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Author Archives: admin
Ascending & Descending Comping Exercises
I have always been a big fan of limiting exercises. For example, I have heard Jim Hall, Mick Goodrich, and John Abercrombie talk about practicing improvising on only one string, or a pair of strings. Placing restrictions while practicing is … Continue reading
Pat Metheny Chord Melody Transcription: James
Happy New Year! I thought I would kick off the new year with a long overdue post to my blog. After a very tough year, I have resolved to pick myself up and have another go at posting information that … Continue reading
Mike Stern Chord Transcription: Like Someone in Love
Funny how when you get older, it is a lot easier to look back and pinpoint events that changed your life. I was performing with a big band in Japan, and picked up the Mike Stern CD, Standards and other … Continue reading
Posted in Head Arrangement, Transcriptions
Tagged chord solo, Ending, Mike Stern, transcription, vamp
2 Comments
Common Tone Substitutions of the Harmonized Major Scale
Common tone substitution is a must have tool in your comping tool box. It is fairly straight forward and is easily incorporated, giving you exponentially more options of chord voicings to choose from. Every chord has other diatonic chords sharing … Continue reading
Posted in Chords
Tagged 251, Bill Frisell, Block chords, Chord Substitution, major scale, play-along, vamp
1 Comment
Barney Kessel Chord Melody & Chord Solo: Satin Doll
For about a year I had Barney Kessel’s album “The Poll Winners” stuck in my Volkswagen Rabbit’s auto-reverse cassette deck (circa 1987). I couldn’t get it out and the knobs didn’t work either, so I was forced to listen to … Continue reading
Posted in Head Arrangement, Transcriptions
Tagged Barney Kessel, chord solo, transcription
4 Comments
Line Cliché, Chromatic Cliché or C.E.S.H. Voicings.
The term CESH (Contrapuntal Elaboration of Static Harmony) scared the bejesus out of me when I first read it. The what of what? After I initially balked at the language, I found the idea to be both familiar and usable. … Continue reading
Down the Pipe: A Jazz Ending
Years ago I was playing jazz with an old timer. Largely due to the fact that I am starting to get into old timer territory myself, I use that term carefully and respectfully. Anyhow, getting near the end of a … Continue reading
Wes Montgomery Chord Solo Transcription: Unit 7
Today’s transcription comes from Montreal Jazz guitarist Pat Mahoney. A high energy chord solo from one of Wes Montgomery’s Best recordings: Smokin at the Half Note with the Wynton Kelly Trio. This is a great study in block chords. Actually … Continue reading
Posted in Transcriptions
Tagged Block chords, Blues, Chord Substitution, transcription, Wes Montgomery
1 Comment
Comping Jazz Part One: Fill in the Blanks
The word comp comes from accompany or compliment. Playing a supportive role to a soloist or vocalist shouldn’t be seen as a dull or mundane duty. It is in fact very rewarding and challenging. It is another form of improvisation … Continue reading
Pat Metheny Chord Melody Transcription: Old Folks
Pat Metheny’s album “Question and Answer” is without a doubt one of my desert island disks. I have been listening to Pat since I was a teenager and credit him for much of my early inspiration to be a jazz … Continue reading
Posted in Head Arrangement, Transcriptions
Tagged Chord Melody, Pat Metheny, transcription
1 Comment
