Harmonized major scale with 7th chords on guitar

We have seen in previous lessons how to build the harmonized scale from the major scale. In this video I show the application on guitar in three different keys, using 7th chords. This is what I play in the video: You can find the most used 7th chords here as well: Most common 7th chord shapes on… Continue reading Harmonized major scale with 7th chords on guitar

Intervals Explained pt 2: practical application on guitar.

We have seen in this post https://www.trueguitarist.com/intervals-explained/ what intervals are in theory and how the simplest and safest way to identify an interval is by calculating the number of semitones between the two notes.  Again, this is the table for you to ‘do the math’: N.of halfsteps 1 2 3 4 5 6 6 also 7… Continue reading Intervals Explained pt 2: practical application on guitar.

Playing in Fourths

I really like this style of phrasing, take some great examples like McCoy Tyner, and a lot of the ‘hard bop’ jazz cats. The basic idea is this: take a scale, in this example I will use a C major scale. Now  play all the diatonic fourths contained in C major: In the video I am playing… Continue reading Playing in Fourths

Tips: play Giant Steps on guitar

Giant Steps has always been a challenging standard to play, in this video I give a few tips on how to approach this famous tune. The Chords (from the fake book-as far as I know it is not copyrighted material so I am posting the original): One good ‘pattern’ to start familiarising with the progression in playing… Continue reading Tips: play Giant Steps on guitar

Jazz guitar: Altered Chords Pt2

In this video I show how to use the Superlocrian mode (nothing more than the 7th mode of a minor melodic scale) to improvise over altered chords. On C7 the choice would be C Superlocrian C, Db,Eb,E, F#,G#,Bb (also known as Db melodic minor starting from C). Listen to a few examples of resolution from C7(alt) to… Continue reading Jazz guitar: Altered Chords Pt2

How to use the Diminished Scale Pt 2

Continuation of the diminished scale video…in this Pt2 I show how to incorporate triads into phrases or altered chords voicings. If we take a C half step/whole step scale C, Db, Eb, E, F#, G, A, Bb we see that four triads can be found within the notes of this scale: C major, Ebmajor, F#major,… Continue reading How to use the Diminished Scale Pt 2

Basic Music Theory for Beginners Pt 2:on Guitar, Practical Application.

Basic theory knowledge pt 2: on Guitar! Let’s now go back to the basic theory post (quite successful over 10k views just the day I posted!) , and let’s see how things apply to guitar…just read the explanatins in red and watch the videos! Let’s start again: The natural sounds are: English C D E F… Continue reading Basic Music Theory for Beginners Pt 2:on Guitar, Practical Application.

Basic Music Theory for Beginners

Basic theory knowledge What follows is just a brief summary of basic theory and harmony necessary to understand practical applications on your instrument. The natural sounds are: English C D E F G A B You might also find in some books the name of these notes in Italian (nothing to do with ‘solfege’!) Do,Re,Mi,Fa,Sol,La,Si… Continue reading Basic Music Theory for Beginners