Howard Alden

内容紹介： ダウンビート誌で'’もっとも偉大なギタリスト 75’’の1人にも選ばれ、''現代のマエストロ''と称されるハワード・アルデンが、典型的な4音のジャズギターコードではなく、3弦を使ったストリングトリオ・アプローチを紹介する。3音のシンプルなコードだからこそできる、コードの内声に動きを加える方法や運指を、コードソロや伴奏に大いに活用できる応用例やジャズスタンダード曲のデモ演奏なども交えながら詳しく解説する。伝説的なジャズギタリスト、ジミー・ワイブルとの逸話や7弦ギターを弾く彼ならではのテクニックなど充実の内容。最後にはマイクズ・マスタークラスのマイク・ゲラーが生徒として登場し、直接レッスンを受け、数日間の練習の成果を報告する特典映像付き。 バイオグラフィー： アメリカの名門レーベル、Concord Jazzのレコーディング・アーティストとしてリーダーアルバムを多数発表。ディジー・ガレスピー、ベニー・カーター、クラーク・テリー、ウディー・ハーマン、レッド・ノーヴォ、ジョージ・ヴァン・エプスとも共演してきた現代のジャズギター界の代表するレジェンド。また、ウディー・アレン監督の映画『ギター弾きの恋』ではギターソロをすべて担当し、この作品でアカデミー賞主演男優賞にノミネートされたショーン・ペンには演奏指導もするなど各方面で幅広い活動をしている。

Be sure to check out a sample recording below. It's not every day that you get guitarists of this level together. Both Howard Alden and Sid Jacobs have had a well-deserved level of success in their lives, performing in front of packed audiences across the globe. Surprisingly, even though Howard and Sid have know each other for years and both had studied with Jimmy Wyble, they never had the opportunity to perform together. Until now! Mike was able to get Sid and Howard together for an intimate house concert in Tucson and give the attendees an opportunity to witness the first time these two jazz legends played their guitars in the same room together. This unique experience is now available to you as well in form of a video recording. What happens when two jazz legends play together for the first time? You might expect loads of practice and preparation. As Howard states, "We didn't have a rehearsal, you get to just hear our 'hearsal". What resulted was a wonderful musical exploration where two master guitarists feel the moment. They explore jazz standards and a rare Jimmy Wyble etude in a masterful duo while incorporating their own unique styles. You can see the joy in each of their faces as they connect musically. Mike's Master Classes is bringing this recorded version of this house concert completely free to members. More information on a monthly membership can be found here. Full Set List: You Stepped Out of a Dream Darn That Dream Stablemates Smokin' a Half Note Dreamsville Line for Lyons All the Things You Are Strollin' Indian Summer Emily Jimmy Wyble Etude I Should Care Here is a sample recording from this house concert:

Fluid right hand picking technique is important for the expressive jazz guitarist. With great technique, you will be able to articulate your music with clarity, conviction and confidence. In this master class, you will learn how Howard Alden uses gypsy style arpeggio picking in jazz standards. Although most often associated with the music of Django Reinhardt, this picking technique is useful even in swing and modern jazz settings. Even if you’ve never tried this picking style before, you will discover how to incorporate this useful tool into your music. Howard shares the basics, including the kinds of picks that he now uses as well as a simple exercise that will give you the foundation of this technique. Gypsy Style Arpeggio Picking is a focused masterclass that is designed to help you develop your playing technically and musically. In addition to the basics, Howard also shares powerful variations that will be useful for more experienced guitarists. Besides getting practical technique tips from Howard, you will also be able to see how he applies this technique on two songs, Prelude to a Kiss and Mood Indigo. Seeing the approach used in context will be helpful for more advanced guitarists who want to immediately use this technique on their next gig. This is a unique masterclass that you can watch again and again as your skills develop. 4 pages of PDF written material notated in standard notation, TAB (with Howard’s personal fretting hand fingerings indicated) Soundsliced versions of the transcription (standard notation and TAB with adjustable tempo, looping for effective practice and study) Running time: 28 minutes

If you had to play solo, unaccompanied - could someone hear all the chord changes of the song you’re playing? Jazz musicians are often measured by how well they are able to hear, play and state the harmony of any song in their repertoire. Besides playing the melody of the song, guide tone lines are the key to all this. But do you know how to REALLY play guide tones lines convincingly? Join master Howard Alden as he dissects his personal approach to guide tone lines. This simple and straightforward take will give you the tools to conquer this important jazz guitar concept. If you’ve ever dabbled with guide tone lines, this could very well be the video to help you finally master guide tones. Howard demonstrates this over Victor Young’s Stella By Starlight, using both the melody and guide tone lines to elegantly navigate through the changes. Watch as he develops a simple melody into a ornamented jazzy line that fits like a glove. In addition to outlining the changes, Howard shows how to create interesting variations including how to sound like a whole orchestra. This concept alone is very powerful and can change how you look at playing solo guitar. As with all of Howard’s classes, these concepts will empower you and enable you to improvise with more confidence over any jazz standard of your choice. 2 pages of PDF written material notated in standard notation, TAB (with Howard’s personal fretting hand fingerings indicated) Soundsliced versions of the transcription (standard notation and TAB with adjustable tempo, looping for effective practice and study) Running time: 14 minutes

