This week's episode begins a series on articulation and some core concepts related to this important topic. This was a listener request and something I have been meaning to do for a while. Articulation is something that can completely change the texture and feel of our lines by changing a few subtle things. I'm excited to dive into this topic with all of you and I hope you enjoy the first episode! WANT THE PDF THAT GOES ALONG WITH THIS EPISODE?? Head over to our Patreon page and when you … [Read more...]

This week we are taking all of the concepts we learned about the bebop scale and applying them to one of my favorite jazz standards by Duke Ellington, In A Mellow Tone. Your job this month will be to find all of the instances of the bebop scale used in this etude and see how they are incorporated into the bigger picture. I'm a fan of the chord progression here because it largely follows the circle of fourths and relies heavily on the dominant chord (a great place for the bebop scale!). Enjoy the … [Read more...]

Welcome back to the third in our series on the bebop scale. This week, we start to combine the bebop scale with some other devices. Specifically, vertical playing or outlining chords. It is important to balance our vertical and horizontal playing so we don't get stuck doing things one way or another. When we study bebop scales intensely, we tend to play more horizontally. By studying this weeks episode we can avoid that trap and make sure our lines stay varied and interesting. Enjoy the … [Read more...]

This month we are going to listen to one of my favorites recordings in jazz history, 'The Real McCoy' In particular, we focus on the track Blues on the Corner and talk about a few things that jump out to me in this recording. McCoy Tyner has recently left us and I think this is a perfect tribute to his legacy as a pianist and composer. Enjoy! Would you like to support the creators of this podcast? If so, please head over to our Patreon page and show your love by donating $3 or more each … [Read more...]

Welcome back to our series on the bebop scale. Last week we talked about how to form a bebop scale over the most common chord types. This week we will apply it to one of my favorite jazz standards, In A Mellow Tone by the legendary, Duke Ellington. In order to use these bebop scales we are breaking them up into 5 note segments based on each chord tone. This will allow us to gain some flexibility while still being able to rest and prepare for the next chord change. Enjoy the episode and happy … [Read more...]

We are back with another transcription for you. This month we are going to focus on the melody and as much of the solo as you'd like from Ben Wendel's Song Song. This is a beautiful melody and comes as a departure for us from the more traditional music we usually focus on. Have fun! Would you like to support the creators of this podcast? If so, please head over to our Patreon page and show your love by donating $3 or more each month. You get incredible benefits and this keeps the podcast … [Read more...]

This month we are going to study the bebop scale and it's applications on a deeper level. Most of my students know the basics of this scale, but in this series, we are going to explore the many possibilities and applications of this device. For part 1, we will talk about the five most common chord symbols and how to form a bebop scale over each of them. This will leave you armed with something to use over 95% of chords that you will see in jazz standards throughout history. Enjoy the … [Read more...]

This week sums up our series on the rhythm changes bridge with an etude written over....you guessed it, rhythm changes! We try to utilize some of the concepts that we have talked about over the last three episodes and put them in a real life situation with some context. I hope everyone out there, no matter where you are listening from, is staying safe and healthy during this trying time. Thanks so much for tuning in and I hope this episode finds you well. WANT THE PDF THAT GOES ALONG WITH … [Read more...]

The third in our series over the rhythm changes bridge. This one gets us pretty out there! We are going to extend the tri-tone substitution model to move into the first bar of each phrase and then use some Coltrane changes to spice up the sound even more! Hope everyone is hanging in there and finds some relief and entertainment in this episode. Stay safe and healthy everyone! WANT THE PDF THAT GOES ALONG WITH THIS EPISODE?? Head over to our Patreon page and when you donate $3 or more a month … [Read more...]

We are back with another episode on the bridge of rhythm changes. This week, we are getting a little bit more adventurous with the chord changes. The first example features a ii chord in addition to the V chord and in our second example we are going to investigate how to use a tri-tone substitution to great effect, giving us some fantastic tension and release sounds. This chord progression seems simple on the surface, but once we realize the possibilities, we can take it as far as we like. Enjoy … [Read more...]