Fingerstyle Jazz Handbook

Hi, I'm Sean McGowan, and welcome to the Fingerstyle Jazz Handbook! In this course, we'll be diving into the techniques, rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic concepts of fingerstyle jazz guitar. You'll learn how to develop independence in both hands to articulate a convincing swing feel playing solo jazz guitar, while integrating bass, chords, and melody simultaneously to create orchestral arrangements of your favorite jazz standards - or any type of song!

This course is divided into five distinct sections. In the first section, I'll show you a number of exercises to develop technique in both hands, including finger exchange exercises that promote independence, strength, and separation of articulation, how to sustain melody notes within a chord, and a number of arpeggio exercises in 10ths. We'll work through a number of exercises that involve playing "splits", or various picking hand patterns to keep your comping interesting. We'll also get the thumb involved by playing walking basslines and chord comps through different progressions and rhythmic patterns. And we'll end this and every section with a fun to play étude that ties all of these concepts together.

In Section 2, we'll take a close look at a variety of chord voicings that effectively harmonize melody notes on top. This approach - what I call "Melody Chord" voicings - will show you simple and effective ways of harmonizing a single note melody in any style. We'll also look at using chord inversions and triangle shape patterns to add chordal fills in the style of Joe Pass.

Section 3 explores more advanced techniques including 7th & 9th arpeggios, common bebop scales, double-stop lines, counterpoint, and artificial harmonics. I'll also discuss improvising single note lines in a solo guitar context. In Section 4, we'll return to harmony and explore how to add interesting sounds and colors to your arrangements by padding chords, using deceptive cadences and cycles, and turnarounds from the IV and #iv half-diminished chord.

Finally, in Section 5 we'll play through five full length études that specifically include all of the harmonic, melodic, rhythmic, and technical concepts discussed throughout the course. We'll play through a 12-Bar Blues in C that incorporates a walking four bassline with chords, substitutions, and single-note lines mixed in for variety. Then we'll play through a classic chord melody arrangement of a ballad based on the changes to "Stars Fell on Alabama" that features double-stop and single-note lead lines, block chords, substitutions, counterpoint, and ideas for endings. "Starlight" is a medium tempo étude that utilizes the finger articulation and independence exercises by seamlessly integrating lead lines on top of moving chords. We'll check out a Rhythm Changes progression in the key of Bb that moves through 4, 5 and 6-note chord voicings in tandem with a bassline and bebop solo lines. Finally, we'll work through another classic ballad over the changes to "Polkadots & Moonbeams" that features lush chord voicings augmented by counterpoint lines and bell-like harmonics. Each of these études feature the performance, plus an overview and extensive breakdown and analysis. So grab your guitars and let's get going!