Jazz Guitar Lessons
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3:06
Chromatic Line Test - Descending
Instructor: Nick Granville
Level: Advanced
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
In this lesson I show a way to move through chord progessions (II, V, I, VI in this case) while keeping a descending chromatic line on the top. This is not easy and will encourage you to find new voicings and ultimately be able to play advanced chord...
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2:53
Chromatic Line Test - Ascending.
Instructor: Nick Granville
Level: Advanced
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
In this lesson I show a way to move through chord progessions (II, V, I, VI in this case) while keeping an ascending chromatic line on the top. This lesson builds on the previous one so if you have not watched that, then do that first.
Next st...
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2:51
Jazz in the style of Freddie Green
Instructor: Nick Granville
Level: Beginner
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
In this lesson, I explain the guitar style of Freddie Green, who was the guitar player in the Count Basie Big Band. For any aspiring jazz musician, this is a must style to know how to do. I get asked to play this style very often when playing in big ...
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2:41
Voice Leading: Intro
Instructor: Mike Salow
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
Hello once again!
In this tutorial we will be covering voice leading. In our example we will take a look at a common jazz standard and how we can approach the changes using drop 2 chord voicings with the proper voice leading technique.
We wil...
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2:52
Voice Leading: Demo and Breakdown
Instructor: Mike Salow
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
As I mention in the video, you may recognize this popular jazz standard.
NOTE: Please refer to the tab below for the chords.
Okay, when it comes to voice leading, the main idea is to swiftly move through the chord changes without many large interva...
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3:06
Voice Leading: Breakdown continued
Instructor: Mike Salow
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Cool Riffs
Style: Jazz
Allow me to explain the chord inversions I've used in order:
Bbmaj7 (root)
Eb7 (2nd)
Abmaj7 (root)
Dbmaj7 (2nd)
Gm7b5 (root)
C7 (2nd)
Fm7 (root)
F7 (root)
F7 (1st)
Root Inversion = root note in the bass
1st Inversion = 3rd in the bass
2nd...
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3:06
Voice Leading: Recap and Outro
Instructor: Mike Salow
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
We've come to the end. :(
I've taken the liberty to further explain the value of knowing how to voice lead as a guitarist. I apologize for any ranting but I always try to stress the importance of every topic I teach my students. All knowledge is goo...
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2:50
Jazz Blues with Walking Bass Line: Form
Instructor: Mike Salow
Level: Advanced
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
Hello again and Happy New Year!
I hope all of you spent your holidays with good company!
Why not make your new year’s resolution to learn something different than usual? Maybe some jazz blues comping! ;)
In this lesson we'll be covering how ...
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2:15
Jazz Blues with Walking Bass Line: Adding Bass
Instructor: Mike Salow
Level: Advanced
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
Now that we've got the chords down it's time to add our bass line.
In this part of the tutorial we will cover some rules to adding a bass line while comping chords.
There are two main rules to follow.
Rule #1: All bass notes should be quarter note...
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1:32
Jazz Blues with Walking Bass Line: Playthrough
Instructor: Mike Salow
Level: Advanced
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
Onto the real thing!
Make sure that all bass notes are played with the thumb or pick.
The rest of the chord tones should be played with fingers 1, 2, and 3. If using a pick you'd use fingers 2, 3, and 4.
Also keep in mind that the eight notes are ...
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0:48
Soloing in the Style of Mike Stern: Solo
Instructor: Mike Salow
Level: Advanced
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
Hi Guys!
For this tutorial I've done something a little different and gone with a bebop solo transcription.
The backing track you hear is actually a minor 24 bar blues:
i(1) Am - Am - Am - Am
Am - Am - Am - Am
iv(4) &...
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1:49
Soloing in the Style of Mike Stern: Breakdown Part 1
Instructor: Mike Salow
Level: Advanced
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
In part 1 of the break down I've focused mainly on three licks that happen within the first 12 bars of the solo.
#1. The first lick is a simple dissention down the A Dorian scale. The important thing to note here is the phrasing (including t...
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2:26
Soloing in the Style of Mike Stern: Breakdown Part 2
Instructor: Mike Salow
Level: Advanced
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
For part 2 of the break down we'll be covering two long licks that happen bars 16 - 30 (last 8 bars of the 1st time through the form, into the 1st 6 bars of the 2nd time through the form).
#1. The first lick is over the F7 to E7alt progressi...
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2:18
Soloing in the Style of Mike Stern: Breakdown Part 3
Instructor: Mike Salow
Level: Advanced
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
Part 3 of the breakdown goes over the last 2 big/important riffs.
#1. Here is another lick that is intended to imply a tonicization of the IV(4) chord, Dm.
This time we take a different approach and play the A altered scale (Bb melodic mino...
