Advanced Harmony for the Jazz Guitarist

Roni Ben-Hur·
5.0 (4 reviews)
·INTERMEDIATE·Chord Voicings·1 lesson
Master the sophisticated harmonic language that separates professional jazz guitarists from intermediate players in this comprehensive exploration of advanced voicing techniques with renowned guitarist Roni Ben-Hur. This course demystifies the diminished chord's role as jazz harmony's most versatile tool, revealing how these "leading chords" create the forward motion and harmonic sophistication that define great jazz performances. Through eleven meticulously structured lessons, you'll discover how diminished chords function as the hidden architecture within dominant seventh progressions, learning to leverage their symmetrical structure across drop 2 and drop 3 voicings. Ben-Hur demonstrates practical applications using jazz standards like "It Could Happen to You" and "Strike Up the Band," showing exactly how master players use diminished substitutions to create seamless voice leading and impressionistic harmonic colors. You'll learn to recognize and apply the crucial relationship between diminished chords and altered dominants, understanding why every diminished contains four different seventh chords just a half-step away. This knowledge transforms your approach to both comping and chord soloing, providing immediate tools for creating sophisticated reharmonizations on the bandstand. The course includes comprehensive fingering patterns for all string sets, systematic inversion exercises, and practical substitution concepts you can apply to any jazz standard. Perfect for guitarists ready to move beyond basic chord changes into the realm of professional harmonic sophistication that defines modern jazz guitar playing.

Course Content

Lessons

  • Advanced Harmony for the Jazz Guitarist4620

Reviews & Ratings

5.0
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james seaberry
Verified Purchase
6/21/2022

"Advanced Harmony for Jazz Guitarist"

I've had this class for a long time, but just recently noticed that I never reviewed it, so I re-watched it, and was amazed at how much great material there is. It is delivered clearly, thoroughly, and with a very complete PDF guide to go by. Outstanding all around.

Stephen Jackson
6/5/2020

Valuable info.

George Cole
Verified Purchase
3/31/2019

"Beautiful Chords (Finger Busters:)"

Thx Roni! Very cool sounds. This is the next stage past knowing all of your 7th chord inversions. It really does give you some colorful and tense sounding chords...especially on the guitar. I think there are several years of study in this course alone!!!

Boris Sotirov
12/19/2015

Very good lesson.Now I can see more clear the function of diminish chord and understand the movement of these diminished chords with borrowing notes from diminished to major and minor 6 chords.I think this one of the thinks what exactly Wes Montgomery is doing over his chord solos.Thank you Roni

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About the instructor

Roni Ben-Hur
Jazz guitarist Roni Ben-Hur has earned a sterling reputation as a musician and educator, renowned for his golden tone, improvisational brilliance, compositional lyricism and ability to charm peers, students and listeners alike. Eminent jazz critic Gary Giddins wrote in the Village Voice: "A limber and inventive guitarist, Ben-Hur keeps the modernist flame alive and pure, with a low flame burning in every note ... [He's] a guitarist who knows the changes and his own mind." Roni - born in Israel in 1962 but a longtime American citizen, based in New York City - has recorded a dozen albums as leader or co-leader, with The New York Times praising his "crisp, fluid style" and Time Out New York calling him "a formidable and consummately lyrical guitarist." He has developed a rare facility in both straight-ahead jazz and Brazilian styles, evidenced by his work with masters in both fields, from pianist Benny Harris and saxophonist/ flautist Frank Wess to vocalist Leny Andrade. The Star-Ledger of New Jersey summed up Roni this way: "A deep musician, a storyteller, Ben-Hur works with a warm, glowing sound and has an alluring way of combining engaging notes with supple rhythm." Along with releasing acclaimed educational products - such as the instructional DVD Chordability and method book Talk Jazz: Guitar - Roni has directed international jazz camps for some 15 years. Jazz guitar star Russell Malone got it right when he said: "Everything Roni does is beautiful. He has the magic touch."