A powerful tool that doesn't get mentioned enough is chord synonyms - chords with enough similar notes that they can be used interchangeably. It can be overwhelming to learn all your inversions for every chord type in every key, etc. Using...
Recently it occurred to me that for beginners, it can be tough to tell what separates "jazz guitar" from something that simply borrows from the style. If Maroon Five puts a major 7 chord in their song, and I played it on guitar, would it be now...
If you've ever tried to arrange your own chord melody, you'll know that finding a good final chord can be quite tricky. This is because the vast majority of standards end on the root of the I chord. There simply aren't a lot of voicings that...
When you're first learning jazz guitar chords, a common approach is to learn moveable chord voicings with no open strings. This makes it easier to play tunes with just a few shapes! However, when you're playing ballads or chord melodies, a...
In the sea of jazz information that's out there, it's easy to forget that what we're really trying to do is play expressive, emotional music. It not rocket surgery! A great way to get back into the mindset of playing music, rather than just...
Autumn leaves is a famous jazz standard composed by Joseph Kosma and is known by both jazz players and casual listeners alike. In this blog post, we'll provide some examples of how to play chord melody, single-note solos, and comping ideas for...