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3:49
Soloing in the Style of Mike Stern: Backing Track
Instructor: Mike Salow
Level: Advanced
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
I've included the chord progression as well as suggested scales.
Am - Am - Am - Am - Am - Am - Am - Am
A Dorian.
Over the last 1 or 2 bars you can use D Harmonic Minor or Bb Melodic Minor to lead to the Dm.
Dm - Dm - Dm - Dm
...
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0:55
Jazz Blues Etude - Rhythm Part
Instructor: Martin Miller
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Rhythm
Style: Jazz
Hey IG,
Welcome to the final chapter of my little Blues series. Be ready to dig into some Charlie Parker style jazz blues playing. Once again form, rhythm, melody and harmony are quite a bit more sophisticated than the previous examples.
Be sure to...
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2:36
Jazz Blues Etude - Solo Example
Instructor: Martin Miller
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
On to the soloing! This solo consists of several phrases. Some blues-y, some jazz-y. Note how the more jazz-influenced lines are mainly played around the II-Vs and the turnaround bars at the end of the form, while especially the first bit is more bas...
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1:49
Jazz Blues Etude - Backing
Instructor: Martin Miller
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
Here's the F Blues Backing. Have fun!
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0:39
Eric Johnson Triads - Chord Melody
Instructor: Martin Miller
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
Here’s one of the most exciting applications for these shapes: chord melody!
This is just a quick improvisation I came up with. You’ll soon discover how much fun it is to mess around with these shapes. Their sound on the guitar is very p...
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0:39
Rhythm Changes - Introduction
Instructor: Martin Miller
Level: Advanced
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
Hello and welcome to my first IG tutorial! I'm really excited to share some of my knowledge and experience with you guys. So let's dig right in, shall we?
So this tutorial is about Rhythm Changes. No, that has nothing to do with odd meters :). Here&...
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1:58
Rhythm Changes - The Chords
Instructor: Martin Miller
Level: Advanced
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
Now it’s time to get into some actual playing! The repeating form for head and solos is AABA and here’s the original progression (the triangle stands for Major7):
Here is the progression in roman numerals, which is very useful fo...
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1:08
Rhythm Changes - Solo Etude (Fast)
Instructor: Martin Miller
Level: Advanced
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
Alright, now the fun begins. It’s time to solo! Just like in the previous lesson the amount of chord changes might be a bit overwhelming at first. So what we’re going to do is increase our licks vocabulary by playing through this etude I ...
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1:20
Rhythm Changes - Solo Etude (Slow)
Instructor: Martin Miller
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
Here’s the same thing played slow. Note how different the time feel in this type of soloing is. This tempo will help you understand the fundamentals of swing in jazz soloing.
Now it’s your time to incorporate these licks into your own pl...
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2:25
Rhythm Changes - Backing Track (Fast)
Instructor: Martin Miller
Level: Advanced
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
Rhythm Changes backing track at 220bpm.
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3:58
Rhythm Changes - Backing Track (Slow)
Instructor: Martin Miller
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
Backing Track for Rhythm Changes at 134 bpm.
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1:42
Finger Tone Part 4 - Jazz Comping
Instructor: Jody Mac
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Technique
Style: Jazz
This example is a short jazz comp which connects chords of the diatonic key using a walking bass line. Passing tones are used as a way to get from one chord idea to the root of the next. In standard jazz progressions, a pianist or guitarist will use ...
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1:52
Time Feel - Exercise 2: Explanation
Instructor: Tom Quayle
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Rhythm
Style: Jazz
Okay, hopefully you were coping well with that last lesson.
In the previous exercise our physical metronome and internal metronome were playing on every beat in the bar. The premise of the remaining exercises is to gradually remove more of the physi...
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0:32
Time Feel - Exercise 2: Demonstration
Instructor: Tom Quayle
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Rhythm
Style: Jazz
Here's the video demonstration of Exercise 2. Metronome is set up at 82 bpm on beats 2 and 4 giving me a perceived tempo of 164 bpm.
Remember to tap your foot on beats 2 and 4 also and try to match my feel in the video.
Try other chord progressions...
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1:57
Free
Shell Voicings - Using all the Shapes
Instructor: Tom Quayle
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
Our last chord progression is going to live firmly in the jazz camp. It's still a blues, but it's mainly called a 'Parker Blues'. Named after the famous sax player Charlie Parker, it differs considerably from our standard blues in a few aspects.
Fir...
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2:28
Jazz Polymeter Exercise
Instructor: Sean Conklin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Exercises
Style: Jazz
Hey folks!
In this lesson, we're going to learn a jazz rhythm exercise that will help us get familiar with the concept of polymeter. Polymeter occurs when there are multiple time signatures being used simultaneously. For example, a guitarist might b...
