Most Popular Lessons

Tune Study - I Hear A Rhapsody Pt. 1 by Behn Gillece

🎵 Harmony Without Chords – Pt. 5

Resolving ii–V’s in Descending Whole Steps

In Part 5, we take the ii–V ideas from the previous lessons and fully resolve each ii–V to its I chord, moving through the exercise in descending whole steps. This type of harmonic motion shows up frequently in jazz standards—How High The Moon being a great example—and it’s an important sound to internalize.

Check out the attached PDF!

I recently had a lesson with a student where we focused on playing in modal settings. One key point I always emphasize is the value of incorporating dominant bebop harmony, even within a modal framework. While understanding modes is, of course, essential, embellishing them with dominant bebop vocabulary adds depth and character to modal playing—something that can be heard in the improvisation of the jazz greats.

This video I introduced a new concept - approach note.

First, we practice the third sequence, then we add a chromatic approach note below the target note.

Email me if you have any questions! - rupertlo777@gmail.com

Check out the attached PDF!

Check out the attached PDF!

Check out the attached PDF!

I've done many of these type of lessons. But you know what, they're super important. You have to spend time experimenting with voicings to build your chord vocab. It takes time and work! 

Two choruses of All The Things You Are with notation.