Chord Melody is awesome but…what if you could actually sound like 2 guitarists? Imagine your friends wondering how you can play rhythm guitar in time and still play the melody lyrically! Join Master jazz guitarist Howard Alden in this masterclass where you will learn his personal approach, practice techniques and ideas of how to combine 4/4 rhythm playing with an independent melody on top. When we heard Howard playing in this style, we knew that we just had to get him to show us his secrets! Instead of just making this a technique primer, we convinced him to show us how to do this on the beautiful jazz standard, "Georgia on My Mind". For beginners and intermediate guitarists, you’ll get to learn the basic concept demonstrated by Howard and see every move as Howard plays the piece at tempo and with slower examples. We wanted you to get as much time with Howard so we got him to play the piece multiple times at a slower tempo so you can get learn every note. For advanced students, check out his improvisational takes using this technique to get ideas of how you can use this in your next solo or duo gig. If you play seven string guitar, you can even discover how he plays the piece on a seven string guitar. This is a deep dive into this powerful guitar texture that will take your playing, tone and time feel into the next level. 3 pages of PDF written material notated in standard notation, TAB (with Howard’s personal fretting hand fingerings indicated) Soundsliced versions of the transcription (standard notation and TAB with adjustable tempo, looping for effective practice and study) Running time: 30 minutes

Prepare yourself for the upcoming festive season & add a jazzy touch to your Christmas shows this December with this special masterclass from Howard Alden. Learn how to play White Christmas as arranged by Howard Alden! In this masterclass you will have a chance to use three note voicings with a more open sound that provides the ability to add inner movement that Howard has taught in his previous class “The String Trio Approach for Chord Melody & Accompaniment ” in a musical (and timely) setting. Getting these voicings under your fingers in context will help you internalize and master them quicker. First, see how Howard uses them in this arrangement. Then, use the lessons learned for your own solo guitar arrangements as well. In addition to the basic take on the piece, Howard demonstrates some additional ways to personalize the solo arrangement with fills, arpeggiated embellishments and even a 4/4 time feel to create forward motion in your performance of the piece. 1 page of PDF written material notated in standard notation, TAB (with Howard’s personal fretting hand fingerings indicated) Running time: 22 minutes

In this brand new master class by Howard Alden, you will find out how to breathe life into common jazz chord voicings. Discover how Howard embellishes these staple chord grips into a string trio for the fretboard. You will learn how to use these techniques on diatonic 7th chords to create more interesting movement over standard chord progressions. Howard begins with 4 note voicings and then demonstrates more practical 3 note voicings for this string trio approach. In addition to seeing Howard demonstrate the examples, you will also get to watch our very own Mike (yes, Mike) try out the concepts. Mike gets first hand tips (on technique, fingering and practice) from Howard. This adds another interesting element to this video! Taking inspiration from his teacher Jimmy Wyble, you will also see how Howard creates movement that adds a chromatic flavor to chord progressions. Even basic voicings sound fresh with this technique. This is one you have to try out and experience! Howard will also share a technique to create the impression of using a 7 string guitar (even without the extra string or tuning down). When applied to your favorite jazz standards, the concepts in this video will breathe new life to both your chord melody and accompaniments. Get ready for your new string trio, right on your fretboard now! 6 Pages of PDFs Included Running Time: 38 min

Single note lines! Octaves! Chord Melodies! These are some of the most common sounds that we hear in jazz guitar. But what about something in between? Harmonizing in thirds is something that many guitarists may have done for other styles but perhaps not so much in jazz. Learn from master jazz guitarist Howard Alden as he breaks down his process for harmonizing melodies in thirds. You'll study the classic, Out of Nowhere, as a vehicle to learn both his fingerings and the concept. To support your development, Howard has included exercises using the diminished scale and whole tone scale. These exercises are beautiful and are great workout for the fretting hand. Along with the PDF handouts, you'll get to study the ideas in standard notation and tablature with Howard’s personal fretting hand fingerings indicated. Howard also plays slowed down examples to help you see and hear the ideas more clearly. For any challenging part you may encounter, you can also use the built-in video speed control to help learn the examples by slowing it down while keeping the concert pitch. With logical fingerings, you’ll be more comfortable to incorporate thirds into your arranging and improvisational language. After going through these great systematic workouts, you'll also get to see Howard demonstrate the concept over Blue Monk and If I Had You. To wrap it up, you’ll learn an etude on All of Me to help level up your playing even more. Included in this masterclass is a special BONUS duo performance of Howard Alden and Mike’s Master Classes founder, Mike Gellar performing Out of Nowhere as well as some candid behind the scenes footage. Sub-topics: Harmonizing melodies with thirds Diminished Scale with thirds Whole Tone Scale with thirds Out of Nowhere Etude on All of Me Expected Outcome: Add color and variety to melodies by adding harmonies using thirds. Develop more confidence and technical facility in this technique. Understand how to use this concept for your own arrangements and improvisations. 9 pages of PDF written material notated in standard notation, TAB (with Howard’s personal fretting hand fingerings indicated) Running time: 35 minutes (with 7 mins of BONUS content)

He's one of those guitarists that amazes with their playing abilities, inspires with their words, and makes you want to get out the guitar and put some practice time in. One of DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE’S 75 Great Guitarists of all time! Howard Alden has been a Concord Jazz recording artist since the late '80s where his prolific recorded output as leader, co-leader, and versatile sideman, has captured an artist of consistently astonishing virtuosity and originality. "He may be the best of his generation," writes Owen Cordle in JazzTimes . George Kanzler of the Newark Star Ledger proclaims that he is "the most impressive and creative member of a new generation of jazz guitarists." And Chip Deffaa of the New York Pos t observed that he is "...one of the very finest young guitarists working today." POSTPONED