Lessons
Learning to Play Changes
Here is a simple one page method for learning to improvise on chord changes.
Open String Picking Exercises
These tremelo excercises are great for loosening up the right hand. they will also help with feeling all the various subdivisions of the pulse.
24 Left Hand Fingering Combinations
This exercise was shown to me by my former student, Shane Roberts. He has studied the physiology of guitar playing and come up with some great exercises for expanding your technique. He has developed his technique to a ridiculous level. He is currently teaching and playing in Nashville.
24 left hand fingering comb.pdf
Drop 2 and Drop 3 Seventh Chord Voicings
“Drop 2” and “drop 3” voicings are some of the most common in jazz guitar comping. To create a drop 2, take a four-part close voicing in any inversion, and drop the second note from the top down an octave. This creates a bigger gap between the top note and the next note down the voicing, accentuating the top (melody) note. To create a drop 3, take a four-part close voicing in any inversion, and drop the third note from the top down an octave. This creates a bigger gap between the bottom note and the next note up the voicing, accentuating the bottom (bass) note. Drop 2 and drop 3 voicings should be learned in all inversions and all roots for the following chords types: Minor 7, Half-Diminished 7, Major 7, Dominant 7, and Diminished 7.
Voicing/Arpeggio/Scale
Here is an integrated approach to learning chord voicings, arpeggios, and scales on the guitar fretboard. There are two PDF files; one with the chord roots on the 5th string, and another with the roots on the 6th string.
II-V-I Voice-leading
Here are some common ways to voice-lead II-V-I progressions. Notice that the V7 chord may be altered in the major key II-V-I. The V7 chord is usually altered in the minor key II-V-I.
Maj key II-V-I.3 note.voic.pdf
Jazz Theory Playing Quiz 1
This mp3 recording of MIDI tracks has guitar on the right channel playing the patterns.
Tempo =130
Jazz Theory Playing Quiz 2
This mp3 recording of MIDI tracks has guitar on the both channels playing the patterns.
Tempo = 150
Jazz Theory Playing Quiz 2
(no guitar)
Jazz Theory Playing Quiz 3
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Almanac of Guitar Voice-Leading
by Mick Goodrick, pub. Liquid Harmony Books
Approaching the Guitar
by Gene Bertoncini, pub. Kjos
Creative Comping Concepts for Jazz Guitar
by Mark Boling, pub. Mel Bay
Effortless Mastery
by Kenny Werner, pub. Aebersold
Elements of the Jazz Language
by Jerry Coker, pub. CPP/Belwin
Exploring Jazz Guitar
by Jim Hall, pub. Hal Leonard
Free Play
by Stephen Nachmonovitch, pub. G. P. Putnams Sons
Inside Improvisation Series (vol. 1-6)
by Jerry Bergonzi, pub. Advance Music
Sheets of Sound for Guitar
by Jack Zucker, pub. www.sheetsofsound.net
The Advancing Guitarist
by Mick Goodrick, pub. Hal Leonard
The Brazilian Guitar Book
by Nelson Faria, pub. Sher Music Co.
The Jazz Theory Workbook
by Mark Boling, pub. Advance Music
Welcome to the lesson page. One of the main reasons for putting up this web site is to be able to share jazz guitar lesson materials. Several PDF lessons are posted below. I will be adding more as time goes by, so be sure and check back often.
At the bottom of this page, I have included a list of music books that have been most helpful to me. Be sure to check the links page for other artist web sites that share lesson materials.
