June 4/3/26 June 4/3/26

The Diminished Major 7th Chord Explained — Advanced Harmony for the Serious Jazz Guitarist

The Diminished Major 7th chord sounds exotic, but it shows up in the opening bars of Stella by Starlight, Someday My Prince Will Come, and How Insensitive. This post unpacks how to identify it, how it functions as a dominant upper structure, and why understanding it unlocks a large portion of the jazz standard repertoire.

June 1/12/26 June 1/12/26

Stop Playing Roots: The Power of Shell Voicings for Beginners

Transitioning to jazz guitar? Your obsession with anchoring on root notes might be muddying the mix. The bass player has the foundation covered. Your job is to define the color. Discover why stripping your chords down to just the 3rds and 7ths—Shell Voicings—is the key to unlocking smooth voice leading and that sophisticated "jazz sound."

June 1/11/26 June 1/11/26

How to Create Intro and Ending Sections for Jazz Standards

Learn a reliable method for creating introductions using the last eight bars of a tune. Discover a lush, chromatic ending technique using the #4 chord.

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