How Do You Learn Jazz Guitar Without Relying on Tabs? Connect Every Shape to Your Ear
Tabs aren't the problem — playing a shape your ear has never heard is. Here's how to keep the shortcut that makes guitar easy while making sure every shape you play is connected to a sound you can actually hear.
What Makes Jacob Collier a Genius? His Ear — and That's the Lesson
Jacob Collier's genius isn't the 200-track loops — it's an ear that hears between the twelve notes and a voice that can sing what it hears. The lesson for jazz guitarists: the ear leads, the hands follow.
Should You Learn Licks or Transcribe Solos? What You’re Really Copying Is Time Feel
Licks give you fragments. Transcribing a whole solo gives you the player's time feel — and time feel is what makes American music sound like itself. Here's why 'play what you hear' is useless advice unless someone teaches you what to listen for.
Do You Need to Be Smart to Learn Jazz Guitar? No — It Lives in Your Ear
You don't need theory chops to learn jazz guitar. Get the sound into your ear first — through repeat listening — and your hands will follow. Here's the ear-first method, step by step.
The ‘Big Ears’ Secret: How Jazz Guitar Masters Really Learned to Play
The real secret to playing jazz guitar like the masters isn't a scale system — it's the ear. George Benson learned tunes in one listen; Wes Montgomery memorized big-band parts without reading. Here's how 'big ears' are built.
Jazz Guitar Improvisation Tips: How to Transcribe So Your Ear Actually Grows
Your ear only hears what it already knows — which is exactly why transcription, even when you get it wrong, is the fastest way to grow. Here's how to transcribe jazz guitar so your ear expands instead of staying stuck.
Play Like You Mean It: "What Do You Hear?”
Many of us fight a lonely battle in the practice room, balancing day jobs and passion. But growth isn't about how many hours you have; it's about the intensity of your focus. Discover the profound lesson Richie Hart taught me: "What do you hear?" Learn why playing with sincerity for just 15 minutes is infinitely more valuable than mindlessly noodling for two hours.
Can You Really Start Jazz Guitar Without Theory? The Secret of the Early Masters
Is it possible to play jazz guitar without learning music theory or reading notation?
Yes—but only if you’re willing to develop your ears through deep listening. This article explores how early jazz musicians learned and why theory still matters today.
'Excuses Are Just Excuses': A Working Musician's Philosophy for Growth
Busy musicians struggle to find time, but true growth comes from intention, not hours. This post explores internalization, transcription, and sincerity—how even 30 minutes of focused listening or mindful playing can transform your musical journey.
Lessons from the Lineage: What Richie Hart and the Masters Teach Us About Practice
Jazz guitar becomes meaningful when we stop chasing techniques and begin listening deeply. This post reflects on lessons passed down from Richie Hart and Wes Montgomery, and why sincere listening—not more scales—creates true musical growth.