Soloing Using Chord Shapes - "Speak Low"

Paul Bollenback teaches chord-shape soloing using Kurt Weill's standard Speak Low as the vehicle. Instead of memorizing countless scale patterns, Paul builds his lines off a handful of chord shapes that map the fretboard — so you can see how lines and chords fit together, visually and harmonically. The class pairs naturally with his earlier voicing masterclass, and the approach traces back to early jazz guitarists like Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson.

What's covered

• The changes to Speak Low, section by section, including the bridge and turnarounds
• Mapping G minor across the neck with drop-2 voicings: Gm9, Gm11, and a Bbmaj7 shape that doubles as Gm9
• How scales, arpeggios, and chromatic passing tones emerge from each chord shape's position
• Treating Gm–C9 vamps as one G minor tonality to simplify your thinking
• How to practice the approach and what Paul is thinking as he solos chorus after chorus from a few simple shapes

For advanced players who want to break out of scalar thinking and develop a chord-conscious soloing style where every line is anchored to a shape you can see.