Mike's Master Classes

Chord Melody Masterclass

Chord Solos

Jack Wilkins·
3.5 (2 reviews)·BEGINNER·1 lesson·1h 36m of video

About this masterclass

Jack Wilkins teaches the fundamentals of solo jazz guitar in this class on chord soloing, covering inner voicings and how to weave arpeggios and scales into chord solos. The instruction is clear and basic-friendly, built around demonstrations on well-known standards.

Tunes demonstrated

  • You Stepped Out of a Dream
  • Here's That Rainy Day
  • Birth of the Blues
  • The Days of Wine and Roses
  • The Nearness of You
  • Polka Dots and Moonbeams

Along the way, Jack shares exercises for developing your soloing and shows how chords, inner voices, and single-note lines fit together when you're playing unaccompanied. A good starting point for guitarists who want to begin playing solo arrangements of standards.

Note: there are no written materials for this class.

Lessons in this masterclass

Lessons

  • 1Chord Solos1h 36m

Reviews & Ratings

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Paul Loubriel
Verified Purchase
12/15/2018

"Master Working Guitarist Jack Wilkins explains his learning process using the standards!"

Jack Wilkins is one of the most admired guitarists in NYC. He's "the guitarist all the other guitarists go to see". He's played with Buddy Rich, Chet Baker, Bill Evans and many others. In this video he gives a very generous breakdown of how he approaches practicing, how to develop fingerboard knowledge, and how to learn and develop an approach to playing common standards...and he performs many examples. To have an top working musician provide the "real work" regarding jazz guitar should be of high interest to anyone who is serious. True, the video technology is a bit dated, but the tips he shares more than makes up for that.

Philip Byrne
12/28/2008

Very disappointing. The sound quality was appalling and halfway through was out of synch with the picture, at which point I stopped watching. There didn't appear to have been any preparation for the class by Mr Wilkins and, I hate to say this, I thought it was arrogant and I felt insulted. There was no structure to it whatsoever and it just seemed to be a guy who's considered a great jazz guitarist tossing out random words of "wisdom" and the less able amongst us are supposed to be grateful for that. At the start of the lesson Mr Wilkins dismisses the value of triads, I think the late George Van Eps might have had something to say on that subject. I've given this a rating of two stars (rather than none) because I didn't watch the entire lesson and also because Mr Wilkins did recommend the book Jazz Improvisation I by John Mehegan which is excellent.

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About the instructor

Jack Wilkins →
Guitarist Jack Wilkins has been on the International jazz scene since the early 1970's. His flawless technique and imaginative chordal approach have inspired collaborations with Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan, Bob Brookmeyer, and Buddy Rich among many others. A native of Brooklyn, Jack began playing guitar at age thirteen. His mentors included Johnny Smith, Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Bill Evans, Clifford Brown and Freddie Hubbard. “Windows”, his first album as a leader (Mainstream, 1973,) also available in transcription published by Hal Leonard Publications has been critically acclaimed as a dazzling, seminal guitar trio work. Later recordings, “Merge”, “Mexico”, “Call Him Reckless”, “Alien Army”, “Keep in Touch”, and “Trioart”, feature the Brecker Brothers, Eddie Gomez, Jack De Johnette, Al Foster, Phil Woods, Kenny Drew, Jr., and many others. Project G7, a two CD set tribute to Wes Montgomery, features Kenny Burrell among others. In recent years, Jack has played many international festivals with jazz greats Stanley Turrentine, Jimmy Heath, The Mingus Epitaph, 5 Guitars play Mingus, Red Rodney, Ira Sullivan, Johnny Griffin and others. A consummate accompanist, Wilkins has played and recorded with renowned singers Mel Torme, Ray Charles, Morgana King, Sarah Vaughan, Sammy Davis Jr, Tony Bennett, Manhattan Transfer, Nancy Marano, Chris Conner, Cassandra Wilson, and Jay Clayton. Wilkins was awarded an NEA grant in recognition of his work and contribution to the guitar. He has been widely and prominently profiled in such publications as Guitar Player, Just Jazz Guitar, Downbeat, 20th Century Guitar and Leonard Feather’s Jazz Encyclopedia. Jack was invited to the Smithsonian Institution as part of the Blue Guitars exhibit, and appeared on the P.S. I. first live jazz Internet concert. He was also featured on the J.V.C. festival tributes to Johnny Smith, Tal Farlow, Herb Ellis, and Barney Kessel Wilkins teaches at The New School, Manhattan School of Music, NYU, and LIU. He was invited to judge the Monk Institute Guitar Competitions in Washington. He also conducts seminars on the “Great American Songbook”, and guitar clinics, both in New York and abroad. His latest CD's, "Reunion", “Christmas Jazz Guitar” the DVD”s, “The Benedetto Players in Concert”, “The Benedetto Players and Guild Jazz Masters”, and “Jazz Guitar Workshop” are all currently available. A new CD is now available called “Until It’s Time” on the Maxjazz label.