Category: The Jazzy stuff (but good for every style!)

Are you an aspiring jazz guitarist looking to embark on a musical journey into the captivating world of jazz? Whether you’re transitioning from other genres or starting from scratch, mastering jazz guitar involves embracing its unique language and techniques. Here are five essential tips to help beginners navigate this thrilling musical terrain.

1. Embrace Jazz Standards
   A fundamental step in your jazz guitar journey is immersing yourself in jazz standards, particularly focusing on Charlie Parker’s heads and iconic tunes. These pieces serve as the cornerstone of jazz vocabulary. Break down these tunes into smaller phrases to build your repertoire and deepen your understanding of the jazz language.
2. Transitioning Chord Shapes
   If you’re accustomed to chunky chords from other genres, it’s time to explore smaller, more intricate chord shapes devoid of repetitions. Emphasize smooth voice leading within chord progressions to create a fluid and authentic jazz sound. Learn to recognize common jazz chord progressions like the 1625 pattern to streamline your learning process.
3. Explore Constant Structure Voicings
   Dive into the modern realms of jazz and R&B, where constant chord structures reign supreme. These voicings allow for easy transposition across different keys and contribute to a contemporary sound. Experiment with these structures to infuse freshness into your jazz repertoire.
4. Develop Transposition Skills
   Transposition is a critical skill in jazz. Practice transposing licks and chord progressions into various keys. This skill is invaluable, considering that jazz standards are often played in different keys. Strengthening your ability to play in different tonalities will significantly expand your musical flexibility.
5. Mastering the Swing Feel
   Swing feel is the heartbeat of jazz. Mastery of this rhythmic technique can transform simple notes into a mesmerizing melody. Focus on playing with the right swing feel, as it can make even simpler arrangements sound remarkably vibrant and characteristic of jazz music.

Have you ever wondered how jazz musicians like Pat Martino or George Benson create those mesmerizing, seemingly endless solos that effortlessly flow from one phrase to another? It’s a mastery of technique, an amalgamation of smaller jazz elements, and a practice in endurance and articulation. In this post, we’ll delve into a technique that builds upon the concept of ‘Jazz Bites’ to help you craft those long, seamless lines in your improvisation.

Understanding Jazz Bites: A Foundation

In an earlier video, the concept of ‘Jazz Bites‘ was introduced—small, digestible units of jazz vocabulary that form the building blocks of improvisation. These tiny units serve as the groundwork for what we’ll explore further—the creation of expansive, continuous phrases.

The Art of Concatenation: Crafting Endurance

The technique involves stringing together these ‘Jazz Bites’ into long lines, almost akin to a musical marathon. It’s not just about playing fast; it’s about the endurance to sustain a continuous flow of 8th or 16th note phrases without pause. This exercise serves dual purposes: enhancing endurance and developing the ability to articulate complex musical ideas seamlessly.

Emulating the Masters: George Benson & Pat Martino’s Influence

Imagine the signature sounds of George Benson or Pat Martino, effortlessly maneuvering through extended phrases, never losing momentum. This technique aims to emulate that style, capturing the essence of their playing by amalgamating various small phrases into one cohesive, elongated line.

Practical Application: Exercise vs. Performance

It’s essential to note that while this technique serves as a fantastic exercise for expanding your improvisational abilities, it might not necessarily reflect a typical performance approach. However, it equips you with the confidence and skill to navigate through extended phrases should the need arise during a gig or session.

Putting It into Practice

To start, focus on slowly concatenating phrases. It’s about building a mental repository of various phrases and smoothly connecting them. While repetition may occur, the aim is to cycle through numerous phrases without breaks.

Final Notes

Remember, this exercise isn’t about mimicking an exact performance but rather about honing the skill set necessary for extended improvisation. It’s an exploration, a journey to expand your musical language and enhance your improvisational capabilities.

In the realm of jazz, mastering the art of soloing isn’t just about skillful fingerwork or memorizing scales. It’s about controlling the narrative of your music, navigating through changes, and embracing rhythms in a way that captivates your audience. In a recent insightful tutorial, the focus was on refining the length and precision of musical phrases, a challenge often encountered by aspiring musicians.

Understanding the Essence of Phrasing

Phrasing isn’t just about playing notes; it’s about sculpting musical thoughts within a specific span of bars. It’s the difference between a free-flowing cascade of notes and a structured, deliberate sequence that synchronizes effortlessly with the underlying beat or harmonic rhythm.

The tutorial starts by highlighting two primary approaches: free-flow playing and playing in rhythm. While free-flowing allows for spontaneous expression over a structure, playing in rhythm involves following chords and maintaining synchronization with the beat.

The Exercise: Controlling Phrases with Precision

To aid in this skill development, the tutorial introduces the use of a metronome. Starting with shorter phrases, participants are guided to play one-bar phrases alternated with a bar of rest, gradually progressing to longer phrases like two-bar sequences. The aim is not just to play for the sake of it but to listen keenly, crafting musical sentences that have a clear beginning and end.

The tutorial encourages musicians to experiment further, suggesting three-bar and four-bar phrases to align with common music structures. Through these exercises, an inherent sense of rhythm and control over the duration of play is cultivated.

