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This week we'll apply some easy to understand concepts to craft an authentically 1950's jazz blues solo.. something similar to the smooth yet gritty stylings of a Bill Jennings, Billy Butler or Tiny Grimes.

Get your triads and chord changes at the ready and join me while we tackle a 12 bar in Bb.. with all the jazzy extras! ;)

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Bb Jazz Blues lead & chords guitar lesson. Triads & ii-V.. Bill Jennings style soloing!

Access all lesson materials by becoming a Patreon at the link below for just a small monthly fee!.. https://patreon.com/AlexFarranGuitar If Patreon isn’t your bag, you can purchase materials for this lesson alone at the link below; https://smogfalls.gumroad.com/l/vgpun Book in for a private Zoom lesson to level up your playing, or find new inspiration!.. just choose a slot at the link below; https://tidycal.com/alexfarranguitar/guitarlesson -------------------------------------------------------------------------- This week we'll apply some easy to understand concepts to craft an authentically 1950's jazz blues solo.. something similar to the smooth yet gritty stylings of a Bill Jennings, Billy Butler or Tiny Grimes. Get your triads and chord changes at the ready and join me while we tackle a 12 bar in Bb.. with all the jazzy extras! ;) ⏱️TIMESTAMPS⏱️ 00:54 - Learning the changes! 02:25 - Chord functions 03:46 - Getting fancy! 04:42 - Lead study breakdown 08:40 - Book a private Zoom lesson! 10:05 - ii-V thinking 10:37 - Charlie Parker bebop vocabulary 11:28 - Bill Jennings/Django style 12:42 - Turnaround ii-V lick 13:43 - Solo #2 14:12 - Classic piano-lick 15:51 - ii-V of IV 16:38 - E diminished 7th arpeggio 17:05 - Arpeggios within arpeggios! 18:32 - Blues scale broad-strokes 21:29 - Altered chord stabs; Shout Chorus style 22:33 - Thoughts 23:08 - Tone talk! 23:26 - A small favour? Backing track (I purchased this and slowed the tempo to 112bpm); https://youtu.be/xozxx-2U-Tw?si=i4AdWuqqZ3jJaGFX Other related lessons of mine; Jazz Blues lead study in F; https://youtu.be/AEq2hZEZtr4?si=RD3-4YMiJC-984wE Billy Butler’s “Honky Tonk Pt.1”; https://youtu.be/W7tggU8JorQ?si=zzrE7SLbeCsU9okz “Bill Jenning’s Big Boy” solo; https://youtu.be/bO1-YyVfIB8?si=4ciPyA2mDreLk65z ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Gear used in this video; 1958' Gibson es175 Emprize Falcon Universal Audio OX - amp top box Universal Audio Apollo Twin X Logic Pro Universal Audio plugins Sony ZVE-10 camera Neewer Desktop Tripod Final Cut Pro Thanks for watching! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexfarranguitar/ Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/alexfarran #blues #jumpblues #jazz #jazzblues #bebop #swing #boogie #boogiewoogie #12barblues #bluesguitar #guitar #guitarsolo #guitarist #guitarlesson #guitarteacher #instrumental #inspiration #soul #motown #rnb #leadguitar #rhythmguitar #juniorwatson #tinygrimes #charliebaty #billjennings #billybutler #seancostello #charliechristian #charlieparker #vintagegear #vintagetone #vintagemusic #1950s #1940s #guitarlicks #gibsonguitar #gibsones175 #djangoreinhardt #gypsyjazz #organ

Comments

Brian Forst

Bill Jennings is new to me, just pulled up the album “Stompin’ With Bill” — sounds fantastic! Thanks.

Alex Farran Guitar

Nice one Brian, one of my favourite jazz players of that era 👌🏻

Minnesconi

Don't know why your channel took a year to show up in my YouTube feed cause this is the place to be, this is home. Your musical choices and organized teaching kit have me progressing at quite a clip.

Alex Farran Guitar

Thank you buddy, that’s so good to hear! Thanks for being here with us 🙏🏻🧡

George Nichols

Great lesson.Would be nice if you could mention where this lesson will located in the collection.example Standards.Thanks Alex

Johan

Great stuff as always! Is it odd that I sometimes hear a set of chords as the ii V of ii and others times as the iii VI?

Alex Farran Guitar

Makes total sense! I feel the same way and it’s down to context for me I think.

