Hey Jazz Guy

Hey Jazz Guy, What are some more ideas for re-harmonizing a melody? –Standard in Syracuse Dear Standard, Using re-harmonization to spice up a melody can be very exciting. One method that is useful and interesting is to change the bass note. In the examples here we’ve used F as the melody note, and re-harmonized it […]

Hey Jazz Guy, Now that I got the A section of “Rhythm Changes” together, what can I play on the dominant chords in the bridge? –Subordinate in Salem Dear Subordinate, The bridge or B section changes in “I Got Rhythm” is one of the most commonly found harmonic progressions in jazz. Using all dominant chords, […]

Hey Jazz Guy, What kinds of things can I play over ‘rhythm changes’? –I Got Nothing in Naperville Dear I Got Nothing, Ahh, Gershwin’s little delight “I Got Rhythm” is one of the most important forms in the jazz idiom. This tune is a gateway drug to the great American songbook and understanding it well […]

Hey Jazz Guy, Whats the difference between a guide tone and a leading tone? –Unguided Dear Unguided A LEADING TONE is a half-step away from the tonic note in any key. This is more of a classical music term. For example in C Major the leading tone is B. In A minor, the leading tone […]

Hey Jazz Guy, I’ve got my chords down pretty well, but how can be more rhythmic in my accompanying? –Square in Sacramento Dear Square, The most important thing about accompaniment or “comping”, is to make whatever it is you are accompanying sound better. A large rhythmic vocabulary is crucial to making you sound great behind […]

Hey Jazz Guy, I love the way that chromatic playing sounds. Can you explain how I can play more chromatically in my soloing? –Diatonic in Denver Dear Diatonic, This is a fascinating topic! Playing chromatically is a very modern technique that will add a sublime element to your playing. Unless you are in an atonal […]

Hey Jazz Guy My beef concerns diminished chords. Most teachings I have encountered on diminished harmony improvisation consist in playing playing patterns and arps. But how do we make “diminished” sound musical while outlining the harmony? Take for example “Quiet Nights” (A- to Ab dim), the bridge in “Air mail special”, “All of me” turnaround […]

Hey Jazz Guy, Once I’ve mastered the “jazz power chords” how can I better understand Upper Structures and incorporate them into my playing? – Basic in Boise Dear Basic, This is a way of exploring upper structure harmony using triads on the guitar that I find quite sonically delightful. Triads are easy to play and […]

Hey Jazz Guy, I want to expand my use of jazz harmony and I was wondering how you would recommend going about learning different chord voicings and putting them into practice? — Simple in San Diego Dear Simple, There are many voicing types and systems for this, so there is no one right answer, but […]

Hey Jazz Guy.. How can I make my blues soloing more jazzy, to fit the jazz-blues chord changes? –Blue and Bored in Birmingham Dear Blue and Bored, The best way to become accustom to the shift in language is through listening. Particularly by listening to older jazz (bebop and hard-bop) you will get a good […]