Blues For Alice - Guitar Lesson

[@brucegregori]

Today we have Blues For Alice! Check out how to play on this wonderful Charlie Parker tune. Make sure to comment on the strategies you use to play over this BeBop classic.

[@caseh5111]

You're such a dork, I thoroughly enjoy your videos. Everytime I start watching one my wife giggles at you. Thanks for doing what you do and doing it the way you do it.

[@brucegregori]

Ha! Thanks man.

[@ALEJANDRIX-GUITAR]

Very cool lesson. Thanks!

[@brucegregori]

Thanks my man!

[@SuperFlipchart]

Great lesson BG. Now I’ve gotta “Back-Cycle” my way back to work. Like to watch these vids during my (late) lunch hour. ✌️

[@brucegregori]

Right on! Back-cycling is the rule! Thanks for tuning in!

[@PatDeJongeSoundwise]

great video! thanks, helps me a lot!

[@brucegregori]

For sure!

[@joepalooka2145]

What a great lesson. For me as a learning player, the hardest part about learning these types of melodic lines is how to read them off a chart. After years of painful struggle I realized that the "1 & 2 &" conventional system of counting rhythms is the worst, especially for jazz. I really struggled to the point of insanity. So I developed my own way of reading that works much better and makes me able to play them without the added nonsense of counting "1 & 2 &" which absolutely does not swing. What a pleasure to be able to play "Blues for Alice".

[@brucegregori]

Keep going my man

[@bruwallbillich]

Please tell me about the chord played at 3:55 in place of the A7b9. It sounds great there but I don't know the chord. Looks like you're playing 5 str 5th frt, 4th str 5th fret, 3rd strg 6th frt and 1st and 2nd strg on 8th frt.

[@brucegregori]

Hi Bruce! It is an A7 form +5#9 - I like that form a lot and one I use often, You can also think of it as a tri-tone sub of A7 - Eb7 natural 9 - I generally use natural extensions on tritone subs - it can be easier to visualize t than way - playing it without the Eb in the bass. In this song it really creates some contrary motion that I dig. PEACE !

[@bruwallbillich]

@@brucegregori ThanksBruce. I guess what's throwing me is that there is no A note. From the 4th string it's G, Db, F and C. Right? Thanks again.

[@brucegregori]

@@bruwallbillich Yes you got it! Many times Joe Pass would play rootless chords - our ears naturally hear the bass line in this song so the contrary motion is a nice surprise that lends some flavor. Try this out on any II-V and if you like it then use it well! Thanks Bruce

[@bluffironside917]

You look like a nice pat finnerty

[@brucegregori]

Ha!