“Donna Lee” Piano Voicings for Non-Piano Players
We’re gonna play through the harmony of the iconic Charlie Parker tune “Donna Lee” at the piano. No chops needed!
Techniques To Create a Compelling Solo Over a 2-Chord Vamp (Covered In Rain Example)
We’ll use this solo to observe solo construction and pacing over a two-chord vamp, considering harmony, voice-leading, and rhythmic density, and, most importantly, connection with the inherent pulse of the music. Practice exercises included!
Strategies for Backdoor II-Vs: Voice-Leading Upper Structure Chords
In this video we’ll take a look at what “backdoor ii-Vs” are, where they come from, and a good approach for improvising over them.
Doxy Lesson 2 – Deep Shed: Connecting the Feeling of Each Superimposed Chord
In this lesson you’ll practice recognizing and connecting the emotional color of each superimposed chord to the primary chord.
Doxy Lesson 1 – Etude of Superimposed 7th Chords
A triplet etude over “Doxy” to sharpen your technique, swing feel, and get you seeing chords in a new way.
12 Key Perpetual Motion Dominant Chord Exercise
This “quick-win” dominant 7th workout makes a great warmup for both your fingers and your brain.
Where Do Minor II V’s Come From? A Chord-Scale Exercise to Help Make Sense of Modes and Modal 7th Chords
Minor II V’s tend to be more confusing than their major counterparts. This video and chord-scale exercises will help you make sense of it.
The Girl From Ipanema – Etude & Song Analysis
In this lesson I’ll walk you through my solo etude and breakdown my approach to this classic jazz/Bossa Nova standard.
Train Your Mind and Fingers to Think Ahead: A Chord-Scale Proficiency Exercise on “Miyako”
Before moving to derivations that potentially make navigating complex harmonic progressions “easier,” we must first be able to execute this.
A Whole Practice Session from One Chord – “Bet” A9b13 Chord Scale Workout
Get your horn out….again! We’re diving deep into an A9b13. We’ll learn some of the different options available to you, and how to shed them every which way.
When 7sus isn’t what you think – “Bet” Solo Changes Workout, Measure 2
Get your horn out! We’re going to shed measure 2 of this solo section. Learn when a 7sus chord is not what you’d expect.
Sharp 1 & 2 Diminished – An Elegant Harmonic Substitution to Use in Your Turnarounds
This lesson explains and shows you how to use the sharp 1 & 2 diminished substitution. This is a must-know device to have in your improvisational tool belt over both the blues and rhythm changes.
Applying a Flat 9, Flat 13 Lick to Three Standards
In this lesson, I’ll show you how to tackle the most important (and often least practiced) part of learning new vocabulary – application. We’ll apply the lick over three tunes – Autumn Leaves, Oleo, and There is No Greater Love.
Solo Analysis – Bob Brookmeyer’s Solo on “I’ll Remember April”
An in-depth solo analysis of our most recent Transcription Challenge. We’ll cover how Brookmeyer anticipates chord changes, uses enclosures and guide tone lines in his improvisation, and we’ll highlight some great ii-V vocabulary to steal.
Shedding “Stella by Starlight” – Building a Solo from Fundamental Elements to Melodic Shapes
A simple chord-scale exercise for memorizing tunes and examples of an improvisational approach to memorizing and playing over chord changes.
Interchangeable Modes and the Value of Repetition – Shedding One Minor II V From “Stella By Starlight”
Almost twenty minutes of me shedding just two bars of “Stella By Starlight,” starting with some practicable vocabulary. I’ll show you how I practice looping individual lines and eventually spin it out into full improvisation.
Operating Instructions for Improvising Within a Modal Pop Song: Branford Marsalis on “Englishman in New York”
Branford’s playing on Sting’s “Englishman in New York” provides a great blueprint for improvising in a pop context. We’ll go over the song’s harmony, practicing wide intervals, and combining technique practice with musical practice.
5 Brilliant Measures on the Blues from Cannonball Adderley
It’s easy to get hung-up on possibilities when it comes to chord substitutions. But often, the hippest sounds are accessible by using triads and 7th chords you already know rearranged in melodic shapes. Here’s an excellent example from the great Cannonball Adderley over a classic blues. Take a look at my analysis and then do your own. What do you hear, see and feel? How does it make the most sense to you?
An Athletic Approach to Converting the Major Scale Into 7 Important Chords
This diatonic 7th chord exercise is a must for developing better technique with the building blocks of improvisation: chords, scales, and modes.
Diatonic Tensions: Why Some Notes Sound Good and Others Don’t
The natural 9th will give you trouble over two of these chords. Here’s why.
How I Practice Scales to Maximize Accuracy, Control, Range, and Dexterity
In a single 25-minute practice session this exercise gives me a feeling of total control of the horn in all 12 keys.
Upside Down Major 7th Chords (+ How to Instantly Improve Your Medium-swing 8th Notes)
Freshen up your playing AND instantly improve your medium-swing 8th notes with this simple mental trick (and one slight rhythmic shift).
Easy Living Etude Part 2
Learn how to play new sounds over diminished chords and apply your technical practice to this song.
Getting Away from Root-Based Improvising: A Simple Trick to Add Color to Chord Progressions (“Joy Spring”)
Tired of always playing chords from the root? This exercise will help you develop the skill of seeing a set of chord changes and replacing them with a close cousin.