Alex Farran Guitar

Thanks George! I’ve added this one to the “lead studies” and “blues” collections 👍🏻

MarkF

Never really knew about Bill Jennings so put on “Enough Said” and yup enough said he’s grooving! Love these finds.

Wayne America

Great! Thanks for choosing Bill Jennings. Your chord progressions are really helpful by the way...as a guide for improvisation.

Eric Mintz

Spot on! And thanks for the introduction to Bill Jennings.

Jay Solman

Wonderful! I love Bill Jennings!

dan gardiner

I love how his Tabs are always "NEATLY" typed out.... In 7th grade we had typewriter class, and received extra points if our papers didn't have smudged fingerprints all over from the unruly ribbon.

dan gardiner

my two favorite jazz guitar recordings are Tiny's Tempo, and Slim's Jam..and I always play along, speaking of sloppiness...of course Bird dominates the proceedings, so maybe not ideal for a lesson?

Ty Miller

Your definitely keeping me on my toes Wouldn't have it any other way Thanks 😁😁😁

Alex Farran Guitar

😅 I do take pride in doing things neatly for sure!.. maybe a hangover from my school days too 🤷🏻‍♂️😂

Alex Farran Guitar

I have a long list of Parker tunes to do and Tiny’s Tempo is on there.. will move it up to near the top 👍🏻

Alex Farran Guitar

Glad to hear that Ty! Take on as much as you like, but never feel pressured into keeping up each week! 😌

Daghan

a nice start for the Sunday morning. Again a tasteful choice Alex

Ty Miller

Yea I know just keeps it real for me Keeps me from getting board with practicing

Alejandro Porras

thx man.. started being patreon because of this video. loved the solo, learned it , recorded it too. thx man. cheers

Ran Bush

Wow, "typewriter class". I can relate, Dan!

Rob Bright

Great lesson. Lots to build on.

Michael Sosebee

My goal is to play it with that natural smooth vibe. Thanks for these great lessons!

Alex Farran Guitar

My pleasure Michael.. I'm sure it'll be sounding smooth and cool in no time! ;)

Rob Bright

More Tiny Grimes 👍

Jean-Luc

a study full of beautiful, deliciously jazzy ideas. When will there be a study in the style of Georges Benson? Thank you Alex for this great work.

Jean-Luc

I add that I love the playbacks and the guitar pro transcriptions. it's quality material. bravo

Alex Farran Guitar

Thanks mate! George Benson is on the list.. along with Grant Green and some more Kenny Burrell. 👌🏻

Mats Karpestam

Expanding my guitar vocabulary, thanks Alex, great lesson.

Gert De Groof

Ok, I take that “wink” was meant for me…

Seth

Hey Alex, can you direct me to any specific lessons on the chord functions? I want to understand how they all fit.

George Nichols

Great piece fighting my way thru the jungle of breaking it down.Doing ok so far.

Andrew Blackard

The usage of the I6 chord has always confused me. Sometimes it fits and sometimes it doesn't. Any hints?

Alex Farran Guitar

Hey Andrew, it's really just a matter of taste. If you're after that pre-bop swing blues vibe then you can very safely default to using the major 6th as your tonic chord.. it also creates more contrast when you do finally play the I7 in say bar #4.. this makes that pull towards the IV chord even stronger. Some of the later bop era and beyond players started using the Major 7th as a Tonic sound in the blues also!

Andrew Blackard

Thanks. I play sax too and I've seen that change from I6 to I7 a lot in horn arrangements. For guitar does it set vibe depending on whether you play I7 or I6 in measure 1?

Dave Perry

great teaching Alex, thanks...I love the slightly exotic sound of B flat....i might be hearing things there.

Alex Farran Guitar

Glad you liked that Dave! Bb is my favourite key for jazz blues for sure

Patrick

Hi Alex. I revisited this lesson a few days ago. What a brilliant content and presentation. In particular, non-root based arpeggios and weaving lead lines through the ii-V-i and ii-V-I changes. I have since watched this at least a half dozen times and notated the chord tones and other pieces of your narrative on a hard-copy of the PDF. This lesson has inspired one of the greatest leaps forward in my musicianship in years. I cannot thank you enough. And yet, this is but one example of the tremendous amount of technique, knowledge, and history packed into all of your lessons. Happy New Year Alex, to you and yours.

Alex Farran Guitar

Thank you for the kind words Patrick, I love your enthusiasm and drive to keep progressing! Amazing work my friend 👌🏻