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1:31
Jazz Polymeter Exercise - Backing Track 129 bpm
Instructor: Sean Conklin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Exercises
Style: Jazz
Here is the backing track at 129 bpm (beats per minute). Remember, do your best to be aware of the underlying 4/4 groove that the drums are playing, even though you're playing a riff in 7/8.
If you ever record yourself playing along to the backing, ...
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1:57
Jazz Polymeter Exercise - Backing Track 100 bpm
Instructor: Sean Conklin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Exercises
Style: Jazz
Here is the backing track at 100 bpm. Remember, do your best to be aware of the underlying 4/4 groove that the drums are playing, even though you're playing a riff in 7/8.
If you ever record yourself playing along to the backing, be sure to post it ...
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1:12
I Vi ii V progression - Chord Substitutions
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
Welcome Guitar Players!
Over the next several lessons we are going to be looking at possible chord substitutions that can be used over a 'I Vi ii V' progression.
To begin with, I want you to have a go at this sequence of chords and try and get them...
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2:43
I Vi ii V Progression - Tonic Substitute
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
Tonic Substitute
The first substitution I want to introduce is called a 'tonic substitute'. It is also known to some as 'two to the right'.
In the key of C Major there are 7 chords. That's one chord for each note in the C Major scale. Every Major k...
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2:39
I Vi ii V Progression - minor > Dominant
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
Now we are going to experiment with turning some minor chords into Dominant Chords.
Dominant chords generally resolve down to a Perfect 5th. You can see an example of this in our progression via the G7 > Cmaj7 movement.
Typically in pop and rock...
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2:13
I Vi ii V Progression - Tri-tone Substitution
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
Before we get into Tri-tone substitutions, I owe some people the answer to the homework task from last lesson.
Am7 contains the notes - A C E G also expressed as R b3 5 b7. If the b3 (minor 3rd) of this chord is C, and we know that the only differen...
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1:49
I Vi ii V Progression - D7 to Ab7
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
The next chord we are going to manipulate is chord ii (D7), which was earlier a Dm7.
Just as in our previous lesson, we are going to identify the 5th of this chord: D F# (A) C.
Now we lower it by a half step, giving us Ab.
All we do now is use thi...
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1:05
I Vi ii V Progression - A7 to Eb7
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
For our final tri-tone substitution, A7 will become Eb7.
We identify the 5th of A7: A C# (E) G. Lower it by a half step. Eb
Build a new Dominant7 chord from Eb. Eb7 = Eb G Bb Db
Once again you will see that the 3rd and 7th of both these chords are...
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1:00
Rhythm Changes - Solo
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
Hello! and welcome to the Rhythm Changes. This tutorial will have two ends to it. Right now we are just going to learn a 32 bar solo. The solo will be broken up into two 16 bar segments for you to work on.
Then I'll introduce you to the chord progr...
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0:41
Rhythm Changes - Solo - pt.1
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Exercises
Style: Jazz
Here are the first 16 bars of this solo.
Be sure to play it with a steady swing and practice it slowly to begin with. Then up your tempo as you become more comfortable with it.
Also, I have not indicated any of the legato techniques used. For one, ...
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0:43
Rhythm Changes - Solo - pt.2
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Exercises
Style: Jazz
This video includes the bridge section and the final 8 bars, slowed down.
Once again, take it slow to begin with and keep it swinging.
In the next video I will introduce you to the chord changes we are playing over.
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2:52
Rhythm Changes - The Chords
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
The Chords.
The chord changes for this tune are possibly some of the most used changes in the history of Jazz.
In the first 4 bars we have a I-Vi-ii-V progression, looping. This is commonly known as a 'turn around' and will often be found at the en...
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3:47
Rhythm Changes - Backing
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Exercises
Style: Jazz
Rhythm Changes - Backing Track
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0:49
What Is This Thing Called Love? - Solo
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
What Is This Thing Called Love?
A classic tune by the great composer, Cole Porter.
In this video I will play a 32 bar solo through the chord changes to this song.
Provided below is the tab if you want to get stuck into it right away. Click on the ...
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2:37
What Is This Thing Called Love? - Breakdown
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
Hello again.
Hopefully this video will give you a better chance to observe the fingerings I have used throughout the solo.
Early on in the tune I used some chord fragments in the solo. These were Inversions of Fm6 / Dm7b5. These two chords are actu...
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4:09
What Is This Thing Called Love? - Backing Track
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
Have fun with the backing track!
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2:07
Backing Tracks - II V I (quartet) 100bpm
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Beginner
Topic: Exercises
Style: Jazz
II V I Backing Track, quartet format, Key of G, 100bpm
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2:08
Backing Tracks - II V I (trio) 140bpm
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Exercises
Style: Jazz
II V I progression, backing track, in Trio format. Key of G. 140 bpm.
