https://acousticguitar.com lessons, music to play, and how-tos for all guitarists Sat, 09 Nov 2024 00:45:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://i0.wp.com/acousticguitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/AG_Favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 https://acousticguitar.com 32 32 103806923 https://acousticguitar.com/learn-to-comp-like-jazz-legend-freddie-green/ https://acousticguitar.com/learn-to-comp-like-jazz-legend-freddie-green/#respond Sun, 20 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=145776 Green’s rhythm style—quarter-note strums in 4/4 time (aka “four to the floor”)—seems simple enough. But it’s rarely mastered.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/learn-to-comp-like-jazz-legend-freddie-green/feed/ 0 145776 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-add-jazz-flavors-to-the-12-bar-blues-form/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-add-jazz-flavors-to-the-12-bar-blues-form/#comments Tue, 02 Jul 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=144751 In this lesson, we’ll explore how you can spice up your blues with a range of jazz ingredients, starting simply and then progressing to more advanced concepts.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-add-jazz-flavors-to-the-12-bar-blues-form/feed/ 1 144751 https://acousticguitar.com/string-kings-of-harlem-swing-the-captivating-rhythms-of-freddie-green-john-trueheart-bernard-addison-morris-white-and-al-casey/ https://acousticguitar.com/string-kings-of-harlem-swing-the-captivating-rhythms-of-freddie-green-john-trueheart-bernard-addison-morris-white-and-al-casey/#respond Fri, 17 Mar 2023 15:49:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=123709 Freddie Green is synonymous with swing guitar. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1911, Green enjoyed a 50-year career holding down the rhythm chair of Count Basie’s famed big band. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/string-kings-of-harlem-swing-the-captivating-rhythms-of-freddie-green-john-trueheart-bernard-addison-morris-white-and-al-casey/feed/ 0 123709 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-how-to-visualize-and-play-chords-up-the-neck/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-how-to-visualize-and-play-chords-up-the-neck/#respond Sat, 11 Feb 2023 00:36:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=121917 In this guitar lesson we will focus on how to play chords “up the neck” in order to learn to play a chord-melody.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-how-to-visualize-and-play-chords-up-the-neck/feed/ 0 121917 https://acousticguitar.com/swing-lesson-learn-to-play-rhythm-guitar-like-freddie-green/ https://acousticguitar.com/swing-lesson-learn-to-play-rhythm-guitar-like-freddie-green/#respond Sun, 22 Jan 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=134401 In this guitar lesson, learn to play swing rhythm guitar like Freddie Green, the guitarist in the Count Basie band for 50 years. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/swing-lesson-learn-to-play-rhythm-guitar-like-freddie-green/feed/ 0 134401 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-turn-any-tune-into-a-chord-melody-solo/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-turn-any-tune-into-a-chord-melody-solo/#respond Thu, 01 Dec 2022 16:15:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=123698 Try this approach to make a chord-melody version of Django Reinhardt’s iconic interpretation of “I’ll See You in My Dreams.” ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-turn-any-tune-into-a-chord-melody-solo/feed/ 0 123698 https://acousticguitar.com/major-swing-django-reinhardt-his-disciples-and-their-hot-brand-of-acoustic-jazz-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/major-swing-django-reinhardt-his-disciples-and-their-hot-brand-of-acoustic-jazz-guitar/#respond Mon, 17 Oct 2022 16:35:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=112570 Jazz Manouche (aka Gypsy jazz) is a vibrant, acoustic blend of classical, Gypsy, dance music, and American jazz ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/major-swing-django-reinhardt-his-disciples-and-their-hot-brand-of-acoustic-jazz-guitar/feed/ 0 112570 https://acousticguitar.com/the-swing-of-things-an-introduction-to-playing-leads-like-the-early-jazz-guitarists/ https://acousticguitar.com/the-swing-of-things-an-introduction-to-playing-leads-like-the-early-jazz-guitarists/#respond Mon, 25 Jul 2022 15:44:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=120052 Interested in playing swing guitar leads but don't know how to get started? Here I'll show how get the most mileage out of just a few notes—while getting a great workout on the fretboard.