Jazz Blues Bundle I

Guide Tones lines can be the missing link for many improvisers when soloing over chord changes. Knowing the chord tones of each chord and their possible chord scales are only part of the equation. Using the Charlie Parker tune “Blues For Alice” we’ll explore the many benefits achieved from the study and practice of guide tone lines for both soloing and comping.

This in-depth class comes with 12 pages of material written in standard notation that accompany the 90 minute video. Each guide tone line (both ascending and descending) is followed by notated solo choruses and/or excerpts that illustrate each line. Various lines are mixed together to create endless possibilities outlining several approaches: Voice-leading triads and 7th chords and upper chordal extensions and voice-leading intervals through a progression.

Other highlights of the class include:

Rhythmic approaches to soloing with guide tones

Bebop phrasing

Guide tone lines on turnarounds

Mixing common tones with guide tone lines

Balancing phrases off one another

The use of sequences and repetition

If you’ve wanted your solo phrases to have a more logical flow then manipulating the guide tone lines can give you that needed structure. Solo lines become more sound benefitting from an important compositional approach used by the great composers and songwriters. Good line architecture can greatly strengthen one’s soloing abilities. This class offers an enjoyable look at guide tone lines focused on an interesting variation of the 12 bar blues.

View a clips from Steve’s class

The Blues: A Modern Jazz Guitar Approach – Part I

The twelve-bar blues progression has been a mainstay of the repertoire of every jazz musician since the birth of jazz in the early twentieth century.  Over the years, as jazz evolved and sub-styles emerged, the blues form proved itself to be both quintessential and highly adaptable to the varied developments in jazz.  In the early twenty-first century, a new generation of jazz musicians has reinvigorated the genre, but the blues continues to be an essential part of the modern style. If you’re interested in learning more about how to incorporate modern elements while still maintaining a thread of the tradition when you play over the blues progression, then this class is for you.

In this class, the blues form will be explored in detail with the goal of applying modern jazz melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic vocabulary to the progression.  First will be a brief survey of the structure and history of the form along with exercises for gaining mastery over the basic harmonies.  Then, common mainstream approaches for melodic and harmonic variations on the progression will be outlined.  Finally, modern approaches to melody, harmony, and rhythm will be applied to the blues form.

“Tom Lippincott is a masterful and innovative guitarist, educator, and performer. His classes are extremely well organized and full of great examples that can inspire players of all levels. These Modern Blues classes in particular are an amazing tool for the contemporary guitarist, even if you have a solid understanding and grasp of the blues. We are grateful that you offer this information at such a modest price Tom, and look forward to your future endeavors!”

~ Ben J.

“Another outstanding video set from Tom Lippincott. I bought parts 1 and 2. I highly recommend them both! If you’re looking for that elusive ‘modern’ sound, you’ll love these videos. The information is presented in a very accessible manner. Easy to understand and apply. 
I also bought parts 1 thru 4 of his Modern Jazz Guitar series, which are all fantastic. Tom is an incredible guitarist and teacher. The most ‘bang for the buck’ you’ll find in guitar education.”

~ Franklin B.

“The Blues Pt.I is another winner, I found it very easy to apply. Tom is a wonderful no-nonsense teacher. Be prepared to spend months utilizing all the material here!”

~ Michael J.

The Blues: A Modern Jazz Guitar Approach – Part I covers:

• Basic jazz blues progressions defined and analyzed, including harmonic function and chord/scale chart
• Arpeggio and scale studies for Bb and F blues with emphasis on fingerboard mastery and voice leading
• Discussion of approach notes and target notes and the “bebop scale” with examples
• Discussion of mixing blues vocabulary with outlining chord changes in improvisations
• Tri-tone substitution
• Melodic minor mode substitution
• Diminished scale use
• Basic polyrhythm applications for melodic and harmonic improvising; groupings of three
• Modal approach to the blues, including polytonal side-slipping
• Applying 3-part-4ths to the blues
• Running time: 92 minutes
• 14 pages of written examples (including chord diagrams, standard notation and TAB), exercises, and example solos with close-up views of the performances
• Each example performance is titled for easy navigation
• MP3 backing tracks for all written examples and solos

Also see part II of this blues jazz lesson .

“Tom’s classes are so comprehensive that you will never be short of interesting ideas to practice. Of course using the blues as a basis for demonstrating modern sounds means we can all join the party. Thanks Tom.”

~ Ray B.

“Very thorough and musical! Tom’s teaching style is straight forward & easy to apply. The exercises are great etudes that can be applied to blues progressions all across the musical spectrum. There is plenty here to keep one busy–your playing will improve with this course. ”

~ Jon E.

“Some people are great players, and some are great teachers. Tom is an example of the rare combination of both. His material is presented in a very organized, step-by-step way, and he explains everything in a very clear, concise manner. This is very important for those of us who study independently, since no one is there to answer questions. 
What I really like in this lesson is that it Tom starts out with basic jazz blues and progresses to the modern style one concept at a time. This shows his deep knowledge, appreciation, and respect for what came before. His other lessons, especially Modern Jazz 1, are similar in that regard. 
The concept by concept approach helped me identify the things that I need to work on before working on the most modern sounds. For me, this was several lessons in one, as it encompasses so much that it inspired me to create my own exercises to fill in the gaps. 
I highly recommend this video, it will keep me busy for a very long time. “

~ Stephen B.

“Absolutely awesome class, would highly recommend for anyone looking for new ways to approach the blues as well as brush up on some of the fundamentals if needed. This is the fifth class I believe that I have purchased from Tom after viewing some of his modern jazz guitar classes and they certainly do not disappoint. “

~ Anthony R.

Randy Johnston takes you through 8 sets of Jazz Blues Changes and more in this class.

One set at a time, he clearly demonstrates the changes and voicings, then plays a chorus with the chords at a medium tempo. Then Randy plays a solo adhering to these changes, while you can comp if you like, and then he comps for a chorus so you can solo to these changes.

The changes and voicings for each set are written out including block diagrams. In addition, he explains other variations and substitutions, as well as some example lines he is playing over the changes.

While this class is mostly on the changes, the topics related to soloing that Randy touches on include voice leading and tetrachords. Most of Randy’s solos are in eighth-notes at a medium tempo with a very good view of the fingerboard and his finger placement. While they are not transcribed, they are easy to see and transcribe if you like, or just to hear examples and/or get ideas when it comes your turn to solo.

• Running time: 1 hour
• 6 Pages of PDF material included.