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2:33
Improvisation 'The II-V-I' - Introduction
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
In this tutorial, I hope to enlighten you somewhat in the ways of improvisation. Particularly on the subject of outlining chords. We will be having a look at several short musical phrases and analyzing them in context to the use of what are commonly ...
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3:08
Improvisation 'The II-V-I' - Guide Tones
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
Before we start learning to play some lines and understanding what makes them tick, it is important we understand the concept of guide tones.
A good improviser will always be able to 'outline' the chord progression he/she is playing through. In our ...
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1:17
Improvisation 'The II-V-I' - Guide Tone Lines pt.1
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Beginner
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
Guide Tones. Part 1
This lesson will contain a lot more discussion about chord tones used than the following, so be sure to read carefully. If there is anything you don't understand please join me in the forums. Let's get right into understanding ...
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1:06
Improvisation 'The II-V-I' - Guide Tone Lines pt.2
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
Guide Tones part 2
Welcome!
This lesson has two separate phrases but are all played as one long passage. The Chord voicings used are also tabbed for you, not the rhythms though. I will leave that part of it for you to work out by ear if you wish.
...
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1:04
Improvisation 'The II-V-I' - Guide Tone Lines pt.3
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
Guide Lines part 3
Before you do anything with this lesson, I want you to just listen to the first half of the video. It is a 16 bar phrase over our II-V-I progression. The chords progression is simply repeated as such, Am7 D7 Gmaj7 Gmaj7 Am7 D7 Gma...
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1:17
Improvisation 'The II-V-I' - Getting a Better Understanding
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Improvising
Style: Jazz
It's time to open the fretboard up! This lesson will hopefully help you visualize each of the chord/scale relationships over the fretboard a bit easier.
All of these exercises are built on the II-V-I progression just as we have been working on them ...
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1:17
Jazz Lines (Bossa #1)
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Cool Riffs
Style: Jazz
Bossa style lines. no.1,
This one of the first lines I was ever proud to put my name to, It has since become a common tool in my improvisations. It is based on the first 8 bars of the tune ' Blue Bossa '
Analysis; ========
In bar one the line begi...
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1:39
Symmetrical Scales - Backing Track
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Exercises
Style: Jazz
Use this backing to practice your Diminished scale.
The G, E, Db and Bb diminished scales will all sound fine over this.
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6:14
Playing Jazz Stardards - Learning the Form
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Beginner
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
Welcome to Part 1 of our tutorial on playing jazz standards.
A form is a name used to describe the structure of the song. Two common forms in Jazz Standards are the 'AABA' and 'AABC' form. The letters, A A B and A are references to movements within...
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1:18
Playing Jazz Standards - 4 to the bar swing
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Beginner
Topic: Rhythm
Style: Jazz
Four to the bar swing, otherwise known as 'Gypsy Swing' or 'long short rhythm' is the most commonly used rhythm among traditional Jazz bands.
This lesson will be focused on using this rhythm to develop a better understanding of the swing feel. As we...
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2:02
Playing Jazz Standards - Voice Leading 101
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
Voice leading is something every guitar player should have a basic understanding of, despite what style of music he or she plays.
The basic idea behind voice leading is to create some form of melodic motion when changing chords. This motion is creat...
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1:05
Playing Jazz Standards - Chord Melodies
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Advanced
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
Alright, hopefully by now you have this chord progression well under your belt. The melody should be memorized, and all the chord voicings we looked at ought to be flowing when you play them. If so, it's time to look at some more creative ways to use...
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1:20
Playing Jazz Standards - Walking Bass & Chords
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Advanced
Topic: Chords
Style: Jazz
As this tutorial is intended to be more of a guide to the various ways we can approach playing through a tune, as opposed to viewing the techniques from an analytical standpoint. I wont be explaining how exactly this bass line arrangement was put tog...
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4:09
Backing Tracks - Autumn Leaves Swing
Instructor: Mike Edwin
Level: Beginner
Topic: Exercises
Style: Jazz
Autumn Leaves Jam Track
Swing/Bop Style
130bpm
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.ii-V-I Licks (Part 1)
Instructor: Robert Mussatti
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Cool Riffs
Style: Jazz
I now bring you another installment of licks, and this time, this is going to focus on ii-V-I licks. I have divided this up into 2 parts, with this part focusing on the licks themselves, and part 2 showing a way of how you can put them to use within...
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.ii-V-I Licks (Part 2)
Instructor: Robert Mussatti
Level: Intermediate
Topic: Cool Riffs
Style: Jazz
Now, we are going to put these to good use. One way is to take these and play them through ii-V-I's going thru the Circle Of Fifths (Cycle Of Fourths), the main premise is to make the smoothest transition between each progression, using the most app...
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