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Lyle Ronglien >> Jazz Guitar for Beginners >>


Jazz Guitar For Beginners

Lesson 5



Lyle: Listen to the lesson sample to hear what you'll be learning to play. This is a 8 measure chord progression:

chord chart


Lyle: Listen how the harmony of the progression changes or shifts with each new chord.

Lyle: Now try learning how to play the chords for this progression:






Lyle: Here's a looping jam track of just drums and bass for you to practice playing the chord progression with:



Lyle: Once you can play those chords well to the jam track it's time to learn other chords to use. Instead of playing a FMaj7 for the first chord, you could play FMaj9.

Lyle: You could play Eb13 instead of Eb9 for the second chord.

Lyle: Here's another way to play the 8 bar progression:





Lyle: It might take a while to learn to play this progression but it should be a good workout for you.

Lyle: Let's work with scales and playing a melody against this jazz progression.

Lyle: This progression revolves around the key of F major and F minor. You'll need to know these two scales:





I_like_pie: Is it best to pick with fingers, thumb or a pick?

Lyle: Either fingers or pick is fine.

Greg: There something of a rhythm to the scales you playing. What do you call that?

Lyle: The rhythm is called "Swing". It's like the shuffle beat.

Lyle: In this 8 bar chord progression it changes key with each chord.

chord chart with keys


Lyle: It starts in the key of F, then to Ab, back to F, then to Ab etc...

Lyle: When you're in the key of F major, you can use the F major scale to play a melody.

Lyle: During any chord in the key of Ab you can use the relative minor scale for Ab which is Fm.

Lyle: Notice on the chart above I've listed how each chord relates.

Lyle: Knowing your fretboard theory is very helpful. I suggest checking out my series of lessons in the RiffInteractive CD-ROM titled Fretboard Theory.

Lyle: The first chord Fmaj7 you play F maj scale, the second chord you can play F min scale.

Lyle: Here's an example of 8 bars of melody using these two scale back and forth:



Lyle: Playback the TAB for solo part 1 and watch and listen as it shifts between the two scales.



Lyle: Here's another solo section that alternates between the F maj and F min scales for each chord:






Lyle: The third part of the solo uses pentatonic scales. During the chords that are in the key of F you can play the relative minor pentatonic scale for F which is Dm pentatonic:



Lyle: During all the other chords that are in the key of Ab you can play the F minor pentatonic which is the relative minor of Ab.



Lyle: Here's how I used the pentatonics against the chord progression:





dh: Thank you, now I understand the progression

miki091: That's sounds real nice, kind of Les Paul-ish

Greg: It sounds like you start you start each lick in the scale on corresponding chord in the progression.

Lyle: We all like the pentatonics!

Lyle: Yes Greg, I switch scales for each chord. In Jazz you have to get used to that sort of thing for improvising.

Clarence: do you think the audience can tell if you are playing simple patterns up and down like this?, because that's about all I can do :)

Lyle: I can but others might not. The good jazz musicians can tell by ear what you're doing most of the time. The non musicians can't tell. They just listen for what they like to hear. My motto is to keep it simple and melodic. Make it bluesy and funky. I don't like to over play.

Lyle: And if a pentatonic riff sounds good, then do it!

RTF: Does having an understanding of theory really help that much or knowing scales and chords?

Lyle: RTF, yes, learn as much theory as you can if you want to explore music deeper.

Greg: Your new Speed Tech. and Arp. Applications CD's are great. Looking to get the Smooth Jazz CD's. Any good CD's in your list you can recommend for more background?

Lyle: Greg, thanks! I suggest Fretboard Theory, All the Jam Session CDs too, they touch on applying theory with the chord progressions.

wedaws: This may be over playing but could you use the super locrian over the Eb9 chord?

Lyle: Yes you can wedaws.

Lyle: See you at the next lesson!



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