This instructional book breaks down complex jazz guitar chords into rules that make them easy to understand. You'll find the optimal chords based on your band arrangement and the range you want to play!
This instructional book will help you master jazz guitar chords.
In jazz, simply memorizing and playing chord forms isn't enough to achieve optimal comping (accompaniment). Chords played on solo guitar have completely different roles and optimal ranges than chords played in an arrangement that includes bass and piano. This book breaks down jazz voicings (how notes are stacked) into rules based on your band arrangement and the range of the chords you want to play. By memorizing the basic rules, practicing until you can play them reflexively, and then applying them, you'll be able to play the optimal chords in any situation. Whether you're playing solo guitar, a duo with bass, piano, or vocals, a trio, or even a quartet or larger with piano, learn to comp!
Chapter 1: Practicing Drop 2 Chords
LESSON 1-1: Practicing Horizontal Drop 2 Chords - Bottom 4 Group
LESSON 1-2: Practicing Horizontal Drop 2 Chords - Middle 4 Group
LESSON 1-3: Practicing Horizontal Drop 2 Chords - Top 4 Group
LESSON 1-4: Practicing Vertical Drop 2 Chords - 1st Position
LESSON 1-5: Practicing Vertical Drop 2 Chords - 5th Position
LESSON 1-6: Practicing Vertical Drop 2 Chords - 8th Position
LESSON 1-7: Inversions of Drop 2 Voicings
LESSON 1-8: Practicing Major 7th Chords Using Position Play
LESSON 1-9: Practicing Minor 7th Chords Using Position Play
LESSON 1-10 Dominant 7th Chord Practice through Position Play
LESSON 1-11: Minor 7♭5 Chord Practice through Position Play
LESSON 1-12: Major 7 Horizontal Inversion Practice
LESSON 1-13: Minor 7th Chord Horizontal Inversion Practice
LESSON 1-14: Dominant 7th Chord Horizontal Inversion Practice
LESSON 1-15: Minor 7♭5 Chord Horizontal Inversion Practice
Chapter 2: Presenting the Lower and Middle Ranges
LESSON 2-1: Creating Lines in Bass Mode
LESSON 2-2: Connecting Chord Tones in Bass Lines
LESSON 2-3: Shell Chords and Small Chords
LESSON 2-4: Voicing 6th-String Roots with Shell Chords
LESSON 2-5: Voicing 5th-String Roots with Shell Chords
LESSON 2-6: Voice Division and Rhythmic Patterns
LESSON 2-7 Comping with Quarter-Note Strokes
LESSON 2-8 Comping with Strokes Including Eighth-Note Backstrokes
LESSON 2-9 Harmonized Bass Line - Passing Chords
LESSON 2-10 Harmonized Bass Line - Passing Diminished
LESSON 2-11 Walking Bass Guitar
LESSON 2-12 Bossa Nova-Style Comping
Chapter 3: High-Region Production
LESSON 3-1 Chicken Picking
LESSON 3-2 Piano Mode
LESSON 3-3 Combining Melody and Chords
LESSON 3-4 Motionless Chord Work
LESSON 3-5 Melody Harmonization - Dynamic Melody Intro
LESSON 3-6 Melody Harmonization - Static Melody Intro
LESSON 3-7 Melody Harmonization to Chord Tones
LESSON 3-8 Harmonizing Melodies to Tension Notes 1
LESSON 3-9 Harmonizing Melodies to Tension Notes 2
LESSON 3-10 Connecting Harmonized Melodies
LESSON 3-11 Directing Tension Notes
Chapter 4 Directing Solo Guitar
LESSON 4-1 All The Things You Are
LESSON 4-2 There Is No Greater Love