In this lesson, you'll learn how to use pentatonic scales for improvising on dominant chords and in the blues. We'll start with some exercises for practicing pentatonic scales in typical blues progression combinations. The lesson concludes with some "I Play-You Play" practice with a play-along tr...

In this lesson, you'll learn how to improvise on a funk based blues groove using pentatonic scales. Emphasis is placed on interpreting and performing with the proper style using a combination of pentatonic and blues scales. We also do some "I Play-You Play" improvisation practice using a play-alo...

This lesson provides a method for learning the "Circle of Fourths" and for practicing concepts, phrases, and licks on dominant chords in all keys using the "Cycle of Dominants."
An understanding of major scales is needed to get the most from this lesson.

This lesson approaches the major ii-V-I chord progression through the use of dorian, mixolydian, and major scales. Examples and exercises are provided to help you learn to play concepts, phrases, and licks over ii-V-I progressions in all keys.
An understanding of major scales is needed to get th...

This lesson teaches a technique using circle patterns for practicing & internalizing the arpeggios associated with the chord changes for most standard tunes. The chord changes from the first eight-bars of the standard, "You Stepped Out of a Dream," are used as an example.

This lesson further explores the circle pattern technique explored in Part 1. In this lesson you will learn how to practice and incorporate arpeggio inversions in your improvisation. The complete chord progression from the standard, "You Stepped Out of a Dream," is used in the exercises.

This lesson will help you develop a strategy for incorporating technique and harmony building surround tone patterns in your practice. The patterns in this lesson are based on the concept of enclosing the tones found in major triads. Through a series of easy-to-follow steps, you'll learn how to u...

This video is a phrasing demonstration of the concepts covered in Technique Through Concepts: From Concept to Improv

This lesson will teach you how to incorporate the concepts you practice into your improvised solos. Surround tone patterns learned in part 1 of this lesson series are used in the exercises and examples along with the chord changes to the standard, "Fly Me to the Moon."

There are so many different types of minor scales that it's easy to be confused regarding which ones to learn, how to construct them, and how to practice and use them. In this lesson, we'll sort out the confusion and get you on track to understanding and practicing the most common types of minor ...