Tony DeCaprio

Break free from conventional jazz improvisation patterns and discover Tony DeCaprio's revolutionary tetrachord-based approach to creating authentic, personal musical statements. This comprehensive 2.5-hour masterclass reveals DeCaprio's unique "units with an attitude" system—sophisticated tetrachord combinations that unlock parallel scale relationships and inside/outside playing concepts rarely taught elsewhere. Through detailed demonstrations on standards like "All the Things You Are," you'll learn to navigate chord changes using mediant and submediant relationships, apply modal interchange borrowing from Phrygian and Lydian harmonies, and construct meaningful melodic motifs that transcend mere chord-scale running. DeCaprio shows you exactly how to identify resolution points within tunes, strategically place fills and phrases, and develop cohesive solos that maintain melodic integrity while exploring advanced harmonic territory. The course emphasizes practical application through DeCaprio's Arpeggiated Cyclic Progression Activities, teaching you to hear and execute smooth voice-leading between seemingly unrelated chords like D major 7 and Bb minor 7. You'll master the art of using fourth intervals musically rather than mechanically, understand flat-two substitutions in context, and learn to seamlessly blend inside and outside playing without losing the listener. Perfect for intermediate to advanced players tired of sounding derivative, this course equips you with a systematic approach to developing your own voice. DeCaprio's method moves beyond mimicry, providing the theoretical understanding and practical tools to express your unique musical personality in any jazz setting.

Tony gets down to the real nitty-gritty in this hour and a half non-stop lesson that is just jam packed with cool concepts. He opens up the session improvising over Alone Together and proceeds onward like Hannibal crossing the Alps and takes no prisoners. Introducing nine individual arpeggiated sounds for a dominant chord gets you well on your way towards conquering any prior fears of altered chords and how to improvise over them in conjunction to their apparent cadential functions. He offers his famous “Units” studies and this time it involves the all too often used melodic minor scale in a new way. Watch and listen and learn how you can be in the driver’s seat with this jazz minor scale and not merely take a back-seat to any mere paint-by-numbers approach. Tony displays yet over another easily recognizable tune, There Will Never Be Another You, how to play fills in the areas where the melody is sparse, thus paving the way for anyone who wants to improve in the art of accompaniment. Tony also introduces fusing various scales together in order to enhance your lines within improvisation, some off-the-cuff ideas for the blues as well as various additional musical tips all within a relaxed, yet unrelenting enclave of ideas and advice. Go for it! View Tony playing Alone Together in this class View another clip from this class

Tony DeCaprio will teach a class in his famous Strategic Picking and the Improvised Line. Tony combines the physics of the violin’s bowing technique with the strategy involved in executing advanced lines, which include piano-like arppegiations and horn-like phrasing. Make no mistake; this session is by no means mono-dimensional within the topic. Tony offers ways of developing very hip lines that show how you can develop your own mental faculties towards improvising; only with one more element added to the brew, and that is the all too often overlooked art of the plectrum. No sense plowing forward in your jazz guitar playing life utilizing mere one-dimensional chops. Tony keeps no secrets. Now there is a chance to cover it all! Come one; come all! 7 Pages of Musical Notation Included

Join Tony DeCaprio for a special master class on the blues; jazz/blues. Tony will reveal elements in jazz/blues playing that are often overlooked and sparsely taught; namely the V7 chord coming home to the I7 chord and the VI7 chord going into the secondary dominant before the turnaround. He will also address the turnarounds, offering the player ‘line savvy’ and a sense of cadence as opposed to no more playing stock licks that usually cover the chord changes in a superficial manner. In addition, Tony will show how to go about developing a ‘story’ in blues playing rather than relying on absolute mimicry or simply stringing licks together. Learn how to tell your own story within the blues, in any key desired, using his hands-on approach. Along with an after class video copy, you simply can’t miss! View clip from this class

Jazz Blues - Part II - Minor is a continuation of Tony's first Blues class, with a focus on Minor Blues. Join Tony DeCaprio for a special master class on the blues; jazz/blues. Tony will reveal elements in jazz/blues playing that are often overlooked and sparsely taught; namely the V7 chord coming home to the I7 chord and the VI7 chord going into the secondary dominant before the turnaround. He will also address the turnarounds, offering the player ‘line savvy’ and a sense of cadence as opposed to no more playing stock licks that usually cover the chord changes in a superficial manner. In addition, Tony will show how to go about developing a ‘story’ in blues playing rather than relying on absolute mimicry or simply stringing licks together. Learn how to tell your own story within the blues, in any key desired, using his hands-on approach. Along with an after class video copy, you simply can’t miss!

Tony DeCaprio will present an all new masterclass on the study of substitution chords and their parallel usage concerning comping and improvising. Various subtopics will be covered which include ii-V-I cadences, utilizing the cycle of fifths, thirds, and seconds, ii-V chaining, secondary dominants, diminished chord functions, back cycling dominants, and contiguous dominants, and modulation. Progressions will include Blues, Rhythm changes, Confirmation, Joy Spring, I Remember You, All The Things You Are, and Countdown. Tony will show you how to develop your own interesting lines through the above progressions, thus helping to eliminate any guesswork or the absolute need to rely on artificial devices.

Embark on a transformative journey with Tony DeCaprio's exclusive Master Class, where the art of jazz guitar is redefined through advanced chordal exploration and dynamic improvisation techniques. In this riveting 90-minute session, Tony unveils the secrets to mastering chord movement, delving into the intricate relationships of substitution, reharmonization, and beyond. Dive into the depths of tritone substitution, extended dominant seventh chords, and the iconic ii-V patterns, as Tony demonstrates the power of hybrid chords, chord quality alteration, and diminished chord intricacies. Navigate through the complexities of side-stepping, rhythm changes, and the legendary Coltrane substitutions, all tailored for their practical application in intros, turnarounds, and captivating modulatory interludes. But that's just the beginning. Tony's masterful approach will guide you from the vertical landscape of chord theory to the horizontal freedom of improvised lines, empowering you to weave through chord progressions with unparalleled insight and creativity. Experience the unique art of Droning, where sustained chords merge with vocal tones, enriching your aural skills and deepening your connection to the music's core. Prepare to be engulfed by Tony's instructional whirlwind, a "human hurricane" of knowledge, ensuring a fast-paced yet profoundly absorbing learning experience. This Master Class isn't just a lesson; it's an invitation to elevate your jazz guitar prowess to new heights, challenging you to think beyond conventional chord/scale paradigms and embrace the true aural essence of jazz. Get ready to rumble through this masterful exploration of jazz guitar, where every chord, every note, and every tonal relationship opens the door to endless musical possibilities. Join Tony DeCaprio and transform your approach to jazz guitar, one masterful chord movement at a time. View a clip from this class Listen to Tony solo on My Funny Valentine

Tony DeCaprio conducts a Master Class in the art of Solo Guitar playing. Tony presents his approach to this priceless art, which emanates from his early influences; Tal Farlow, Jimmy Raney, Jim Hall, Joe Pass, and Wes Montgomery. The chosen song as criteria is Polkadots & Moonbeams in F. Tony offers a mélange of interesting chord voicings, tenths, double stopping, slash chords, as well as very hip substitution chords, while displaying counter-point, burning runs, and finesse; that make one think of “Jim Hall meets McCoy Tyner.” In addition to the aforesaid, Tony offers a parallel view of single line, as well as chordal, improvising over the said tune. All of this is being offered inside of one master class session from no ordinary “teacher,” but from some one who has accompanied some of the most influential and long-familiar singers in music history. Tony draws from a rarely paralleled experience. See a clip from Tony's class ject>