Online Lessons - Guitar

Just what is "Jazz Guitar"?

WikipediA defines jazz guitar as: "The term jazz guitar refers to several aspects of the guitar as it is used in jazz and jazz fusion music. The term may refer to a type of guitar or to the variety of jazz playing styles (e.g. chords, melodies, and improvised solo lines) performed by guitarists in different jazz genres. These jazz guitar styles were developed by decades of influential jazz guitarists. The guitar has a long history in jazz music, both as an ensemble instrument performing chordal accompaniment, and as a solo instrument."

That definition is close enough. We'll deal with what you need for chords, melodies, and improvised solo lines.

• Chords

  A jazz guitarists needs a set of "core" chords to get through the standard jazz repertoire.

• Scales

  A jazz guitarists needs a set of "core" scales to get through the standard jazz repertoire.

• Rhythm

  A jazz guitarists needs ti understand rhythm and be able to play in a variety of styles. Syles such as Swing, Latin and Contemporary styles.

This is the beginning of comping. Lessons go over comping quarter notes on the beat using using a basic I IV V blues progression in the key of C and then using eight notes on the up beat. Great exercise for keeping ones place in a song. Helps you work on feeling where the beat is at all times.

Look for other lessons focusing on the rhythmic element of comping as well as chords.

Do you know 20 C7 voicings?

Expanding on the chord voicings used in lesson 101 using the a C blues progression. Also touches on voice leading priniciples and expanding you chord knowledge.

Exploring 4-part jazz chords using this common chord progression.

More to come later exploring additional string families, more voice leading, chord alterations, upper partials, chord substutition, common chord progressions, songs and more.

Call it what you want. It is scales, intervals, arpeggios and sequences. So if you don't know your basic scales (SCALE TONES) and can't spell your chords (CHORD TONES).

This is going to be some good stuff. So get started with the links books in the paragraph above.