Kyle Sooner or later in jazz guitar, you’re going to need to learn the modes of the major scale. They are an important part of improving your skills – and they aren’t as complicated as you might think. As you improve, you’re going to want to have more control over the sounds you’re creating as you … Read more
How to Play All of Your Jazz Guitar Scales One of the most common questions I get asked by jazz guitar students (or jazz students in general) is this: “What scales do I need to know for jazz guitar?” Sometimes it comes in different forms: It’s a simple question – and one that sometimes creates … Read more
Distracted practice can be a great thing for your jazz guitar playing. It’s not a common position for a jazz guitar teacher to take, I know. Most people out there will tell you how to avoid or get rid of distractions so you can “get the most out of your practice time.” In all honesty, … Read more
Jazz guitar gets kind of a bad rap for being too complicated to learn. And when it comes to playing jazz guitar solos, I actually kind of get it – especially the way that it’s usually taught. Most of the time, the advice you get about playing solos in jazz is overly technical. There’s a … Read more
The melodic minor scale is one of my favorites. Maybe even the favorite. I didn’t learn it until I was in college, but once I learned how to use it, I was hooked. It’s got some interesting options for soloing in minor keys. Kind of a unique sound you don’t get from your other minor … Read more
The CAGED system is a common topic among guitar players – whether you’re into jazz guitar or something else. Some people love it, some people hate it. But just about everybody uses it. Let’s take a look at why the CAGED system is important for jazz guitar players. The CAGED system is a way of … Read more
A lot of people wonder how to practice jazz guitar efficiently. In fact, getting the most out of your practice time is usually one of the first things my new students ask me. And it makes a lot of sense. There’s a lot to learn in jazz guitar – and most of us have a … Read more
Overthinking is a big problem with jazz guitar students. And it’s totally understandable. Jazz is a complicated style, and there’s lots to learn, right? Maybe. Maybe not. Sure, there are things you need to learn. There are terms, chord shapes, scale patterns, and all kinds of theoretical stuff. But most of the time what you … Read more
Being in a jazz band as a guitar player is a unique challenge. It’s a completely different animal from playing by yourself, or even in other kinds of groups. And if you’re used to playing rock or other pop music styles, there can be a steep learning curve. Just about everything seems new, even though … Read more
Jazz guitar chord shapes can be overwhelming to learn – especially after you get past the easy stuff. There’s so many options out there. There are tons of resources for learning jazz guitar chords. And it can be hard to know what to focus on for your next steps. Should you be focusing on shell … Read more