Here you will find original guitar exercises, studies, and music from John’s personal library.
A life’s work!
Each of the following items is a mini-lesson with John and includes:
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Chord Melody Guitar
An introduction to the concept of playing a melody in chords. This is a very popular topic. Once on the ever-expanding chord/melody path there is no getting off!
Eb Pickin’
A swing study to help you get oriented in the key of Eb, a must key for jazz and swing development.
After putting some time into this lesson you will be “swingin’” in Eb with both chords and single lines.
Please enjoy this complete distribution of "E Flat Pickin'" with John's compliments.
It is provided free of charge for you to see the detail and value of each lesson below.
The FULL contents of the lesson are contained in the four following file, free for you to download and enjoy!
The Seven Modes
A lesson in learning to identify the 7 traditional Greek modes.
You will hear each mode sung and played slowly with chordal accompaniment
that evokes the character of the mode being played.
At the end of this lesson you will be aware of the differences in the sound of each mode.
BeBop 3-Pack
3 short bebop style jazz exercises.
Includes chords and lines in standard notation and tab.
The lesson includes precise information on how to move from chord to chord as
well as
instruction on the fingering of the melodic lines reflecting those
chords.
Opus 7
Opus 7 is comprised of 12 studies in 12 keys.
The exercises are available individually or as a set of 12.
Each study is a complete lesson in both the chord progression and the single note line.
The studies were inspired by the shifting techniques employed by the incredible classical guitarist,
Andres Segovia, in his scale studies.
Op 7 No 1 The Sooner the Better (Key of A Major)
A study in chord/scale relationships using a popular “standard” chord progression.
As chords change through a progression, so does the mode from which the chord is derived.
This study allows you to hear that modal interchange as the chord progression develops.
Op.7_1_Sooner The Better Sample MP3
Op 7 No 2 Blue, Kind Of (Key of E)
This exercise is in the key of E. (4 #'s)
It is 8 bars long, 4 bars on an E7 chord, and 4 bars on an A7 chord.
I think of it as a "kind of" blues line that has elements of bluegrass as well.
It's fun to play once you get it "under your fingers".
Op 7 No 5 Step It Up (Key of Db)
Based on the chord progression of a popular jazz standard, this
exercise is an example of one way to negotiate those chord changes
as they engage 3 key centers in only 8 measures!
Challenging and fun to play.
Op.7_No._5 Step It Up Sample MP3
Op 7 No 6 Shifty Biz (Key of Ab Major)
Lots of position shifting in this Ab study with plenty of II-V work.
The II-V progression is a staple of swing and jazz and you will get a good
II-V workout in this exercise.
G6 Drop 2 Chords
The “Drop 2” chord voicing technique is explained.
This is the place to be to get started with “chord melody” playing.
You will learn ALL the G6 drop 2 voicings on the guitar.
OPUS 7, 1-12
Here's a great way to start your day! 12 original fingerboard "adventures", one in each key, encompassing chord/scale patterns,
arpeggios, bluegrass, jazz, and classical sounding exercises. There's even a 12-tone row!
Guitar Fingerboard Templates
I designed these templates some years ago and have
been using them in my work with students and to develop my own practice
ideas. There are 2 templates available. One contains 4, 15-fret fingerboard diagrams,
the other has 8, 6-fret diagrams designed to focus on specific areas of the
fingerboard. (See samples below - click to enlarge.)
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Major and Minor Arpeggios
for Guitar
Included here are a set of full fingerboard major and
minor arpeggios in ALL 12 keys. Consistent practice of arpeggios reaps huge
benefits for any musician on any instrument. Those benefits as well as practice
suggestions are discussed in the included text. See the G Major sample below.
Drop 2 Voicings - All Chord
Types
There is a lot of interest in "chord/melody" style guitar
playing. That means being able to express a melody not only as a single line,
but as a harmonized line. The place to begin that study is in the "drop 2"
voicing (chord). If you know your drop 2's you can ultimately play any melody in
4-part harmony! Here are ALL the most popular chord types AND their inversions
on the guitar fingerboard in drop-2 voicings along with a music theory
explanation of drop 2. All chords in this lesson contain the root note, G.
2-Part Invention #11 (2 guitars)
Bach composed 15, 2-part "inventions" for the keyboard, meant to develop the ability to play simultaneous independent lines, one with each hand. Invention #11 in G minor is a beautiful fugue-like composition that seems to continuously unfold. Harmonically, it is like listening to jazz!
Allemande (guitar solo)
This beautiful and challenging piece, written by the great J.S.
Bach, is music to be savored and cherished for a lifetime of practice and
performance. It was composed as part of a suite for solo flute and has been in
my repertoire for over 30 years.
Minuet in G by JS Bach (2 guitars)
A well-known Bach keyboard minuet, arranged here for 2 guitars.
This waltz was included in the notebook of Anna Magdalena, Bach’s wife.
The notebook
was a personal collection of music and part of the Bach household.
The mp3 allows you to practice and play the 1st part as you listen to the 2nd
part and vice versa.
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