A while ago I stumbled online on a few good articles on practice tips: a few of these included these12 rules by master jazz trumpet player Winton Marsalis. I want to share them with you as I think they are a great way of approaching practice and playing in general. Enjoy. THE WYNTON MARSALIS 12… Continue reading Practice tips: the 12 Marsalis Rules
Tag: Jazz
Jog Scale
This is a scale I know as ‘Jog scale’. I am sure even though you might not know it by name, you have heard its sound before, as it is featured in a lot of Beatles tunes, and also a favorite of guitarist Eric Johnson. It has an Indian flavor to my ears…just watch the… Continue reading Jog Scale
Open Strings Voicings
I am quite into open strings voicings as I think they are one of the few things you can only play on guitar and no other instrument, and I would compare the sound to that of a piano when the sustain pedal is used: the sound is fuller, sustained, rich in harmonics. in this video… Continue reading Open Strings Voicings
Modes of major scale pt2
Modes of the major scale Pt2. In the first video I showed you all the modes from one scale (C major), where all the modes shared the same notes, each one starting from a different note. Here I’ll do something different: all my modes will start from the same note (C). Of course all these… Continue reading Modes of major scale pt2
Easy standard jazz song analyzed
In this video I will show you how jazz standards are actually much easier that most people think. I bring as an example the famous standard ‘Autumn leaves’. You’ll notice right away that this is mostly made up by two 2-5-1 progressions one in major, the other one in minor. I have already show you… Continue reading Easy standard jazz song analyzed
Expand your vocabulary Pt2
Expand your vocabulary Pt2 After I have learnt my phrase in every key I will now use it in context. Here I am using it on ‘autumn leaves’ every time there is a 2-5-1. of course I use it in the appropriate key, and I fill the rest of the tune with material stylistically similar.… Continue reading Expand your vocabulary Pt2
Expand your vocabulary Pt1
Expand your vocabulary Pt1 In this video I’ll show you how to ‘import’ in your playing a new phrase/ melodic snippet by analyzing its shape and transposing it in every key. This is the phrase I use:
Connecting 7th arpeggios with scales
This is a great exercise that not only will improve your articulation, but will better your understanding of 7th arpeggios and how to connect them in a musical manner. Watch the video and download the file, it is pretty much self explanatory. After you have learnt the exercise, there are two things you can do… Continue reading Connecting 7th arpeggios with scales
7th Arpeggios
a lesson on 7th arpeggios, here I demonstrate how to master these structures all over the guitar. I mostly play the major 7th arpeggio, but you can use any arpeggio in any key. Printable PDF: 7th arpeggios – shapes
2-5-1 minor
Like the 2-5-1 in major this is quite a reoccurring progression in many different styles. Its originates from the Harmonic Minor scale and the chords are IIm7(b5)-V7(b9)-Im(maj7). In the video I show you a scale (that really has no name) that fits these 3 chords, and if learned in all keys, will cover your basic… Continue reading 2-5-1 minor