technique

Dip a toe in the jazz-blues pool with these simple chord subs.

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Intermediate

Intermedaite

  • Develop a better sense of harmony and rhythm.
  • Create more interesting comping patterns.
  • Learn how to outline harmony without using chords.
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The intersection between guitar and piano is ever present—and so is the potential for harmonic conflict, especially when improvising. However, guitar and piano can be a wonderful combination. Listen to the recordings of Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays, or Jim Hall and Bill Evans for stellar examples. But if your ears aren’t turned up it can be a recipe for disaster.

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Tired of playing the same old dominant 7 chords during a blues? Let’s fix that.

Intermediate

Intermediate

  • Learn what chord substitutions are and how they work so that you can get more color out of your rhythm guitar playing.
  • Use extensions on dominant 7 chords as a way of creating new substitutions.
  • Play practical examples of substitutions within various blues grooves while maintaining the standard blues harmony.
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Staying creative and phrasing musically while playing chords, especially over a blues progression, seems like an impossibility to many players. After all, most blues songs contain only three chords, the I, IV, and V. So how can you make those simple chords more interesting? The answer is by using chord substitution.

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