Beyond the Basics: Applying Techniques

Moving beyond the metronome, the tutorial introduces a looper, providing a more dynamic platform to practice these exercises. Demonstrating on a D Minor loop, the tutorial showcases how these exercises translate into real musical application.

C Ionian (derives from C major):
Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Notes: C D E F G A B
Arpeggio: C E G B
Harmonized: Cmaj7 Dm7 Em7 Fmaj7 G7 Am7 Bm7b5
Sounds: Happy
Example in a tune: La Bamba

C Dorian (derives from Bb major):
Formula: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7
Notes: C D Eb F G A Bb
Arpeggio: C Eb G Bb
Harmonized: Cm7 Dm7 Ebmaj7 F7 Gm7 Am7b5 Bbmaj7
Sounds: Jazzy/Loungey
Example in a tune: Oye Como Va – Santana/ So what Miles Davis

C Phrygian (derives from Ab major):
Formula: 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Notes: C Db Eb F G Ab Bb
Arpeggio: C Eb G Bb
Harmonized:
Cm7 Dbmaj7 Eb7 Fm7 Gm7b5 Abmaj7 Bbm7
Sounds: Spanishy
Example in a tune: Em to F type progression

C Lydian (derives from G major):
Formula: 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7
Notes: C D E F# G A B
Arpeggio: C E G B
Harmonized:
Cmaj7 D7 Em7 F#m7b5 Gmaj7 Am7 Bm7
Sounds: Dreamy
Example in a tune:
Flying in a blue dream – Joe Satriani

C Mixolydian (derives from F major):
Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7
Notes: C D E F G A Bb
Arpeggio: C E G Bb
Harmonized:
C7 Dm7 Em7b5 Fmaj7 Gm7 Am7 Bbmaj7
Sounds: Funky/Bluesy
Example in a tune:
Sex Machine – James Brown

C Aeolian (derives from Eb major):
Formula: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Notes: C D Eb F G Ab Bb
Arpeggio: C Eb G Bb
Harmonized: Cm7 Dm7b5 Ebmaj7 Fm7 Gm7 Abmaj7 Bb7
Sounds: Sad
Example in a tune:The Loner/Parisienne walkways

C Locrian (derives from Db major):
Formula: 1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7
Notes: C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb
Arpeggio: C Eb Gb Bb
Harmonized: Cm7b5 Dbmaj7 Ebm7 Fm7 Gbmaj7 Ab7 Bbm7
Sounds: Used in 2-5-1- minor/ dark
Example in a tune: not used as such

Modal Interchange:

Ionian
Cmaj7 Dm7 Em7 Fmaj7 G7 Am7 Bm7b5
Dorian
Cm7 Dm7 Ebmaj7 F7 Gm7 Am7b5 Bbmaj7
Phrygian
Cm7 Dbmaj7 Eb7 Fm7 Gm7b5 Abmaj7 Bbm7
Lydian
Cmaj7 D7 Em7 F#m7b5 Gmaj7 Am7 Bm7
Mixolydian
C7 Dm7 Em7b5 Fmaj7 Gm7 Am7 Bbmaj7
Aeolian
Cm7 Dm7b5 Ebmaj7 Fm7 Gm7 Abmaj7 Bb7
Locrian
Cm7b5 Dbmaj7 Ebm7 Fm7 Gbmaj7 Ab7 Bbm7

Do you dream of adding that smooth, sophisticated jazz flair to your guitar playing, regardless of the genre you love? If so, you’re in for a treat! In today’s lesson, we’re diving into the world of jazz phrasing, and I’m here to guide you through an effortless way to infuse your music with that unmistakable jazz vibe. Buckle up, because we’re about to explore the wonders of “JAZZ BITES,” the easiest way to sound “jazz” on your guitar!

Understanding Jazz Phrasing: Bite-sized Brilliance

Traditional approaches to jazz often involve tackling lengthy 251 phrases or complex bebop scales. While these methods are undoubtedly valuable, we’re taking a different route today. Our focus is on bite-sized jazz phrases—small, manageable patterns that are incredibly versatile. These phrases, demonstrated in the key of C major, can be seamlessly integrated into any chord within the harmonized scale.

Sample Jazz Phrases in Action

Let’s break it down. I’ve curated a selection of these compact jazz phrases, showcasing their fluidity and adaptability. In a delightful D minor groove, I effortlessly incorporate these phrases, proving their compatibility with various chord progressions. Through rhythmic nuances and triplets, the phrases come alive, adding depth and sophistication to the music.

Your Jazz Journey Starts Here

Feeling inspired? Ready to embark on your jazz guitar journey? Here’s your game plan:

Pick Your Phrases: Start by choosing one or two favorite phrases from our collection. These snippets are designed to be approachable, making it easier for you to master them.

Practice and Play: Integrate your selected phrases into your playing. Experiment with different rhythms and tempos, allowing the phrases to blend seamlessly with your style.

Transpose and Explore: Challenge yourself by transposing these phrases into different keys. This step not only enhances your understanding but also expands your musical horizons.

Stay Curious: Jazz is a vast, ever-evolving genre. Stay curious and explore other jazz lessons, chord progressions, and musical styles. The more you delve into the world of jazz, the richer your playing will become.