This week I am thrilled to share a lesson entirely devoted to a signature technique employed by one of my all time jazz guitar heroes! I am referring of course to the late Jim Hall, known by many as the father of modern jazz guitar. Hall, known for his fluid legato style, in his quest to sound more horn-like often employed an interesting variation of the “glissando” technique. While most of his predecessors commonly executed a glissando entirely on one string, Hall devised a unique effect by playing the final note’s attack on an adjacent string. This also allowed Hall on many occasions to continue the glissando on that string, making it yet longer!

In this video lesson, I demonstrate how to execute both descending and ascending glissandi using 2 strings “a la Jim Hall”. I then improvise over the changes to “All the Things You Are” (a Hall favorite) using this technique in various places so you can hear it in context. Whoever can count the amount of times I use glissandi in my solo wins a prize……just kidding! Enjoy!