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/the-swing-of-things-an-introduction-to-playing-leads-like-the-early-jazz-guitarists/feed/ 0 120052 https://acousticguitar.com/learn-chord-melody-techniques-from-jazz-guitarist-eddie-lang/ https://acousticguitar.com/learn-chord-melody-techniques-from-jazz-guitarist-eddie-lang/#respond Fri, 17 Jun 2022 15:40:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=125809 Here are some ideas from jazz great Eddie Lang for some new chord melody techniques and textures on guitar, applied to the verse of the old standard “After You’ve Gone.”]]> https://acousticguitar.com/learn-chord-melody-techniques-from-jazz-guitarist-eddie-lang/feed/ 0 125809 https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-add-jazzy-walking-bass-lines-to-your-accompaniments/ https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-add-jazzy-walking-bass-lines-to-your-accompaniments/#respond Fri, 10 Jun 2022 15:50:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=118761 Learn how to play walking bass lines with chords—a cool approach to have up your sleeve, no matter what style you play.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-add-jazzy-walking-bass-lines-to-your-accompaniments/feed/ 0 118761 https://acousticguitar.com/the-blues-in-jazz-using-the-classic-12-bar-form-as-a-gateway-to-bebop-improvisation/ https://acousticguitar.com/the-blues-in-jazz-using-the-classic-12-bar-form-as-a-gateway-to-bebop-improvisation/#respond Fri, 03 Jun 2022 16:18:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=105246 Explore comping and soloing strategies over a standard 12-bar jazz blues progression, as well as chord substitutions and variations.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/the-blues-in-jazz-using-the-classic-12-bar-form-as-a-gateway-to-bebop-improvisation/feed/ 0 105246 https://acousticguitar.com/learn-eddie-langs-jazz-guitar-interpretation-of-a-rachmaninoff-prelude/ https://acousticguitar.com/learn-eddie-langs-jazz-guitar-interpretation-of-a-rachmaninoff-prelude/#respond Fri, 13 May 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=127831 Eddie Lang's jazz guitar interpretation of Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C-Sharp Minor keeps the dark and brooding atmosphere of the original piano piece. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/learn-eddie-langs-jazz-guitar-interpretation-of-a-rachmaninoff-prelude/feed/ 0 127831 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-lesson-western-swing-rhythm-essentials/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-lesson-western-swing-rhythm-essentials/#comments Tue, 22 Mar 2022 15:00:05 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=110365 Learn the rhythm guitar techniques used in Western Swing music in this video lesson.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-lesson-western-swing-rhythm-essentials/feed/ 1 110365 https://acousticguitar.com/what-to-do-when-things-get-tricky-in-a-chord-melody-guitar-arrangement/ https://acousticguitar.com/what-to-do-when-things-get-tricky-in-a-chord-melody-guitar-arrangement/#respond Wed, 12 Jan 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=127066 When playing chord-melody style guitar, sometimes you're not sure which chord to use when the melody isn’t a chord tone or moves too quickly. Here's the solution.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/what-to-do-when-things-get-tricky-in-a-chord-melody-guitar-arrangement/feed/ 0 127066 https://acousticguitar.com/learn-a-gypsy-jazz-masterpiece-django-reinhardts-arrangement-of-tea-for-tea/ https://acousticguitar.com/learn-a-gypsy-jazz-masterpiece-django-reinhardts-arrangement-of-tea-for-tea/#respond Tue, 15 Jun 2021 15:20:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=123665 One should focus on Reinhardt’s total control of harmony, the sophisticated ways in which he moves the chords’ inner and outer voices]]> https://acousticguitar.com/learn-a-gypsy-jazz-masterpiece-django-reinhardts-arrangement-of-tea-for-tea/feed/ 0 123665 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-learn-to-fill-the-gaps-in-any-chord-melody-guitar-arrangement/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-learn-to-fill-the-gaps-in-any-chord-melody-guitar-arrangement/#respond Tue, 30 Mar 2021 00:15:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=122459 Learn to use tremolo picking on long notes and passing chords over multiple measures of rest to fill space in any chord-melody guitar arrangement.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-learn-to-fill-the-gaps-in-any-chord-melody-guitar-arrangement/feed/ 0 122459 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-chord-melody-made-easyish-on-acoustic-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-chord-melody-made-easyish-on-acoustic-guitar/#respond Mon, 23 Nov 2020 13:44:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=121013 Knowing inversions is essential to understanding chord-melody, as it assures that you will have an appropriate voicing to place below the melody. