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Slow Bluesy, Jazz Lead Guitar Lesson – Easy to Play – EP460

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play an slow and melodic jazz lead that comes from the Pentatonic scales (major and minor).

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Rhythm - For Premium Members

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Slow Walkthrough

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Comments

  1. JohnStrat says

    April 8, 2022 at 7:32 pm

    Sounds like we shall need to get the technique and tone right for this one should be interesting. Nice to see the Byrdland out to play
    JohnStrat

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    • jimbostrat says

      April 8, 2022 at 9:52 pm

      Hey, John!! How’re things going over there in the old country? Jim C.

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    • steph_70 says

      April 13, 2022 at 2:32 pm

      Absolutely beautiful!

      Anyone can give me a sense of tone adjustment for this song? I got the new es-339 and spark amp (amp they finally decided to send me)

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  2. Raymond P says

    April 8, 2022 at 7:45 pm

    Thanks for the chord shapes on the rhythm sheet. It makes it so much easier for practice until you’ve really memorized the chord shapes better. Can you turn on the Soundslice print option too?

    Thanks again for these wonderfully detailed lessons

    Ray P

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    • Brian says

      April 8, 2022 at 9:36 pm

      It’s there now

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      • Raymond P says

        April 9, 2022 at 6:29 am

        Thanks Brian

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  3. Glenn says

    April 8, 2022 at 8:58 pm

    Nice lesson, Brian. Looks like you cleaned Clapton’s fingerprints off your guitar

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    • jimbostrat says

      April 8, 2022 at 9:54 pm

      Yeah, Glenn……….I could’ve sworn I’ve seen video of E.C. playing this exact same guitar from his collection……….you don’t think that Brian………..Nah…….Couldn’t be!!??

      :>) Jim C.

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      • Larry C says

        April 12, 2022 at 11:34 pm

        Wow, running at the speed of light.

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      • Buster89 says

        April 17, 2022 at 9:48 pm

        There is a video of Brian in the video catalogue quite some time ago explaining how Brian came to acquire this beautiful guitar.

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    • Robert M says

      April 10, 2022 at 8:15 pm

      I noticed that too. They were probably his roadie’s anyway.

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  4. Bill says

    April 8, 2022 at 9:54 pm

    Really liking the sound of this one Brian. Looking forward to trying it out this weekend.

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  5. Joe S says

    April 8, 2022 at 10:34 pm

    This is just what I needed Brian. Thanks for the great lesson! (Love it when you do jazz!)

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  6. Anthony L says

    April 9, 2022 at 12:15 am

    sweet, makes me think a of earl klugh before i knew what is/was called jazz

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  7. Raymond U says

    April 9, 2022 at 12:21 am

    Superb lesson Brian, love your jazz compositions. Is it possible to get a backing track of the rhythm guitar to play over?

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    • Brian says

      April 9, 2022 at 4:52 pm

      It’s there now – sorry about that!

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  8. Daniel H says

    April 9, 2022 at 7:48 am

    Brian, I always appreciate your inspirational reminders in the lessons regarding “learning a language” and its ok “to take away just a phrase” or two. I have played guitar for many years but never really dug into it until I discovered Active Melody. You are an inspirational teacher and your lessons contain so many valuable “take aways”. But I still get frustrated by how many hours of diligent practice it takes to become a good guitar player. Hence my gratitude for your encouragements. I spent too many years strumming cowboy chords with an embellishment or two. I have learned more in two years under your guidance than I did in the prior10+ years on my own. Thank you for being such great teacher.

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  9. charjo says

    April 9, 2022 at 8:04 am

    Brian,
    Thanks for showing, again, how simple can be absolutely beautiful. The F# minor triad tip was worth the price of admission. I’d like to second the request for a rhythm backing track available for download.
    John

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    • Bob K says

      April 9, 2022 at 1:19 pm

      I third the request fir that rhythm jam track.
      Bob

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    • Brian says

      April 9, 2022 at 4:53 pm

      It’s there now – sorry about that!

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  10. brian-belsey says

    April 9, 2022 at 8:44 am

    This is very nice and I really look forward to working on it. The Byrdland sounds terrific – I am surprised EC didn’t hang on to it.

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  11. Joe S says

    April 9, 2022 at 9:06 am

    Hi Brian – If you could make a backing available for this piece it would be very helpful. I would love to get this lesson under my fingers then strike out in my own direction. This is a very cool rhythm and worthy of learning on its own! Thanks again for all you do.

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    • Bob K says

      April 9, 2022 at 1:17 pm

      A rhythm jam track would be really cool for playing the to lead to, if that’s what you mean Joe. What say you Brian?
      Thanks, Bob.

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    • Brian says

      April 9, 2022 at 4:53 pm

      It’s there now – sorry about that!

