Jamie Taylor - A "Two-Speed" Approach to Rhythm Changes

Excerpts from Jamie's class, available for download at www.mikesmasterclasses.com.

It's probably the second most called tune in the repertoire, after the blues, but the famous "Rhythm Changes" (i.e. the many variants of Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm") always presents a challenge to musicians at every level of experience.

As we study this tune, we should be aware that it's simultaneously the most complex and the simplest piece in the book; hence the 'two-speed' approach. This lesson has been carefully designed to offer something to everyone: on the one hand, it includes a wide range of chord substitutions, lines and progressions we can add to the basic form, whilst on the other hand, we deconstruct the song and reduce it to its barest essentials.

This lesson includes:

• Advice on creating lines over a static major tonality.
• Advice on breaking down the difficult A section into a simpler (but still convincing) progression.
• Simple lines to negotiate the full A section changes, broken down into their component parts, so that you can create similar ones of your own.
• Thorough discussion and demonstration of several different bridge progressions.
• Thorough discussion and demonstration of many different harmonic substitutions, including ideas relating to the playing of great saxophonists like Sonny Stitt and John Coltrane.
• Advice on how to get "outside" the changes in your lines.
• Clear and detailed PDF containing many written examples.
• Synchronised on-screen captions, so that you know exactly what you're hearing at any given moment.
• Every concept discussed is broken down slowly, and then performed at tempo with rhythm section backing, so you can hear it in a performance context.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Jamie
• Taylor
• Rhythm
• Changes
• lines
• jazz
• guitar
• Mike's
• Master
• Classes

[SPGGuitar251]

Great class! Jamie begins with some thoughts on building melodic statements from a basic Bb tonality, and he progresses with techniques for targeting chord key chord tones. I especially liked Jamie's discussion of alternate changes for the bridge section, too. Lots of great information, presented very articulately and with great tone and time feel. I'm looking forward to more classes from Jamie in the future.

[BoxCubeSquare]

a tempting purchase. jamie is a fantastic teacher.