Solo Jazz Guitar Masterclass
Solo Guitar Arranging Techniques
About this masterclass
Jake Reichbart, a master solo guitar arranger who draws equally from jazz and pop standards, teaches the three core techniques he uses on virtually every song he arranges. The focus is the most basic stumbling block in solo guitar: how to move an arrangement forward rhythmically, so melody, harmony, and bass flow together — and your own hands act as your own metronome instead of rushing.
The three parts
- Bass and melody only — playing the melody as it needs to be played (syncopations included) against a simple, credible bass line. Two independent rhythms at once is the foundation of solo guitar arranging, and it requires no chord-shape knowledge to start.
- Chord arpeggiation — lightly arpeggiating chord tones in the gaps where the melody rests or sustains, creating an audible rhythmic grid that keeps both listener and player in time.
- The famous "backbeat stroke" — Jake's signature fingernail downstroke on 2 and 4, a percussive effect inspired by Tuck Andress, explained in detail (no acrylic nails required).
Each technique is demonstrated on snippets of three tunes — the swing standard Out of Nowhere, the bossa-style The Shadow of Your Smile, and the Beatles' Something — all of which have full arrangement lessons on this site. A practical lesson for intermediate players who want their solo arrangements to groove, not just survive.
Lessons in this masterclass
Lessons
- 1Part I: Melody and Bass Only11m 2s
- 2Part II: Chord Arpeggiation12m 17s
- 3Part III: Backbeat on 2 and 414m 3s
Reviews & Ratings
Very poor class
Related Courses
About the instructor
