Jazz Guitar Lesson - Phrases Not Scales - Henry Johnson

[mrrockybass]

Henry called me yesterday! I was his bassist in his band for over 15 years, I am on 6 of his CDs! Very proud of him and this series! He taught me many of these lessons over the years and has enabled me to have a great career as a bass guitarist!

[arnieus]

"Young musicians are trying to find music in scales. I am trying to find scales for my music." Barney Kessel in Downbeat Magazine a million years ago. Really stuck with me as I developed my playing.

[christopher]

Emptiness is form. That mantra was the key to helping me find more expression in my phrasing. The spaces between notes determine the sound of a phrase just as much as the notes themselves. It feels awkward when you're starting out to _not_ play the notes your instinct tells you; but after a while of forcing your instrument to breathe, you realize you can say way more by actually playing less.

[christopherandrews]

this guys knows more about music than anyone else on the planet...

[icecreamforcrowhurst]

It’s refreshing to see the old school teaching style. Love how this guy talks about the music.

[vincemajestic]

The BEST Jazz Guitar Teacher on the Planet ... Much Appreciated 😊

[OSalmonO]

Henry Johnson has such a relaxed eloquence as an instructor and musician. This presentation is crystal clear, interesting even melodic, rhythmic and harmonious in and of itself.

[MaxAires]

You just changed my whole view on guitar, formed over years, with a 7 minute video. Amazing. Just thank you.
I can only thank.

[Prossdog]

I just got the best jazz lesson I’ve ever heard from Lando Calrissian

[Alejandro_]

I have ADHD and am borderline autistic and I can say that I learned so much more from this man than I ever have watching people play licks or whatever it was my guitar teacher was constantly droning on about.

[FEARTHEEER]

Mr. Johnson, I have played rock, country and studied the classical guitar for 6 years. But I've never had the first clue about how to approach jazz. Your video has helped me get my first bit of understanding of the genre. Thank you.

[JonFrumTheFirst]

It's great to see someone say this. The school-based chord-scale teaching system just muddles learning. It's better to think of a particular 'bag of notes' than of a set, ascending-descending scale. Instead of practicing seven note scales up and down your instrument, take five notes out of the scale, and practice that. Then take a different collection of five notes from the same scale and practice that. And then do it again. And when you do it, try to use the notes to make phrases. Doing this is far closer to what you'll do performing than just running scales up and down for hours.

[briancroner]

I've been playing for 52 years... I didn't start learning scales until a few years ago and found out I was playing them all along... but as music. This video was a great help in explaining what I have been doing... and how I can play better.

[cohzee]

It feels like he's just coming to his senses about the topic himself and learning the technique all while taking us on the journey along with him.
Loved listening and following along, thanks

[bak_]

Concepts like these take a player to the next level. Also its something that u never fully master, it just keeps going and going. It keeps u hungry as a guitar player. Whatever style u play, it's well worth learning jazz concepts. They are worth their weight for sure

[taura]

This is the single most important melodic jazz guitar improvisation video on youtube--imho. 1:30 1:40 a musical phrase can go over any chord ... any color .. doesn't matter .. still a musical phrase 2:14 how do you get from scales to phrases 2:52 number one: rhythm 3:20 harmony 3:54 major phrase 4:05 minor 4:24 dominant 7th 5:40 melody 6:32 countless rhythms

[richardbartolo]

How can 298 people not like this musician ? He explained things simply and played at a slow enough tempo so you can understand and learn his ideas. He played some tasty arpeggios and I love the concept about Rhythm giving you new solos even though your playing a solo you have used before, Simple concept but such a smart idea.

[djabroni_brochacho]

It comforts me to know even the legends can be a little undisciplined with right hand techniques, and it still works amazing.

[derekthomas]

True Music is a Language ... Then to Familiarize ourselves with the Common Expressions ... Color, Texture, Articulation, Phrasings, All those Fundamental Common Components ... Then Step by Step ... Developing a Specialty . Excellent Tutorial .

[markwebb]

What the?!?!?!? I have watched hundreds of musical theory videos and this guy has made more sense in the shortest amount of time than any of them!… This is real music information/guidance! Thank you sir… God bless!