Jazz Lesson 1

This is a jazz lesson that focuses on a "line" or "lick" that you can store in your vocabulary or "bag of tricks". This focuses on the 4-chord in the key of Eb, which is Ab. The ensuing lessons will focus on learning lines from positions. There will hardly ever be any mention of scales/modes. Sorry it was a little fast (even though still 8 minutes haha). Enjoy, and play it!! Use it whenever you deem fit. I say you can!!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jazz lesson
• jazz lick
• no scales
• no modes
• 4-chord
• position
• Eb
• arpeggio
• neighbor tones
• chromatic
• brannon mcconkey
• archtop
• hollowbody guitar
• ibanez
• sunburst
• fender tube amp
• blues jr
• study jazz
• diatonic
• progression

[Boldstrummer]

This Lick does NOT work against the I chord in Eb You are targeting the Ab which is the 4th degree which is an avoid note against a major chord, it clashes against the G which is only a half-step away and the 3rd of the Eb Maj 7. Because your targeting the Ab the Ab is not used as a passing tone which is the only situation you might justify it's use. I would definitely say that the lick works against all the dominant related chords in the key. Like the ii, IV, V, & vii chords.

[BrannonMcConkey]

@Boldstrummer Uhh, nope, sorry. It works perfectly - thus the sound in the video. I'm playing around an Abmaj7 arpeggio with many passing tones. At what point did I continuously strum on the Ab note? I don't mind pedants, but they are especially annoying when they chirp off theory against a video with a great sound. Sound wins over the theory every time. And I have taught theory in these videos. I know how the 4th degree works over a major sound, bro. But thanks.

[superalbertos550]

Thank you for this valuable lesson

[BrannonMcConkey]

@superalbertos550 You are quite welcome. Thanks for watching.

[VinniePaah]

Thanks for the lesson Brannon.

Can you please enlighten me in brief why does it have to be the IV arpeggio that works so well over the whole Eb key harmony? What's the trick? Could it be any other from the key that would work as well?

[BrannonMcConkey]

Great question Vinnie. You can, in fact, play any diatonic arpeggio in Eb here (not just the IV chord) and it would work simply bc it's diatonic. The IV chord is nice bc it's right in the middle and shares common tones with the rest of the family. That is why this lick can be played over any diatonic progression as i've shown. And yes, extrapolate to any key. eg. in the key of G, this lick would be according to 'C' (IV chord respectfully). Hope that helps.

[BrannonMcConkey]

I have no intonation issues, stock pickups etc. Right off the shelf (I do have chrome flatwound strings) and I enjoy it very much. Of course I have no other archtop at my disposal for comparison. It's cheap though, I would go for it. It's a good guitar.

[Hoopermazing]

The AF series just doesn't tickle my aesthetic fancy in the same way that the AK95D does. On the other hand, I do like the AG95D (although I think it's smaller, which isn't a plus to me.) The bridge is the only thing that concerns me about the AK. If it can be correctly intonated across the strings, then I'd actually prefer the rosewood bridge. It seems like it would have a better tone for jazz than a metal tune-o-matic bridge.

[BrannonMcConkey]

It's sweetness is a contraindication of its actual nutritional value. A little garlic with it and you have a heart healthy meal. Ok, we took that entirely too far haha.

I can't speak on behalf of that other creature, but I can certainly vouch for mine. Honestly, for the money, it's a fantastic guitar. I chose the Ak series for the rosewood bridge - I like the woody tone. The AF series would be great for a traditional metal bridge. But altogether cheaper, and just as good quality essentially

[Hoopermazing]

I'm guessing that it tastes like an orange Jollyrancher.

Seriously though, I'm torn between that guitar and a Crafter SA-TMVS as my next unnecessary guitar purchase.