Jack Grassel – Top 20 Jazz Guitar Lessons
In this Hal Leonard video series, Jazz guitar master Jack Grassel gives performance tips, demonstrates techniques, and plays amazing guitar in this comprehensive tutorial collection.
Videos
• Live Performance: Solo (02:01) - In this video, we see why Mr. Grassel has won many awards by incorporating many techniques to create an exciting performance.
• Harmonics (03:39) - Next, Jack demos how he has expanded the techniques learned from his teacher Tal Farlow.
• Music Business Advice (01:28) - Jack shares how he's built and sustained his career as a professional musician.
• Simultaneous Bass & Chords (02:34) - Mr. Grassel created this technique for playing chords and bass notes together sounding like two instruments, creating a full sound on duo gigs with a vocalist or horn player.
• Single-Note Improv & Bass (01:39) - How to improvise a single note jazz solo while sustaining walking bass lines underneath.
• Simulating Multiple Guitars Playing Together (02:23) - Jack uses this technique to maintain audience interest during a solo guitar concert.
• Working with a Vocalist (03:54) - In this video, we hear about playing styles used to make space for a vocalist.
• Melody Chords (02:42) - These small four string chords can be moved quickly to generate smooth chord/melody solos.
• Colorful Altered Chords (03:05) - Next, Jack shows us how he alters chords in various ways using the II-V-I chord progression.
• Power Practicing (02:40) - Jack's efficient practice method reduces "day dreaming" and shows the player how to advance as quickly as possible.
• Posture & Right Hand Technique (02:28) - In this video, we learn how to reduce injuries and play long gis at peak efficiency.
• Live Performance: Duo (02:21) - Mr. Grassel demos different roles a guitarist can play to support another guitar player in a duo situation.
• 12 Keys in One Position (04:16) - Using the "6 finger principle", all keys can be played without moving the hand.
• One Key in 12 Positions (04:08) - Using the "6 finger principle", each of the 12 keys can be played in all 12 positions.
• Horizontal Scale Patterns (04:46) - This is a more smooth and musical way to move 3 octaves horizontally without the big "Segovia hand jumps".
• Scale-Free Improvising (03:25) - Learn to develop a musical improvising technique that does not sound like "scales running up and down".
• Live Performance: Trio (04:30) - Thoughts and demonstration on how the guitarist can make the best music with only a bassist and vocalist.
• Thoughts on Comping (01:40) - "Comp" is short for "complimenting" another player by providing chordal support for a soloist.
• Octave Technique (01:43) - Now we are shown how Jack approaches playing octaves.
• Your Own Sound (03:07) - Jack expands on his thoughts after hearing Miles Davis say "It takes a long time to sound like yourself".
• Guitar Setup (02:12) - How to adjust your guitar to sound and play as well as possible, resulting in better music.
• Freak Value (02:19) - Look, play and act to create a unique performance to build employment and gain fans.
• Student/Teacher Relationship (05:30) - In this video we hear Jacks thoughts on being a teacher, a student, and the fine line between both.