Bailey's Boot Camp Basics - Part II

Master the essential voicing techniques that separate professional jazz guitarists from the rest in this comprehensive exploration of drop-3 voicings and walking bass-chord style with acclaimed guitarist and educator Sheryl Bailey. Building on foundational fretboard concepts, this course dives deep into the practical application of drop-3 inversions across all four positions of the neck, transforming how you approach both chord voicings and melodic lines. You'll develop the coveted walking bass-chord style that made Bailey a sought-after duo partner throughout her Berklee years and beyond—a skill that transforms any guitarist into a self-contained rhythm section. Through systematic exercises using minor blues progressions and the Miles Davis classic "Tune Up," you'll learn to voice-lead through complex harmony while maintaining that steady quarter-note pulse that defines authentic jazz comping. Bailey demonstrates how to connect chord voicings directly to improvised lines, showing how each drop-3 position creates a framework for melodic exploration within specific fretboard blocks. You'll work through practical applications including chromatic approach tones, voice-leading through II-V-I progressions, and the crucial skill of comping without always placing roots in the bass—opening up more sophisticated harmonic possibilities. Perfect for intermediate players ready to break free from basic chord grips and develop the fluid, interconnected approach that working jazz guitarists use nightly. These techniques form the foundation for duo playing, small group comping, and solo guitar arrangements that sound full and professional.