First Beginner Jazz Guitar Lesson - How to Improvise over ii V I progressions

[@sebastianbooth5659]

As a professional bassist, I have had the pleasure of gigging with my friend Jamie regularly. I have to say he is one of the most talented guitarists I have ever worked with, his soloing and comping is of the top standard always. Look no further for tuition or as a musician in your band than Jamie Holroyd.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Thank you for the kind words sir! Much appreciated. Great jam the other night!

[@ymelfilm]

guys, u should upload some gigging. Jamie, u re really good, and seem to be a great and patient teacher, tks for ur work

[@doomvapor5208]

This was awesome. I like the idea of looking at it by modes on each chord change.

[@Ganzie2000]

You're an amazing tutor. Jazz is my passion and you make it accessible for wannabes like me. I will be checking the website.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@stevedouglas7375]

Steve Douglas Jamie, I'm primarily a songwriter and the guitar is my instrument. I play finger style and I'm always trying to improve my playing. I've long gravitated toward the 2-5-1 progression and I enjoy most of the standards. I absolutely love, "Moonlight In Vermont" and I'm in the process of learning it. This lesson of yours is not only great, but it helps in keeping me motivated to stretch myself on the guitar, even though I'm not trying to be a professional guitarist. Almost forgot--- Thanks so much for telling us what scales fit nicely over the chords!! That means a lot to me and I really appreciate it. Steve

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Thanks for the kind words Steve, glad you enjoy the lessons! Moonlight in Vermont is one of my favorite standards.

[@stevedouglas7375]

You're welcome and --- yes indeed. Steve

[@zackcahill6720]

Really useful. Thank you

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Thank you, no problem.

[@simonr2156]

Very well explained, thank you.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Thank you!

[@voronOsphere]

Great Lesson!!!! Thanks!!!!

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@MixolydianMode]

You are my favorite teacher. Love your lessons.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@voronOsphere]

To me, it's all one G Major Scale. I love that you're naming the modes with their corresponding positions in the G Major Scale, though. That's how I look at it, too! Makes this lesson easier for me!

[@mightybaconman]

I'm just beginning my jazz learning and this is just what I need right now. Thanks dude, excellent as usual.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Thank you, glad you found it useful!

[@MrLevi5010]

Jamie thank you so much for this tutorial...kind regards from the Caribbean

[@jamieholroydguitar]

No problem!

[@kingtriplebbb5347]

Your The Greatest Professor 🎓

[@dingopes3847]

In 2 5 1 i am thinking about chord tones( arpegios) of underlying chords ( Am , D7 , G ) others notes are kind of passing notes.. it is easier at least for me.. Thank u will try with changing scales.

[@huntikis]

Excellent lesson Jamie, very very helpful!!!

[@XxBiCkslowxX]

I really appreciate all the work you do, Jamie. Thank you very much for enlighting me.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

No problem, glad you enjoyed it!

[@the-lonely-ous1767]

That was an awesome lesson

[@dylanduke1075]

Unbelievably helpful

[@djlyonol]

Thanks for the lesson, very informative! However you don't explain why we have to use the Dorian and Myxolidian scales in the first place. what's the theory/rule behind this, and why can't we use another mode/scale? thanks and regards

[@dominiks5068]

let's take Mixolydian as an example. the fifth chord of a scale normally is a dominant 7th chord. the notes of a dominant 7th chord are: root - major 3rd - perfect fifth - minor 7th (if you are confused at this point, you want to check out some basic chord theory ^^). so, to find a scale that perfectly illustrates this dominant 7th chord, we have to look for a scale that contains these four notes. and the only mode that has a major 3rd, perfect fifth and a minor 7th is the Mixolydian mode. hope this helps :D

[@geddysnake]

You don't *have* to. But the ii-V-I chord progression refers to the chords in the key. That is, Am7, D7, Gmaj7 If the key is G, the first mode (starting from G) is Ionian: G A B C D E F# The first chord is (take every other note): G B D F# (Gmaj7) The second mode (starting from A) is Dorian: A B C D E F# G The second (ii) chord is: A C E G (Am7) The fifth mode (starting from D) is Mixolydian: D E F# G A B C The fifth (V) chord is: D F# A C (D7) So, since Am7 is the second chord, it makes sense to play dorian (the second mode) over it. Notice the Dorian mode has all the notes of Am7. However, the other minor modes (Phrygian and Aeolian) also work over Am7. You could also use tons of other stuff...

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Thanks guys, these are great replies and saved me a lot of typing!

[@ilancohen7656]

Makes sense geddysnake. I do wonder since all the actual notes in these 3 modes are the same, will it produce the same result to just think the same scale the entire time, and just simply emphasize notes from the chord you're playing over at the moment?

[@MrJoepaul]

Why don’t you just play melodic lines the you hear in the music ??

[@Zekran]

Thanks so much for this, I came here before a longtime ago but haven't too much ideas about the scales / modes so i couldn't understand well what you're doing or talking about 😂 but now i'm ready , can you make a video on how to practice jazz progressions a method to play chords & rythmes , i know lot of theories and scales and chordes extentions you know but i feel strange when seeing people playin jazz and changing chords in different positions in a "weird" way it seems like it's just randomly i always wonder what's the secret that they play everywere how to memorize this!!! I mean in jazz short chords idk how to explain i mean ...i know well the fret board but when it comes to jazz i feel totally a biginner !

