Jake Hertzog's blog

Hey Jazz Guy,

I know that wide Intervals are a modern concept, do you have any suggestions for how I can work them into my playing? –Narrow in Nashville

Dear Narrow,

Hey Jazz Guy

My beef concerns diminished chords. Most teachings I have encountered
on diminished harmony improvisation consist in playing playing patterns
and arps. But how do we make "diminished" sound musical while outlining
the harmony? Take for example "Quiet Nights" (A- to Ab dim), the
bridge in "Air mail special", "All of me" turnaround (C Eb dim D- G7), or simply
diminished passing chords in rhythm changes (C C#dim D- D# dim).
Help me from sounding somewhat unsure in those situations.

Thanks,

Dimmed out cat

Hey Jazz Guy,

Once I’ve mastered the “jazz power chords” how can I better understand Upper Structures and incorporate them into my playing? – Basic in Boise

Dear Basic,

Hey Jazz Guy,

I want to expand my use of jazz harmony and I was wondering how you would recommend going about learning different chord voicings and putting them into practice? -- Simple in San Diego

Dear Simple,

There are many voicing types and systems for this, so there is no one right answer, but I hope you will allow me to illuminate my guitaristic approach to this situation.

Hey Jazz Guy..

How can I make my blues soloing more jazzy, to fit the jazz-blues chord changes? -Blue and Bored in Birmingham

Dear Blue and Bored,

Hey Jazz Guy..

Can you explain the difference between a "Jazz Blues" and a regular Blues? How can I make my blues playing more jazzy? -Blue and Bored in Birmingham

Dear Blue and Bored,

Hey Jazz Guy,

How do you practice? There's so much to learn I don't even know where to start sometimes! Any tips/suggestions? -- Stressing in Switzerland

This is a great and very important question, and there are many right answers. Here's the system that I have found works for me. I organize my practicing by the amount of creativity involved in each excersize. I divide into three categories:

1) Technical practicing....

Hey Jazz Guy...
What's the difference between a diatonic key and a mode like super locrian or lydian?--Moded out in Manhattan

Hey Jazz Guy...

Im having trouble incorporating intervals in my playing, can you talk about how to use this concept in a post-modern jazz context? -- Linear in Louisville