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The Locrian-Lydian Exchange

The Locrian-Lydian Exchange

Please take a brief moment to consider this scenario… After a substantial amount of time practicing your major II-V chords and scales, you finally decide it’s time to do the same with the minor II-Vs. Next thing you know, you’re confronted with 2 of the most...

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Latin Jazz Guitar Blues

Latin Jazz Guitar Blues

If you dig Latin Jazz, I hope you had an opportunity to watch my lesson titled “Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz Guitar 101” where I explain in detail all the fundamentals of this style as applied to the "6 String Beast" ! (lol)  As a follow up, in this lesson you'll learn how...

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Oleo-Miles Davis Solo from Relaxin’

Oleo-Miles Davis Solo from Relaxin’

If you’re serious about jazz, I’m sure you know the importance of being able to improvise over the I-VI-II-V progression. There are hundreds of standards featuring these changes, so its mastery is crucial. But note that although this progression may appear over a...

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Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz Guitar 101

Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz Guitar 101

Think about this scenario...If on a gig the band leader calls out, say “Autumn Leaves” as a bossa, usually there is no problem on behalf of most guitarists. On the other hand, if he calls out “Autumn Leaves” in Afro-Cuban style (also referred to as Latin jazz), I bet...

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Ed Bickert’s Solo on Manha de Carnaval

Ed Bickert’s Solo on Manha de Carnaval

I recently posted a lesson teaching various chord melody segments by Ed Bickert, one of my all time favorite guitarists who sadly is no longer with us. As underrated as many of us feel he was, I was happy to learn from the comments that he has a small cult-like...

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I’ll Be Home For Christmas

I’ll Be Home For Christmas

Here's my chord melody arrangement of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and I have to admit, I’ve never had so much fun improvising over a Christmas standard! I hope you will take a couple of minutes to check it out. You’re still in time to learn it for Christmas... And if...

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Ed Bickert’s Chord Voicings

Ed Bickert’s Chord Voicings

In this lesson I explore the unique chord melody style of one of my favorite jazz guitarists whom I've always felt deserves much more recognition. I’m referring to the late Canadian guitarist, Ed Bickert (1932-2019) who not only is known by hardcore jazz guitar fans...

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Let it Snow!

Let it Snow!

Here's a jazzy chord melody arrangement of a holiday season classic, which needless to say, I’m sure you’ve heard a gazillion times... “Let it Snow”. The beauty of these Christmas classics is that they were written by many of the same composers that wrote those...

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Deconstructing Rhythm Changes

Deconstructing Rhythm Changes

When I started studying jazz, I was told that mastering Rhythm Changes would help me become a better improviser. What I wasn’t told and didn’t realize for a long time is that Rhythm Changes is all over the place, often in disguise!!! But even more so,I learned that it...

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Desafinado

Desafinado

If you like bossa nova, here's my chord melody arrangement of the AC. Jobim classic... “Desafinado”. This one is full of gorgeous harmony and several interesting key modulations here! It is also said that he was partly inspired by the 2 initial chords of “Take The A...

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Using Sus4 Chords to Comp over Standards

Using Sus4 Chords to Comp over Standards

Did you know that Sus4 chords are an integral harmonic element employed by modern jazz pianists when comping over a standard? But how about jazz guitarists? Well not so much, except for the newer generation of players. And if you’re not among them, hopefully this...

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Joe Henderson Vocabulary

Joe Henderson Vocabulary

I have found that when talking about influential saxophonists, especially among guitarists, Joe Henderson is not necessarily a household jazz name, as is the case with Charlie Parker and John Coltrane. Nonetheless, if you talk to any professional saxophonist today and...

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Killer Joe

Killer Joe

For this lesson, I have prepared a solo chord melody arrangement of saxophonist Benny Golson’s “Killer Joe”. And I’m dedicating it to the memory of my 3 favorite Jazz Joe’s: Joe Henderson, Joe Diorio and Joe Pass! In case you’re not familiar with this standard, it...

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Lego Chord Melody-Melodic Minor

Lego Chord Melody-Melodic Minor

So you’re probably wondering, what on earth is Lego Chord Melody? Simply put, it’s one of those seldom taught guitar concepts that don’t appear to have an official name. I usually prefer to describe it using the terms, “interlocking” or “modular” chord shapes. And let...

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“Smile” – Chord Melody & Kenny Burrell Solo

“Smile” – Chord Melody & Kenny Burrell Solo

Kenny Burrell meets Charlie Chaplin? Not exactly… Nonetheless, he recorded an incredible rendition of “Smile”, Chaplin’s beautiful composition for his 1938 film, “Modern Times”. And in this week’s lesson I’m happy to teach you not only Kenny’s solo from it, but also...

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In A Mellow Tone

In A Mellow Tone

​ For this week’s video I’m happy to share with you a standard I had fun arranging during my summer hiatus. And it’s a swinging Duke Ellington favorite... “In a Mellow Tone”. This chord melody arrangement for fingerstyle solo guitar is also a great vehicle to master...

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Deconstructing Jim Hall

Deconstructing Jim Hall

In this lesson I explore the style of one of the most influential jazz guitarists of the latter half of the 20th century. And I’m referring to Jim Hall who has often been called "the father of modern jazz guitar". I started out listening to the likes of Wes, Barney...

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