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When Sunny Gets Blue - Chord Melody
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Of course this is a chord melody lesson but it's much more than that! As usual I walk you through every melody and explain the decisions made in creating the arrangement. I also take a look at this tune from a ballad playing perspective concentrating on phrasing and the signific...
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Recorda Me - Tune Based
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An excellent lesson on both modal and ii-V playing. Both sections present challenges, in this video, I address ways of overcoming them. Includes 10 pages of examples and a backing track featuring Ulysses Owens on drums!
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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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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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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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In Your Own Sweet Way - Tune Based
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This is one of my favorite tunes to play! I love the wide open modal section and the contrast it creates with the chord changes throughout the tune. There is so much to learn from here, secondary dominants, modal playing, voicings in 4ths and lot's more:)
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Ceora (Lee Morgan) - Tune Based
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What a powerful melody. Lee Morgan's composition is so beautifully constructed, it makes you rethink the way you would typically deal with this chord progression. Check out Herbie's Dolphin Dance and Frank Foster's Shiny Stockings, they all have similar harmonic adventure...
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Isfahan -Tune Based
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Billy Strayhorn loves the key of Db! In this lesson I take a cue from the Joe Henderson recording of this tune. There are so many interesting harmonic moments especially when coupled with challenging melody notes. This is a great lesson on voice leading, minor ii-V's, altered do...
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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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Bolivia - Tune Based
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What an amazing tune! You have a wide open modal section and then a fairly complex set of chord changes to navigate. Cedar does an incredible job of connecting key centers using diminished based tritone substitutions. This was a fun one to put together, enjoy! Superb playing on ...
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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...