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-chord-melody-made-easyish-on-acoustic-guitar/feed/ 0 121013 https://acousticguitar.com/gypsy-jazz-video-lesson-learn-the-la-pompe-manouche-style-in-6-easy-steps/ https://acousticguitar.com/gypsy-jazz-video-lesson-learn-the-la-pompe-manouche-style-in-6-easy-steps/#respond Sun, 23 Aug 2020 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=101910 The importance of a solid rhythmic foundation is at the heart of Gypsy-jazz guitar]]> https://acousticguitar.com/gypsy-jazz-video-lesson-learn-the-la-pompe-manouche-style-in-6-easy-steps/feed/ 0 101910 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-use-guide-tone-voicings-on-your-acoustic-guitar-to-emulate-the-piano/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-use-guide-tone-voicings-on-your-acoustic-guitar-to-emulate-the-piano/#respond Sun, 03 May 2020 08:01:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=112128 How to Use Guide Tone Voicings in Fingerstyle Jazz guitar lesson music notation]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-use-guide-tone-voicings-on-your-acoustic-guitar-to-emulate-the-piano/feed/ 0 112128 https://acousticguitar.com/guide-tone-voicings-2/ https://acousticguitar.com/guide-tone-voicings-2/#respond Sat, 16 Nov 2019 08:44:06 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=112179 Guide tones are simply the third and seventh notes of a chord (sometimes the third and sixth if the chord is a simple triad or sixth chord). Guide-tone voicings have long been popular with jazz musicians, including guitarists Grant Green, Jim Hall, and pianist Red Garland. Thelonious Monk often used guide tone voicings to inform and accompany his […]]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guide-tone-voicings-2/feed/ 0 112179 https://acousticguitar.com/woodshed-learn-oscar-alemans-you-made-me-love-you/ https://acousticguitar.com/woodshed-learn-oscar-alemans-you-made-me-love-you/#respond Tue, 12 Nov 2019 18:10:39 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=112616 Oscar Alemán had an impeccable sense of swing and played with exciting rhythmic punctuations, a horn-like attack, and sharp attention to detail.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/woodshed-learn-oscar-alemans-you-made-me-love-you/feed/ 0 112616 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-a-jazzy-arrangement-of-america-the-beautiful/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-a-jazzy-arrangement-of-america-the-beautiful/#respond Fri, 05 Jul 2019 18:35:13 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=111056 As with learning anything new, when tackling this jazzy arrangement of 'America the Beautiful,' take it slowly and work on getting a beautiful tone in both hands.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-a-jazzy-arrangement-of-america-the-beautiful/feed/ 0 111056 https://acousticguitar.com/gypsy-jazz-player-paul-mehling-offers-8-picking-tips-to-improve-your-acoustic-guitar-tone/ https://acousticguitar.com/gypsy-jazz-player-paul-mehling-offers-8-picking-tips-to-improve-your-acoustic-guitar-tone/#respond Sun, 09 Jun 2019 13:21:25 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=98688 THE PROBLEM You’re dissatisfied with the tone and volume of your playing and want to get closer to what you hear from other players.  THE SOLUTION The development of tone begins with your pick hand and how the pick strikes the strings. Additionally, the pick-hand techniques offered here will yield an increase in speed and […]]]> https://acousticguitar.com/gypsy-jazz-player-paul-mehling-offers-8-picking-tips-to-improve-your-acoustic-guitar-tone/feed/ 0 98688 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-five-jazz-masters-on-rhythm-changes/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-five-jazz-masters-on-rhythm-changes/#respond Sun, 31 Mar 2019 13:12:23 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=105607 When George and Ira Gershwin first wrote “I Got Rhythm” for the 1930 musical Girl Crazy, they couldn’t possibly have imagined the effect that this catchy song would have on American popular music. It soon became not just one of the most celebrated tunes in the Great American Songbook, the body of work composed for […]]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-five-jazz-masters-on-rhythm-changes/feed/ 0 105607 https://acousticguitar.com/horizontal-approaches-single-strings-pairs-and-basslines/ https://acousticguitar.com/horizontal-approaches-single-strings-pairs-and-basslines/#respond Fri, 22 Feb 2019 19:12:58 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=110009 A great way to break out of old scale and arpeggio patterns is by tackling one string at a time]]> https://acousticguitar.com/horizontal-approaches-single-strings-pairs-and-basslines/feed/ 0 110009