How To Solo Over Chords - Think Like A Pro!

It is difficult to get your solos to have that flow when you solo over chords, but there is one technique which can really open your eyes, your ears and your mind to how it works, and you will even start to hear how great Jazz players use it when you listen to them!

12 Things NOT to Do When Starting Jazz (By a Jazz Guitarist)

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Content:
00:00 The "Random Phrases" Solo
00:15 A Better Way Of Thinking
00:56 Making Soloing Easier
02:10 Making it REALLY Simple (one note)
03:19 What Are The GOOD notes?
04:49 Start To Hear It!
05:52 Pass & Parker's On Target Too!
07:03 Don't Be Square!
08:08 Barry Harris Chromatic Scale
08:29 Like the video? Check out my Patreon page!

My name is Jens Larsen, Danish Jazz Guitarist, and Educator. The videos on this channel will help you explore and enjoy Jazz. Some of it is how to play jazz guitar, but other videos are more on Music Theory like Jazz Chords or advice on how to practice and learn Jazz, on guitar or any other instrument.

The videos are mostly jazz guitar lessons, but also music theory, analysis of songs and videos on jazz guitars.

My Gear:

[JensLarsen]

How do you approach soloing over chord changes?

12 Things NOT to Do When Starting Jazz Guitar (By a Jazz Guitarist)

[TheEpochCompanion]

I'm at the exact point where I'm practicing over one chord vamps for 6 hours a day and this concept is such a simple change yet absolutely brilliant.

[vesawallden]

I think this is one of your best videos ever! 😊

[ccttv]

this video is a blessing! i've been looking around for clear and straight to the point resources on target notes for a while now and incredibly enough this came out at the exact right time! thanks once again Jens, you're a great teacher :)

[rish]

Oh my gosh! This makes so much sense . . . why haven't I heard about this method of thinking before? Thank you Jens

[SkarphedinnWalz]

Jens, another great video with solid ideas from beginning to end. Plus, I knew as you kept expanding the ideas on soloing that Barry Harris was bound to make an appearance!

[michaelhemming]

For years I could not solo over changes until I started composing ii V I lines in 1 chord per measure blocks and 2 chords per measure blocks. I video recorded lines I wanted to remember, lifted a few licks from my favorite solos that I transcribed and changed a little to make fit into my solo. I still suck, but I have some vocabulary to draw from to trick people into thinking I don't suck. That is the stage I am at now. Great lesson, Jens. So helpful as always.

[jamjar]

one of your best videos so far! it picks me up right where i am at the moment. :)

[kevindonnelly]

Great video Jens ! Soloing over chords is probably the most sought after skill by guitarists yet very few know how (or think they need to know how) to approach it. I know more about it nowadays (which I'm very happy about) but also realise the journey never ends. I consider that part of the fun too. Getting bored with ways I used to play is a great motivator as well.

[grahambrown]

Thank you Jens I love your videos and your pedagogy. I hope one day to come and have a few lessons with you.

[Niamorg]

This one was absolutely fantastic, thank you so much

[stanmelies]

Très bon cours ! Clair, précis et de l'humour.

[MarsGuitarOfficial]

Excellent work once again Jens !!! Thank you 🙏

[vincentobuttice]

Every time I watch these videos I spend about an hour on each one breaking down the ideas as they appear, thank you for the wonderful content! @JensLarsen

[uptempotransport]

Love it. I like to tell my students that's it's so simple:

Dm7: play F
G7: play F
Cmaj7: E
2 notes is a great start ❤❤

[mannoplanet]

very cool... Will point out that Parker's lines often - but not always -approached the target note by a half step.

[RobKandell]

Made it here! Yay!

Excellent video. Thank you, Jens.

[wdfusroy]

Lots of GREAT ideas here!! I've been trying to get flow playing over the chords for years. Maybe now I'll finally get something that sounds good!! Eight minutes of advice easily worth eight months of fumbling around on your own of attempting to learn to "think" about which target knows to go after. Of course rhythmic vitality is a big part of the right sound as well!! Thanks so much for this fine video!!

[Thoughtsinmykitchen]

I have been a big fan for a while. You are one of the teaching greats on YouTube. Thanks. One question is would you write most or all of these ideas down or just keep playing different small licks to the target note?

[TheEpochCompanion]

This makes a lot of sense, that's why its called playing the CHANGES, not playing the chords.