When you’re learning how to play jazz, you spend a lot of time learning guitar scale shapes. They’re an important part of learning your instrument, and being able to play melodies or improvise. But one problem a lot of jazz guitar players run into is playing just one or two scale shapes in a solo. … Read more
The mixolydian scale is an important part of your jazz guitar toolbox. It’s an essential part of being able to play lines over the blues, and other essential jazz guitar chord progressions. This scale pops up just about everywhere in jazz – it’s hard to find a song where you don’t need it. Dominant 7th … Read more
Learning how to do modes is high up on most jazz guitar players to-do lists. And it seems like a good idea, too. Lots of good players talk about learning jazz guitar scales and modes – so it’s probably a good idea to learn about them. And modes are an important part of playing jazz. … Read more
Pentatonic scales are a guitar player’s best friend. And for some good reasons: Guitar players from all different styles love to play pentatonic scales. But most of them don’t really have the full picture. Even intermediate players usually only know how to play one, maybe 2 of the scale shapes. And they’re missing out. There … Read more
When I started learning about different types of scales for jazz guitar, the dorian mode was one of the first things that popped up. No matter where I looked, people were saying this was one of the most important modes to learn. And there were also mixed messages about how to play it – or … 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 harmonic minor scale is a great tool for improvising and playing melodies in minor keys. It’s a similar finger pattern to the natural minor scale you probably already know. But it’s just a little bit more colorful. One of the great things about the harmonic minor is that it’s the easiest way to play … Read more
Mastering Intervals for Jazz Guitar At some point as your guitar skills improve, you get interested in music theory. And one of the most basic pieces of information you can find is intervals on the guitar. It’s natural to want to dive into the nuts and bolts of how our musical tools are put together… … Read more
Minor Pentatonic Scale for Jazz Guitar As I went through college, I didn’t give enough credit to the minor pentatonic scale. Don’t get me wrong – I spent a lot of my time and energy on developing my soloing skills. I worked hard on learning to play the changes and develop my jazz vocabulary. But … Read more
Ever since I started playing jazz guitar, I’ve loved playing solos. To me it was the fun part of jazz band… like batting practice if you’re a baseball player. As I got better though, something was definitely missing. The only real tool I had was the blues scale in those first few years… and the … Read more