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  12. Anthony G says

    April 9, 2022 at 9:15 am

    Great lesson! Brian I don’t know if it is just me, but the soundscape play back runs out after the first four measures. Thanks,

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    • Brian says

      April 9, 2022 at 5:36 pm

      you may just have the first four measures selected – so it repeats them. Try refreshing the page

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  13. Jim M says

    April 9, 2022 at 9:26 am

    My take away from this lesson: Soloing

    When a chord in a progression is changing, target the chord tones (1,3 or 5 note) of the chord the progression is changing too.

    Great Jazz Solo Brian !

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  14. Charles Q says

    April 9, 2022 at 10:33 am

    nice like this a lot

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  15. Alessandro S says

    April 9, 2022 at 10:33 am

    Great job Bryan! Can you please also add the backing track audio? So we can play the song over it and/or improvise. Thanks!!!

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    • Brian says

      April 9, 2022 at 4:53 pm

      It’s there now – sorry about that!

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  16. ROBERT M says

    April 9, 2022 at 12:28 pm

    I love this lesson! The sounds really are something else!

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  17. John C says

    April 9, 2022 at 12:37 pm

    Hi Brian – ‘love this lesson and am trying to use the playback tab, but I don’t think I quite understand how to use it because the “time-slice” feature (I think) keeps causing the playback to abort to the beginning after only a few bars. What might I be doing wrong?

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    • John C says

      April 9, 2022 at 2:11 pm

      Hmm- only seems to happen when the “video” option is selected. When I set it to “audio only” the jump back does not occur. Is the issue with the linked video/demo? Is anyone else have an issue with this? Just curious 🙂

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      • Brian says

        April 9, 2022 at 4:56 pm

        I’m not getting this on my end. Maybe a browser issue?

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        • John C says

          April 11, 2022 at 12:26 pm

          Yes, could be. I’m on a mac using Safari. Not big issue, Brian, really.. I’m just limited to the audio only option for some quirky reason 🙂

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  18. Helmut S says

    April 9, 2022 at 1:33 pm

    Thanks for this amazing lession

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  19. John B says

    April 9, 2022 at 2:33 pm

    I too would like a backing track . Thanks Brian. A really great lesson once again.

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    • Brian says

      April 9, 2022 at 4:53 pm

      It’s there now – sorry about that!

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  20. David S says

    April 9, 2022 at 3:29 pm

    Great lesson.Love the Jazz style for a change.When I was young didn’t like many styles but I like everything now because of your great teaching.Thanks again for your integrity to your teaching ability.Would also like to have backtrack for this lesson. Makes you better if you play with backtrack. Thank You , Thank you, Thank you. Heard someone say this before.Oh yea

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  21. Michael Allen says

    April 9, 2022 at 3:42 pm

    Thanks for another beautiful melody. I had surgery yesterday and was unable to get the lesson today. Can’t wait to learn it when I’m better able to stay up. Thanks Brian

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  22. JULIAN C says

    April 9, 2022 at 6:32 pm

    Fantastic Lesson – love learning how to play the jazz chords and leads using pentatonic scales with a touch of the out of the box jazzy scales – made it so easy to catch on.

    I will get a lot of run out of this lesson for sure,

    Thank you

    jc

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  23. San Luis Rey says

    April 9, 2022 at 6:47 pm

    Hey Brian, You had me at the D# dim7 arpeggio! This is such a sweet sounding lesson playing over these chords. You hit this one right out of the box. Thanks!
    Mike

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  24. Lee R says

    April 9, 2022 at 7:36 pm

    Thanks Brian. Love your lessons. I am an “older” leaner although I played folkie stuff as a kid. I am really impressed how your teaching skills and this web site has evolved over the years. I think it is the very best guitar instruction on the web for folks who really want to understand how to play and why things are the way they are. Can you tell us how you get the tone on this one?

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  25. Michelle G says

    April 9, 2022 at 8:54 pm

    Nice guitar and great lesson, I’m getting faster at learning these songs each week. I love learning all the genres and after I get the new song of the week down I reward myself with 301 rockabilly!! over and over! (I’m hooked) not quite up to the high speed, somewhere between slow and fast! Getting there, thanks Brian.

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  26. Roberto C says

    April 10, 2022 at 3:34 am

    Added to my default collection! Those maj7 and #dim7 licks make me feel like a cool jazz player now 🙂

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  27. Roberto C says

    April 10, 2022 at 4:51 am

    Also interesting the fact that Dmaj7 equals to F#m which is also A6

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  28. Scott L says

    April 10, 2022 at 5:06 am

    This is a great lesson Brian!
    I have always been partial to this style of playing and appreciate you including jazz in your mix of lessons. Thank you also for including the video on the rhythm technique. I think a lot of us would have struggled without it. You always seem to be willing to go the extra mile for your students in preparing these lessons and we benefit greatly.🙂

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  29. Susan A says

    April 10, 2022 at 5:24 am

    Love this lesson!

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  30. Mark H says

    April 10, 2022 at 5:47 am

    Totally inspiring lesson and composition. I absolutely love that diminished run, it really catches your ear nicely by surprise and sets off the whole piece. Delightful and brilliant.

    As you are fond of saying, “You can do this…”. Yes we can, it’ll take some work though. I’m dusting-off my jazz box and will be moving it to the living room.

