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Billie's Bounce - Guitar Lesson Here you can learn everything about Billie's Bounce . This is a jazz blues which was composed by Charlie Parker in 1945 and it is a pretty complex Melody with a lot of jumps of 4ths and 5ths. What also makes this melody special is that it seems to be in a 3/4 measure by setting the accents in that way but it is in a measure of 4/4. We don't really know if this song is dedicated to Billie Holiday or his agent Billie Shaw or even his secretary Billy Miller. Introduction 0:30 The tutorial starts by an example with some improvisation and some scatting lines. That thing is a technique where you sing and play unisono at the same time. Chords 2:41 In the next part I talk about the blues form which is a normal 12 Bar Blues form in F with the following chords : F7 / F7 / F7 / F7 Bb7 / Bb7 / F7 / D7 Gm7 / C7 / F7 D7 / Gm7 C7 I give some instructions how to make syncopes by placing the chords on 1 and 2 + or 1 and 4+ and how to make your rhythm guitar really cool and grooving. Theme 7:56 In the next part I show my version how to play the theme of Billie's Bounce. Normally you play a theme one octave higher than its written but in this case it makes sense to play it in the original pitch because the phrasing requires open strings and this way it's the easiest way to proceed and it's and the best in this tune. Improvisation Tips 16:24 In the final part I give some insight in a easy improvisation concept by using the F blues scale or a mixed scale will replace the interval of flat 7 through a 6. Then I show some combinations of playing blues scale chords or Wes Montgomery style octave. Scatting 23:22 Here I show you how you can practice the scatting technique. There you play and sing your phrases simulatonious. This is a great technique which is used in Jazz often with players such as George Benson or others. It’s also a great technique to improve your ear training. Billie's Bounce.pdf Billie's Bounce.gp billies bounce ( drum bass ).mp3

Here I show you the theme of " Straight, No Chaser " by Monk. Beside this I show you the chords you can play to this typical jazz blues in the key of F and at the end of the tutorial I give some tips on how you can achieve a monk or miles style phrasing in your improvisation. Here you can download the files associated to this tutorial :

Cool Jazz Guitar Cat ( Timing & Phrasing ) Playing a cool and solid jazz guitar does not necessarily have to do with speed and runs - it's also about timing, space and phrasing. Miles Davis was the master of time and space in his phrasing so let's have a look at a few easy tricks to get into jazz guitar phrasing by understanding the rhythm which is played. In this case I am showing how to play a blues track and you can use the minor F minor pentatonic or the F blues scale. Jazz blues is mostly in the key of F or Bb - in this case F. Pay close attention to my instructions how to work with timing and how to modify rhythm figures. By understanding rhythm figures you can also start to modify them. The 2 4 feel is the center of all exercises. Play all examples with the 2 4 feel that gives you the right groove and makes you swing correctly. Cool Jazz Guitar Cat.pdf Cool Jazz Guitar Cat.gp cool jazz guitar cat.mp3

Here I show you 3 mixolydian jazz guitar licks which represent the main 3 concepts of using the mixolyidian mode in any jazz guitar setting. Here you can download the files associated to this tutorial :

Here you can learn some chords, the melody and some improvisation tricks of the tune " Freddy Freeloader " as heard on the legendary recording of Miles Davis on " Kind Of Blue ". Here you find the chapters : Into 0:07 Chords 3:04 Theme 7:27 Improvisation 10:57 Here the chords of the song : Bb7 / Bb7 / Bb7 / Bb7 Eb 7 / Eb7 / Bb7 / Bb7 F7 / Eb7 / Ab7 / Ab7 Bb7 / Bb7 / Bb7 / Bb7 Eb 7 / Eb7 / Bb7 / Bb7 F7 / Eb7 / Bb7 / Bb7 Freddy the freeloader.pdf freddy the freeloader.mp3

Here I show you 3 easy methods to improvise over an easy jazz blues with the chords below by using the modes attached to each chord. With this simple method you lay the foundation of your future sophisticated motive based jazz guitar improvisation. F7 / F7 / F7 / F7alt Bb7 / Bb7 / F7 / F7 C7 / Bb7 / F7 / C7 Here you can download the files attached to this tutorial :

I had a jazz vibe today in the studio so I switched on my guitar and played this improvised original in the vibe of one of my idols - Miles Davis with his CD " Birth of the cool " - It's a little homage to this great jazz artist. Without him I think jazz would not really exist. Here is the backing track which I created. You can give a try yourself ? jazzblues F 120.mp3