How to See Inside a Chord Symbol
Learn to unpack a chord symbol and discover the various “mini-chords” living inside it.
Don’t Stop at the Top: Unlocking 7th Chords
I remember thinking seventh chords stopped at the seventh—and what an eye/ear opener it was when I saw beyond.
Understanding the Architecture of Vocabulary: The Honeysuckle Rose Lick
Mapping out exactly how a lick is built helps you assimilate it faster and makes it easier to apply it in your improvisations.
The Altered Dominant (7#9) Trick
One of my favorite harmonic “hacks,” this “trick” was first told to me by someone who heard it from Cannonball Adderley.
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.
Every Melody Note Works with Every Bass Note
It all depends on the chord in between the two notes. But this leads to some great ideas for improvisation AND composition.