    Sincere thanks,

    Mark H

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  31. DouglasAlaskaDad says

    April 10, 2022 at 3:22 pm

    Excellent as always. The run is nice. Great vibe overall. Now, for all of the various Brian-Phrases like ‘connect to chord shapes’, ‘major pentatonic lives within the major scale’, etc. – all of which can potentially connect my brain to skills and sometimes eventually do, now we can add the Brian-Phrase “It’s there now – sorry about that!”. Good stuff man. Thank you.

    Mark

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  32. Bob K says

    April 11, 2022 at 10:07 pm

    Absolutely love this melody and jazz style. Been mostly focused on your blues style lessons Brian, but with this you have inspired me to explore your jazz style lessons more.

    Thanks for this. Bob.

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  33. Alessio A says

    April 12, 2022 at 9:19 am

    Ciao Brian
    I am new in this website and let me say I have learnt more things here about lead guitar, but not only, in one month than in years of lessons.
    Thank you very much.
    Alessio

    P.S.
    I am italian so I ask excuse for eventually English language mistakes

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  34. wrightclick says

    April 12, 2022 at 11:53 am

    I wasn’t keen first play why is that ? but then my ears sort of got in key and now i just can’t get enough , fabulous lesson Brian . p.s where has the beautiful sunburst Sheraton gone ?

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  35. Dana D says

    April 12, 2022 at 11:25 pm

    This is beautiful-I will love learning it.

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  36. David E says

    April 13, 2022 at 11:16 am

    Thank you so much Brian. This is such a beautiful melody. Until now I wouldn’t have believed if could be played using just pentatonics. Another great lightbulb moment!

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  37. Gabriel S says

    April 13, 2022 at 12:02 pm

    Great lesson Brian. Love this piece.

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  38. Philip B says

    April 13, 2022 at 12:12 pm

    Great lesson! I liked it a little bit at first and I worked on it because I liked the “devices” (techniques?) you used. The more I played it the more I liked it. I agree with above about your jazz lesons being really good ones. And I like learning this solo and then using those techniques to imporvise around a bit more with them. Thanks !

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  39. Benjamin G says

    April 14, 2022 at 12:48 pm

    Great lesson, Brian. My only peeve is while you accurately describe the origins of each phrase extremely well that sometimes overshadows the actual application. I learn by seeing the phrasing maybe slow two times per section after the origin and then go on to the next section. Playing it slow section by section allows me to practice and add the next section allowing me to memorize as I move forward. The origin by section throws me off. Otherwise, really nice piece that allows for interpretation as well.

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  40. Andy N says

    April 15, 2022 at 6:42 am

    Just love this lesson, I’ve been playing it all week, hoping that diminished lick will make it into the long term memory banks.! The rhythm part works perfectly on a loop pedal and as ever I’m in awe of you ability to conjure such Melodies week in week out.

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  41. Wayne W says

    April 15, 2022 at 2:48 pm

    Great lesson, Brian. Loved the jazz twist. It is good to get out of the pentatonics now and then.

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  42. Nick W says

    April 15, 2022 at 3:07 pm

    Loved this lesson. One of my favourites now.

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  43. Bert C says

    April 17, 2022 at 9:32 am

    What a wonderful tutorial! I borrowed a few chords from “Rain Night in Georgia ” and expanded the melody. Thank you!

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  44. kai k says

    April 18, 2022 at 3:29 pm

    so the dim scale contains the 1-b3 – b5 – b6 – 6 ?

    thanks kai

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  45. Marc A says

    April 23, 2022 at 10:43 am

    LOVE this kind of groove! Well done!

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  46. Frankie D says

    April 26, 2022 at 10:48 pm

    Beautiful melody Brian. Listening to, and watching you play, those Claptonesque riffs on that gorgeous Byrdland makes me think of Eric’s Reptile album. Great lesson! I worked in a music

    store back in the 60’s and an unobtainium Byrdland would pass through the shop from time to time. Gorgeous guitar with a beautiful jazz sound. Thank you so much for sharing this lesson

    and your exceptional teaching skills.

    Peace.

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  47. Brian Canadian in the UK says

    May 1, 2022 at 7:10 am

    this is going to be a fun lesson , as you said Brian getting your ears out of hearing typical sounds, but lessons like this really expands your guitar learning , a bit tricky, but good to push yourself,

    Thanks for the Lesson Brian

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  48. Marc P says

    May 16, 2022 at 7:32 am

    This has a really chilled vibe. I am so looking forward to try this one.

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  49. Roy L says

    October 27, 2022 at 12:09 pm

    Great lesson. I love these blues/Jazz fusions. I loved the inclusion of the diminished run. Genius. I’m mainly into Blues, but your lessons encompassing Jazzy cords /styles is broadening my playing. Please can we have more. Cheers Roy. (from the other side of the Pond)

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  50. David B says

    January 2, 2023 at 11:17 am

    Lovely tone. Such a graceful sound all around. What gear are you using here?

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