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Autumn Leaves - Tune Based
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In this fantastic lesson I discuss the major and minor II-V as well as Lydian b7, the tritone substitution, chromatic II-V's, and provide a fully transcribed chorus of comping. The total PDF size is 13 pages in both notation and tab!
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Road Song - Tune Based
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This lesson is based on several requests to do more of a funky, groove based tune. Lot's of blues, a discussion about octaves, and some thoughts on NOT playing the changes.... Great backing track and PDF included.
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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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On Green Dolphin Street - Tune Based
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I love this lesson! Great lines and chordal example as well as a very hip way of looking at the A section harmony. 10 pages of transcribed lines and ideas for you to study. I also discuss the "Benny Golson Progression" and the turnaround to the ii chord. Much more in this fantas...
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Like Someone in Love - Tune Based
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Great combination chord melody and comping/improvising lesson. I show you numerous ways of navigating the tune as well as provide fantastic examples on the included PDF.
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Strollin (Horace Silver) - Tune Based
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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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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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Stablemates - Tune Based
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Chromaticism! Descending II-V's, descending dominants, ascending dominants. Fun but challenging. I walk you through the whole tune and include a full PDF with a backing track with Ulysses Owens on Drums. I've created a section where you can trade "fours" with Ulysses! Enjoy the ...
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It Could Happen to You - Tune Based
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In this lesson I discuss one of the most popular standards and demonstrate ways of dealing with the diminished chord sequence and the turnaround to the ii chord. Tons more including an overview of a chord melody with both linear and chordal examples. The backing track features g...
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Speak Low - Tune Based
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In this lesson I talk about modal playing and how to deal with ii-V's that don't resolve to their expected destination. Much more as you'd expect in this 45 minute lesson🎸 Backing track included featuring Ulysses Owens Jr 🥁
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Child is Born - Tune Based
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I treat this lesson as a both a chord melody and a tune based lesson, equally discussing approaching the tune as a solist or in a small group format. Great comping and linear examples as well as a discussion on playing in 3/4. Much more in this 45 minute lesson. PDF is in the Tu...
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Blue n Green - Tune Based
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This lesson covers all of the harmony from top to bottom as well as triad pairs, the secret jazz chord, what went wrong with the real book and much more. PDF and backing track included.
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Blue Bossa - Tune Based
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/gwaozt7s34jl5ce6rb9ln/AEvByIsIe8rSJvMD0JErYPg?rlkey=z21lf073jlektz7mv9hpvprzq&dl=0
This is another very oftren requested tune👍 I present this lesson with the beginner to intermediate jazz guitar player in mind. As usual, I go through the tune from beginning to end ...
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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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I Hear a Rhapsody - Tune Based
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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 I Dig of You (Hank Mobley) - Tune Based
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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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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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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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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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Naima (John Coltrane) - Tune Based
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Naima is filled with interesting harmonic colors made even more compelling by the use of pedal points. I examine each and every chord and show you how to navigate through the harmony. It's not as hard as you may think🤪🎶
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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 ...
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You Stepped Out of a Dream - Tune Based
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What an amazing tune! Such interesting harmony with some very cool twists and turns🎸 I discuss chromaticism, the two main ways of dealing with dominant chords, lydian b7, chromatic ii-V's, triad pairs and much more.
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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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Night and Day - Tune Based
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This lesson includes some very hip ways of working with the first 8 measures including using 2 key centers from Giant Steps. Other topics include modal playing, tritone subs with Major 7th chords and much more.
