The term ‘Smooth Jazz’ was originally coined by radio executives to describe the then new genre that fused blues, jazz, R&B, funk, rock and pop influences. Smooth Jazz tracks are generally down-tempo instrumentals favoring melody and smooth grooves over the sophisticated rhythms, faster tempos and long improvisations typical in jazz. Musicologists would likely trace the origin of what’s… Read More »

Over the course of his 40-year recording and performing career, Robben Ford’s rhythm guitar work has excited the ears of his audience, fired up his musical collaborations with dozens of top artists and simply amazed his fellow guitar players. “Playing rhythm guitar is the greatest joy in my musical life,” says Robben, “I love the subject of rhythm… Read More »

Whatever your level of play, you will love how Verheyen steps you through his curriculum. You will work through six distinctive blues grooves ranging from low, down and dirty up-tempo shuffles to smooth and moody slow blues. Verheyen performs three solos over each groove, each solo demonstrating a distinctive approach. After each of these 18 solo/demonstrations, Carl breaks… Read More »

50 Right-Hand Techniques covers ALL of the essential right-hand techniques: Tone & Motion of Right Hand, Motion of the Thumb, Shaping Fingernails & Picks, Free Stroke, Rest Stroke, Twist & Slice, Flamenco Picado, Planting, Staccato, Arpeggio 4/4 Time, Lullaby Pattern in 3/4 & 4/4, Arpeggio Exercises, Thumb-index Roll, Bouncing the Arm, Fingerpicking Patterns, Alternating Bass with Melody, Scarborough… Read More »

Vignola’s approach is simple and highly effective. First he’ll teach you just three movable chords; a major 7th, minor 7th and a dominant 9th. These three chords alone will power you through hundreds of jazz standards and progressions. Rhythm guitar and comping is next; Frank demonstrates and walks you through just three jazz rhythms: a swing, the Charleston… Read More »

While a single-note line — a lick — is certainly fair game in here, the bread-and-butter of acoustic playing is covered in 50 lessons demonstrating fingerpicking patterns, open-string voicings, changes with bass lines, alternate tunings, Brit-pop strums, left-hand mutes, double-stops, funk patterns, alternating bass, movable chord-shapes, advanced voicings with open strings, barre chords concepts, Travis-picking, descending bass lines,… Read More »

Let’s get two things straight right off the bat; don’t use modes to play bebop (see the Bebop Improv Survival Guide if that’s your calling); and secondly, you won’t find any Greek references in Fareed’s teachings. “When’s the last time you saw or heard a toga-wearing ancient Greek jazz musician?” Throughout the Modal Improv Survival Guide, Fareed demonstrates… Read More »