In this week's guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play both the major scale and a bluesy version of the major scale (mixolydian mode) by using harmonized 3rd and harmonized 6th intervals. You'll be able to not only understand where these harmonies come from, but how to connect them back to familiar chord shapes that you already know so that you can start using them when you improvise. … [Read more...]
Jazzy, Blues Lead Guitar Lesson in B Flat (Includes “Out of the box” Licks) – EP352
In this week's guitar lesson, you'll learn a blues lead that's played over a B flat shuffle which includes several "out of the box" type licks, designed to make your lead sound more sophisticated. This is perfect for those of you that are looking to add a little more jazz to your blues leads. … [Read more...]
Western Swing Style Guitar Lesson – Jazz Lead – EP321
In this week's guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play a Western Swing / jazz style lead over the chord changes. I'll explain where the notes come from so that you can understand how to improvise in this style. The MP3 jam track is available in multiple tempos. … [Read more...]
Jazzy Blues Lead Guitar Lesson in a Minor Key – EP308
In this week's guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play (and improvise) a blues lead (with a little jazz flavor) over a minor key jam track. You'll be playing the chord changes over the verse, alternating between a minor and a major chord. … [Read more...]
Learn a Jazzy, Blues Composition That You Can Play By Yourself on Guitar – Blues Guitar Lesson – EP289
In this week's lesson, you'll learn a solo blues composition (no accompaniment required) that isn't the typical 1, 4, 5 blues format. This has a jazzy chord arrangement to keep things interesting and give you ideas for other ways to play the blues (similar to Lonnie Johnson's approach). This also uses the "call & response" technique to allow you to alternate back and forth between chords and lead. Los of takeaways in this one! … [Read more...]
Bluesy, Jazz Guitar Lesson (Solo Composition) EP207
In this bluesy jazz guitar lesson, you'll learn a solo composition that works on acoustic or electric guitar. I'll show you where all of the licks and chords come from so that you can improvise in this style or even write songs like this. This was inspired by the great jazz guitar player Kenny Burrell. Take a listen to his classic "Midnight Blue" to hear the inspiration for this chord structure. … [Read more...]
Western Swing Style Rhythm Guitar Lesson – EP185
In this guitar lesson, you'll learn how to spice up your rhythm playing with some jazzy sounding chord substitutes. Western Swing is a great format for this because it combines, blues, jazz, and country and creates techniques that can be applied to any of those styles. In addition to explaining the theory behind the chords, I'll break down the rhythm pattern. The MP3 jam track for this lesson comes in 2 tempos as well. … [Read more...]
Mixolydian Mode – Learn To Play an Easy Jazz Blues Lead in this Guitar Lesson – EP179
In this bluesy, jazz guitar lesson. I'll explain what Mixolydian mode is and how you can easily find the Mixolydian scale and use it in any key. I'll also show you how to play this slow, easy bluesy, jazz lead in the key of B. You could do this on acoustic or electric guitar. … [Read more...]
Western Swing Style Guitar Lesson – Lead Guitar Lesson – EP171
In this guitar lesson you'll learn how to play a jazzy sounding, western swing lead over a I, IV, V chord progression for a much more melodic sounding lead. I'll show you how to play a few jazz runs by targeting the notes within the chord. This gives you a much more melodic sounding lead, and you'll find it's really not that difficult to do! This works on acoustic or electric guitar. … [Read more...]
Solo Blues Guitar in A (With Some Added Jazz) – EP141
In this blues guitar lesson you'll learn how to play a solo blues composition in the key of A with no accompaniment. You'll start by playing a call and response rhythm and lead. This is a great technique to learn because it helps define the song when you're playing solo like this. The 2nd and 3rd time through you'll be playing single string lead on your own but will define the parameters of the song by the notes you play. … [Read more...]
