I should point out here that I do not consider myself a jazz musician. I know the basics and I can play a bit, but I believe that to be a "real" jazzer that you need to give it full time study and my interest lies more in song writing and I just don't have time to give jazz the attention it deserves. That said I think I can show you here many of basic techniques and theories that are used in Jazz and help you on your way to playing this most intellectual style, and I do love to play jazz "for fun" and I know that learning jazz harmony allows you the freedom to play over chord changes in any style. The study of jazz will make you a better musician, no matter what style you want to play.

Getting Into Jazz Lessons

These lessons are really basic and you will need to know all of this if you are going to start playing jazz.

JA-001 • Basic Jazz Chords
Get the 10 basic grips right so you can start playing tunes.

JA-002 • Jazz Rhythm Guitar Basics
Very basic jazz rhythm pattern to get you started playing some jazz songs.

JA-003 • Easy Jazz Standards
Five Real Book music of standard tunes to get you using the new chords and rhythms that you have learnt above.

JA-101 • Jazz Guitar Recommended Listening
This is a list of great jazz albums I think you should check out and listen to if you wanna get into jazz.

Jazz Chords, Harmonic Concepts and Substitutions

I'll be developing this section over the next few months, the lessons without links are ones that I am planning, when they are ready they will get linked in!

JA-020 • The Jazz Chords Concept
A look at basic chord substitutions and the three chord families.

JA-021 • Major Type Jazz Chord Extensions
A look at some chords that you can use as Major Chord substitutions

JA-022 • Minor Type Jazz Chord Extensions
Some cool minor type chords you can substitute for minor chords.

JA-023 • Dominant Type Jazz Chord Extensions
Various chords that you can use to replace a good old 7th chord.

JA-024 • Functioning and Static Dominant Chords
Understanding if a V chord is functioning or static is important, so you know what to "alter"

JA-025 • Altered Harmony - Why and How
This lesson explains altered harmony and why and how we alter 7th chords.

JA-026 • Altered Chord Grips
Now we look at some common and useful chord grips for altered dominant chords

JA-027 • II-V-I Chord Sequences
This is one of the most common chord progressions in jazz and it is essential that you work out some nice chord movements for this sequence, so I show you some in this lesson.

JA-028 • Tritone Substitution
This lesson looks at a basic chord substitution for a functioning dominant.

JA-029 • Diminished as a 7b9 Chord
Replaces a functioning dominant with a diminished chord. Very cool theory tricks in this lesson, really expand your view of harmony...

JA-030 • Substitutions for the I-VI-II-V Chord Sequence
Using the Tritone Substitution, altered chords, the 7b9 Sub and others to create interesting variations on the I VI II V progression, used in Rhythm Changes..

JA-031 • I-VI-II-V Chord Variation Exercise
A very cool little practice exercise to get you exploring your I-VI-II-V chord extensions, substitutions and alterations.

JA-032 • The Whole Tone Scale (and it's use)

JA-033 • Chords built in 4ths

JA-050 • Harmonising Chord Shapes
A look at the method used to harmonise a chord shape diatonically. A great way to increase your chord vocabulary and increase your awareness of the importance of understanding diatonic chord structures.

JA-051 • Creating Chord Scales
Looking at ways to find all scale tones with various chords. Essential skill for those wanting to get into chord melody arrangements.

JA-052 • Reharmonising notes in chord melody
This is a fun little exercise to get you thinking about ways to reharmonise a melody - great for songwriting too!

JA-053 • Using 10th intervals
The interval of a 10th outlines the harmony without getting too complex. Sometimes it's what you leave out that sounds great :)


Jazzing Up Your Blues

In this series I show you how to add a jazz flavour to your blues playing. It explains the concept of "The Arpeggiator" which is an essential jazz skill, a good way of getting from a standard blues to a slightly more jazzy version, and you will learn some of the essential jazz tools, arpeggios and how to link them.

JA-010 • Jazz Up Your Blues 1
This lesson covers the standard "quick change" blues and introduces 9th chords.

JA-011 • Jazz Up Your Blues 2
In this lesson we check out the two arpeggios you need, A7 and D7...

JA-012 • Jazz Up Your Blues 3
Now you know your arpeggios, now you have to link them together!

JA-013 • Jazz Up Your Blues 4
Now you get into "side sliding" to give interest to your chords.

JA-014 • Jazz Up Your Blues 5
Time to make music from your arpeggios now and link them all together for a 12 Bar Blues.

A Little More Adventurous?

JA-201 • Learn To Walk The Bass
A nice easy starter lesson on getting the co-ordination! (with mp3).

JA-202 • Fall Off Trees
A basic standard chord progression for you to learn the walking bass (with mp3).

JA-203 • Walking The Bass (Jazz Blues 1)
Walk the bass in a jazz blues with chords in Bb - with video.

JA-204 • Walking The Bass (Jazz Blues 2)
More walking bass style blues as above...

JA-205 • Jazz Blues With Voice Leading
An introduction to voice leading using a jazz blues chord sequence.