[@ymelfilm]

Jamie, these modes have a good sliding shape, the kinda Satriani or what. How does Gambale do this?

[@3r1cratpool22]

Is it a good thing to use G lydian instead of ionian? Is it something that people use to do?

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Yes absolutely!

[@3r1cratpool22]

@@jamieholroydguitar i was wondering this because in the ionian mode in C i dont realy like the 4rth degree f so by using the lydian instead it feel more natural for me than using the ionian and tryi g to avoid the f. I tough it was a bad habit.

[@Devesh0201]

comprised or compromised?

[@SimonT54]

Devesh burn

[@petermcclelland5710]

Ahh yes, another pedant... love your work!

[@petermcclelland5710]

Oh, by the way... I also love Jamie's work - great stuff! Thank you.

[@ianpeden2906]

Consists of, or comprises. This is a very good lesson and extremely helpful. I would suggest though that the term "scale" is used for the 12 major scales and the relative minor scales, and that for Dorian, etc. "mode" is used. I am aware that the major scales are themselves modes, and that modes are of course scales, but this would make it less confusing to the learner who could well confuse D Dorian with a D minor scale. I know that I found it difficult to understand the modes.

[@soulvaccination8679]

This was such a great tutorial.Very easy to understand...Thank you.Looking foreword to more.Why don’t you move to the Bronx and set shop up and teach..Little dangerous but a great place for Jazz

[@bobbytodd7254]

Jamie, What made the other guitar was? The one you are playing I have 1952 ES125. Still sound great# Bobby

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Hi Bobby this is my 59 125. They are great guitars! My other archtop is an early 80s Yamaha AE 1200.

[@jeffreymacmillan7757]

Jaime- Great lesson. Thanks. One SMALL suggestion to improve the visual presentation: Don't wear a blindingly white tee shirt...the eye always goes to the brightest thing ( the shirt) rather than the fingers or fretwork... Thanks again for a brilliant lesson.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Haha, thanks, it was a hot day here though, but I'll try not to wear them in future videos!

[@HarryBarry97]

what guitar is that?

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Gibson 125

[@guitarforfree]

melodic Minor and altered whole tone? Major ? Mixo ?

[@ruudgeldermans]

Thanks , but these are all the same notes, but we should still be thinking in different scales ?

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Yeah, focus on the guide tones (arpeggio notes) for each of the different chords found within each scale.

[@vincej151]

Great Job Jamie! I have subscribed. Clarification: In the Am / D7 / Gmaj progression, are you saying that you change mode for each chord change? So, you will play Dorian / Mixolydian / Ionian as each of the 3 chords comes? Thanks !!

[@jokester5130]

Yes. They are all the same exact notes, but just a different starting point. But all the notes are within the G maj scale.

[@RodrigoEtchebarne]

That guitar sounds beautiful... what is it?

[@ontroadagain]

Thanks it's a Gibson ES 125

[@VJLasorsa]

Jamie, what make and gauges strings do you have on your guitar?

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Hey, this guitar has just had a fresh set of d'addario 12-52. I use them on all my archtops!

[@ilancohen7656]

And are those strings round or flat wound? Thanks!

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Rounds!

[@cptrubberpants]

Hi Jamie. Love your work. You mention an app for backing tracks called Arial B or something like that, but can't find it. Could you point me in right direction? once again, love your work.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Hey that app is called iReal Pro. Thanks.

[@netowp]

I'm here because all my friends say you look like me.

[@n00bie96]

hey you look like him

[@n00bie96]

HOLY SHIT

[@Heshanudugama]

hahahah

[@romgtr]

looks like all the scales are the same scales just played at different positions.

[@voronOsphere]

Major ii V I Chord Progression..... Take a swig!

[@chrishammond2235]

hi Jamie its jenson

[@jamieholroydguitar]

Hi Jenson - I hope that you are practicing every day over the summer for me.

[@mesolithicman164]

It's 'comprised' not compromised. The latter means something else entirely.

[@jhhorvath1]

And further, the word SHOULD be “composed,” not “comprised.”

[@speriekoda]

Why is it better to think of each mode instead of just thinking about different sounds within the Gmaj scale all the way through the II-V- I in G ?????

[@jamieholroydguitar]

In theory this could be done, but a big part of jazz is addressing each chord individually. Use the parent scales for each chord but focus on guide tones which will bring out the chords more.

[@speriekoda]

Very kind of you to respond...Most of my training is Classical based but I had a jazz guitar teacher briefly who was accomplished. His approach was to play in the upcoming key of the II-V-! which is why I asked. It seems like one would automatically emphasize the most important notes over the current chord 2-5 or 1 but maybe not. You play very well thinking about it the way you do.(as do most advanced jazz players I suppose)

[@fzhardacher]

Why can't any of my friends be as good as you?

[@BanglaAve]

j

[@haralde.langner8703]

To see the notes and scales what you are playing would be much helpful. So I cannot follow the things you do; sorry.

[@jamieholroydguitar]

No worries. My new lessons do have on screen notation and downloadable pdfs. My free ebook beginner jazz guitar should be able to help you out too. Thanks

[@kevinlogan927]

not basic