How to make bop lines WORK on guitar 

Nonsense status: validated

Always the best content. Thank you! From Brooklyn N.Y

Such a good guitar teacher!

Thank you for articulating, in a video, what I've tried to articulate elsewhere on the internet for years ;) "I tried to articulate my frustration with the shapes and positions on the guitar. I think that I've zeroed in on my frustration--that playing strictly in a positional mindset takes my ears away from the instrument and that playing with 3 fingers in a more horizontal fashion allows me to listen to my ears and pay attention to the sounds I'm actually making. The shapes and positions come into play, but when I close my eyes and go by feel--I am also hearing what's in my head more... Anyway, when I play purely by position--then I am handcuffed to the visual fretboard. I lose touch with my ear and the sounds that I create--and my lines become more disjointed." Look familiar? You mentioned a nugget of gold in passing that I wanted to emphasize here--at the 9 minute mark. About how rhythm dictates fingering. You mentioned slurs to swing. I would also add that you are intentional with what finger lands on the downbeat or "on beat." If I had your patience and prowess with youtube, I would make a video on the jazz ed paradigm. Like here, "I've been yammering all across RU-vid about the need for us to flip the jazz education paradigm. Less about melody and harmony--more about rhythm and pulse. Barry Harris used to say 'rhythm rules the world' but so many in jazz ed seem content with selling theory books and saying rhythm is 'just something you gotta feel.' I think that rhythm, phrasing, and pulse are the true indicators of musicianship--between the dull and the killing muso." If only... Anyway, keep on spreading the word. Great video!

Really great tips in this one

Compressed masterclass. Thank you!

Inspiring and helpful into these techniques. Tnx.

been waiting for you to make this one! some very piquant insights here...

First time for me seeing one of your videos. Excellent content and tips. I'll be back.😎

Do you think you could do a video on right hand technique in a similar way, relating to specific jazz/bop styles? Things like trying to use 'strict' Benson strokes for Pat Martino style descending arpeggio-filled solos, or trying to do Bill Evans lines with a pretty strict Gypsy/Rest Stroke technique, incorporating more pianistic vs horn-like phrasing via picking technique? As a guy who used to do full on Benson style but has switched back to a more regular method, I think you'd be pretty uniquely qualified to cover that - I have definitely hit walls trying to do other instruments' solos with a decently developed Benson style 😅 Works really well for lots of things but seemingly not *everything*!

What are your thoughts on tuning in major 3rds? (As a supplement rather than an alternative to standard tuning) I've been experimenting with this based around the G and B strings to keep some link with standard tuning. (Similar to Russian 7 string G tuning, I think? The difference being sharpening the D strings.) I find it really intuitive for harmony. So long as you're not trying to add loads of extensions! There is very little useful info on this subject, that I've found. (other than Ralph Patt's page and a couple of RU-vid videos which aren't much help past the obvious.) Probably with good reason? Anyway I'd love to know your views. I'm asking this because I've transcribed a few phrases from Bebop solos and found they seem to sit on the fretboard quite nicely.

Excellent nonsense 😂!