How to Build Rhythmic Vocabulary for Jazz Guitar
Rhythmic vocabulary for jazz guitar is built by listening and singing long before it is built by playing — and it requires a personal musical identity to exist first, before transcription from other players can truly benefit you. This post explains the sequence Junewon Choi teaches in the Functional Diagonal Approach (FDA), including the practice method taught by his teacher Richard Hart, and why big band listening is one of the most direct paths to genuine swing feel.
Jazz Guitar Improvisation Tips: How Transcription Connects Everything You've Learned
Shell voicings, drop 2, II–V–I — you've learned the concepts separately. Transcription is what connects them. This guide explains why analyzing real solos (like Benson on Billie's Bounce) reveals how jazz harmonic vocabulary actually works in practice.
Finding Your Voice in the Shadow of Giants: Benson, Hall, and the Art of Copying
We aren't just learning notes; we are entering a conversation spanning decades. From the fiery blues of George Benson to the harmonic depth of Jim Hall, finding your future voice starts with understanding history. Discover why "copying" the masters is actually the fastest path to originality and how to turn transcription into synthesis.