CHORD MELODY
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NOTE: Click on “Older Entries” at the bottom of this page for more lessons or see the complete Chord Melody list on the PREMIUM page.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
“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...
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...
Secret Love
Did you know that some of the greatest jazz standards are originally classic movie themes? To name just a few... “The Way You Look Tonight” (Swing Time / 1936), “Someday My Prince Will Come” (Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs /1937), “As Time Goes By” ( Casablanca...
Joe Pass Fingerstyle Arpeggios
I’ll never forget that day in 1974 when I walked into a record store in San Francisco. While sorting through the jazz section, I came across a newly released album titled Virtuoso by Joe Pass, a guitarist I had read about but had not yet listened to. I was intrigued...
“Blue Bossa” Barry Harris Style
In this lesson I show you how I take a standard in a minor key and harmonize the melody using the 6th diminished chord concept associated with the late Barry Harris. For this task I have chosen “Blue Bossa” by Kenny Dorham. Why? Well not only is it a great standard...
Billie’s Bounce
If you’re not familiar with my music background, in my teens I was into rock and mainly blues for almost 10 years before getting into jazz and formally pursuing music studies. Who knows, this might be your case too as it is with many current jazz guitarists! But I...
Neo-Soul Jazz Chord Melody
If from the title, “If Jimi Played Jazz” on the thumbnail, you’re wondering what on earth Hendrix has to do with jazz, please keep an open mind and read on... There are several unique clues in Jimi’s playing that lead us to imagine what he might have sounded like if...
What A Wonderful World
For my last post for 2022, in view of the crazy state of our world, I should have probably posted a chord melody for “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” (lol). But like John Lennon sang, “I’m a Dreamer”, and so I chose to end the year on a positive note! Instead I put...
Holiday Jazz Chord Melody
This post features a download of all my Holiday Season chord melody arrangements for a special discount! Included are jazzy versions of "I'll Be Home For Christmas", "Let It Snow!", “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”, “Frosty The Snow Man”, “Have Yourself A Merry Little...
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
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... “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”. The beauty of these Christmas classics is that they were written by many of the same composers that...
Moanin’
Can you spare a minute? That’s roughly how long this chord melody video lasts! You might or might not know the tune, but it has become part of most jazz musicians repertoire. "Moanin'" was written by pianist Bobby Timmons and first recorded, by Art Blakey's band the...