Kyle If you’re looking for the best way to start playing better solos, jazz guitar scales for beginners are your best bet. And for one simple reason. In music, scales are the building blocks of every melody you’ve ever heard. And ideally, jazz guitar solos are melodies that you improvise. Made up as you go, using … Read more
Jazz guitar chords are probably the most important thing for beginners to learn. No matter how you slice it, chords are going to be most of what you do as a jazz guitarist. But chords are also usually an overwhelming part of learning jazz guitar… at first. It seems like there is so much you … Read more
Once you’re ready to get more technical with your playing, it’s time to start looking at jazz guitar arpeggios. Being able to use your arpeggio shapes is a big part of playing better solos. Here’s why: But jazz guitar arpeggios are also tricky to get started with. You see, for most instruments arpeggios are a … Read more
Here’s one thing I know for sure: If I could learn how to play jazz guitar, anyone can. While I had a certain amount of aptitude for playing guitar in general, jazz guitar did not come naturally to me. But with the right approach and a little luck, I found myself on the right path. … Read more
Sooner or later in jazz guitar, you’re going to need to learn the modes of the major scale. They are an important part of improving your skills – and they aren’t as complicated as you might think. As you improve, you’re going to want to have more control over the sounds you’re creating as you … Read more
How to Play All of Your Jazz Guitar Scales One of the most common questions I get asked by jazz guitar students (or jazz students in general) is this: “What scales do I need to know for jazz guitar?” Sometimes it comes in different forms: It’s a simple question – and one that sometimes creates … Read more
Distracted practice can be a great thing for your jazz guitar playing. It’s not a common position for a jazz guitar teacher to take, I know. Most people out there will tell you how to avoid or get rid of distractions so you can “get the most out of your practice time.” In all honesty, … Read more
Jazz guitar gets kind of a bad rap for being too complicated to learn. And when it comes to playing jazz guitar solos, I actually kind of get it – especially the way that it’s usually taught. Most of the time, the advice you get about playing solos in jazz is overly technical. There’s a … Read more
The melodic minor scale is one of my favorites. Maybe even the favorite. I didn’t learn it until I was in college, but once I learned how to use it, I was hooked. It’s got some interesting options for soloing in minor keys. Kind of a unique sound you don’t get from your other minor … Read more
The CAGED system is a common topic among guitar players – whether you’re into jazz guitar or something else. Some people love it, some people hate it. But just about everybody uses it. Let’s take a look at why the CAGED system is important for jazz guitar players. The CAGED system is a way of … Read more