Hey Jazz Guy

Hey Jazz Guy, I feel like I’m stuck on repeat with the chords I know and I’m searching for something different. Any Advice? –Repeating in Rochester   Dear Repeating, This is a common sentiment, so sometimes it’s useful to go back to the drawing board and see what we discover. Most of the chords we think […]

Hey Jazz Guy, I’ve got all the right notes in all the right places, but my improvisation just doesn’t seem to go anywhere. How can I build a solo with direction? -Wandering in Williamsburg   Dear Wandering, This really is the improviser’s greatest challenge. The mechanics of theory and technique may be necessary for a […]

Hey Jazz Guy, I’m mystified by ‘Giant Steps’ and ‘Coltrane changes’, can you explain how that harmony works? –Confused in Cambridge Dear Confused, John Coltrane’s ‘Giant Steps’ was a landmark moment in jazz, a beautiful tune that has proved fascinating ever since. We will break it down to examine this brilliant piece of music. This […]

Hey Jazz Guy, Who’s solos should I be transcribing to learn how to play through changes? -Searching in Somerville Dear Searching, Transcribing solos of great jazz musicians is a surefire way to improving your understanding of the genre. However, to really execute certain concepts, it can be very helpful write out your own solos. This […]

Hey Jazz Guy, I’m playing all the right notes, but something is still missing. How can I make my phrasing sound more jazzy? –No Swing in Norway Dear No Swing, Perhaps the most elusive and mysterious concept in jazz, is swing feel and articulation. The concept has changed over time and many great players are […]

Hey Jazz Guy, How can I turn my cool rock chords into some sweet jazz changes? –Rockstar in Reno Dear Rockstar, Reharmonization is one of the hippest ways to alter a chord progression. Let’s take some basic chords and follow their transition from pop-rock to uber-jazz. We will start with a progression [Ex 1], using […]

Hey Jazz Guy, I know that learning jazz takes years of study, but is there anything I can do to improve quickly? –Eager in Elmhurst Dear Eager, We all share your desire to speed up the improvement process! Although musical study is a life-long sport, these are a few of my favorite things you can […]

Hey Jazz Guy, I feel totally lost with minor chords, there are so many different types. What on earth do I play? –Lost in Long Island Dear Lost, You are not alone. Minor harmony is a difficult topic precisely because there are so many variations. We will look at four types of commonly used minor […]

Open Ended Questions for The Advancing Musician What kind of music is your favorite to listen to? What kind of music is your favorite to perform? How will what you are practicing now be different than what you practice next year? What are your musical goals? (Playing, writing, recording etc) What are your non-musical goals? […]

Hey Jazz Guy, Im always playing constant eighth-notes, or the same rhythms. How can I get more rhythmic variety in my playing? –Constant in Colorado Springs Dear Constant, This is definitely an issue with improvising, especially for guitarists because unlike horn players, we don’t have to breathe. One method for enhancing your rhythmic vocabulary is […]