Jazz Guitar

Here you find some simple jazz guitar exercises which work on a simple chord progression : F7 / F7 / F7 / F7 / Bb7 / Bb7 / Bb7 / Bb7
It starts that you first work on your 2 & 4 feel with your foot. All execises have to be done with the 2 & 4 feel. They seem to look easy but they are not if you never have done them before.
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Here you find the tabs of the theme of " Straight, No Chaser " by Monk and a backing track with the chords you find in the tabs. This is a classic 12 bar jazzblues in F so it's worth checking this out and also practicing the improvisation.
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Here you find an easy jazz blues in the key of F. The progression is very simple only in bar no. 4 we choose F7alt to make it a bit more interesting.
F7 / F7 / F7 / F7alt
Bb7 / Bb7 / F7 / F7
C7 / Bb7 / F7 / C7
I have written 3 examples for an improvisation by using the modes and moving the phrase around the mode or simple rhythm motives with variations on the rhythm.
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Here you find the tabs of one chorus smooth jazz improvisation over the chords of sunny. The level is intermediate so that most of you guys have a chance to fulfill the task. This improvisation works around the main positions of the A and G minor pentatonic since this tune works around 2 keys and this way you can play in positions which are already comfortable for you guys. Beside the improvisation I have added the modes and arpeggios in those 2 positions I am talking about. You should also check them out to get a better understanding and orientation during your improvisation. The audio files are the improvisation with the backing track and the backing track itself.
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Here you find the tabs to this smooth jazz guitar backing track in the key of C. You find the chords and the arpeggio's and modes related to each chord. The backing track is as usual one out of the HPCrazy studio's.
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Here you find some tabs which help you to develop a cool and laid back jazz guitar. The phrasing is the key to any cool jazz guitar chords or improvisations so I strongly recommend that you check out these files. The backing track is drums, bass and piano on 100 bpm.
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Here you find the tabs of the theme of Joe Zawinul's song " Mercy Mercy Mercy ". The tabs are showing the theme and the vamp where solo's are taking place. In the backing track there is the theme first played 2 times and then it enters the solo vamp. After that it goes to the 2nd part of the theme before the full final theme is played at the end.
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Here you find some tabs for a cool smooth jazz track with the progression : Fm7 / Fm7 / Db9 / C7#9 . The tabs are showing you the chords, the modes which are used to those chords and a selection of licks which are using those modes as you can see in the tabs. You can praticed these licks with the backing track attached.
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Here you find 3 jazz blues guitar licks for the chords F7 and Bb7. They work for the mixolydian and the mixolydian #11 mode. You can use those licks on any jazz blues in F or Bb. The backing track is a 4 bar loop between F7 and Bb7 which helps you to get familiar with the licks. For each lick there is a 2nd slight variation.
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Here you find a selection of easy and basic bebop exercises which you can play on any II V / I Progression in major. In this case it's in C major. The backing track is in 110 bpm so you don't really have to rush with these exercises.
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Here you find the tabs for a standard minor blues in the key of Cm which is the standard key for most minor blues tunes in jazz. In the first part you have the chords and in the 2nd parts the modes which are used in a modern version of an improvisation in one position. The backing track is only drums and bass.
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Here you find the tabs to the theme, the chords, the modes and a simple improvisation to the jazz standard " Summertime " by Gershwin. This is the classic jazz version as played in many many jazz piano bars. The example of the improvisation is very simple but uses the modes which are displayed in part C. The backing track is drum, bass and piano.
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Here you find some tabs and theoretical exercises to build jazz guitar chords with Gmaj. They work for G Ionian and G Lydian. Those chords with a #11 work only for G Lydian. The backing track is a loop on G major so you can pracitice these things without the stress of the the coming chord changes.
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Here you find a selection of jazz guitar groove and timing exercises with only 2 chords. These are Am7 / D7. It's a vamp which repeats itself all the time so you can concentrate on the exercises. They represent the summary of most possible rhythm figures which might come across your way. Jazz guitar rhythm patterns are very often 2 bar patterns which altering on and off beat figures. All exercises have to be done with the foot on 2 & 4 if you really want to get those figures grooving. The audio files are the backing track + the audio of the tabs with metronom.
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Here you find the tabs of the theme of " Lullaby Of Bird " + some suggested chords and the main modes which you can use for the improvisation. The backing track is a cool jazz trio with drums, bass and piano.
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Here you find some exercises where you can learn some different examples on how you can stretch the timing when it comes to jazz guitar improvisation. The backing track added is a jazz blues in the key of F. The examples are working with only 2 notes of the F blues scale but they still sound interesting since there is a lot going on with the different types of stretching the timing. There are 3 types displayed. Syncopation, Play & Rest and finally quarter triplets. The 2nd audio file is an audio which shows you how the examples exactly sound alike together with the backing track.
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The Days Of Wine And Roses - Tabs / Chords & Backing Track
Here you find the tabs and the chords of the jazz standard " The Days Of Wine And Roses " + the backing track with a first part in half time and the improvisation part on 120 bpm.
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Crazy Dorian Smooth Jazz Guitar Ideas - Tabs & Backing Track
Here you find a selection of smooth jazz guitar ideas in the key of F# ( dorian ). They are devided into " Upper Structure Ideas ", " Cromatic Ideas " and " Wes Montgomery Ideas ". They work great if you want to start to play outside the box when you have a modal improvisation in dorian mode.
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Jazz Guitar Studies ( I VI II V G Major )
Here you find some basic exercises which help you to start working with modes and arpeggio's on a I VI II V progression in the key of G. You can transpose this to any other key if you like or take the same method on any other G major pattern which you know. These exercises shall give you a first guidance to work on your orientation in the improvisation. The backing track is on 100 bpm so that you have enough time to work out your orientation and phrasing.
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What A Wonderful World ( Tabs ) - Intermediate Open Version
This is an arrangement which I wrote for the song " What a wonderful world " by Louis Armstrong. This version is set on a voice-leading with only 3 voices which is a bit unusual for jazz guitar arrangements. I wanted to do it this way for 2 reasons.
1. I love this open spaced sound and with the guitar chord voicings I have chosen you can also add a bluesy vibe to by adding vibrato's on the chords.
2. It's a really simple to play version so that intermediate guitar players also have a chance to master this classic tune which everybody should have played once.
Here you find the tutorial associated to these tabs here :
 

All Blues ( Miles Davis )- Tabs & Backing Track
Here you find the tabs of the tune " All Blues " by Miles Davis on his iconic recording " Kind Of Blue ". The tabs are displaying the melody and the rhythm pattern which is played by the piano on that recording. The backing track is drums, bass, piano & guitar with the melody first and then some choruses space for improvisation.
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Equinox ( John Coltrane ) - Tabs & Backing Track
Here you find the tabs of the melody and the chords of the standard " Equinox " by John Coltrane. The backing track is pretty much adapted to the original recording with the John Coltrane band.
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3 Pro Mixolydian Smooth Jazz Guitar Licks & Backing Track
Here you find 3 professional smooth jazz guitar licks which you can use on any straight D7 improvisation. I am using the D mixolydian mode with some approach notes. The backing track is a vamp just on D7 so that you can practice those licks till you got them right.
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Creative Walking Bass in F ( Tabs & Jazzdrums )
Here you find some tabs to play a jazz blues with walking bass. The audio file is just a jazz drum played with brushes which works best with just guitar.
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Watermelon Man ( Herbbie Hancock ) - Theme + Backing Track
Here you can download the tabs of the theme of Herbbie Hancock's Watermelon Man. I arranged a cool version for you which is played in the key of F. The backing track is a funky track as played on most jam sessions on the planet.
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