Jazz Blueprints Masterclass

What’s it about?

Understand what underpins jazz with ten easy-to-absorb lessons from the walking encyclopaedia of music, James Graydon. Designed to show the must-know facets of a sometimes restrictive genre, in a way that will expand your musical vocabulary.

Each of the ten chapters has a particular focus, with an overarching aim of taking your playing identity and merging it with the concepts used by the greats. Taught in a personal way and packed with anecdotes, James helps the daunting become accessible.

‘The Pale Blue Dot’ then brings every one of James’ seminars together. An environment to place everything you have learnt into a musical context.

What will I learn?

Learn key modal ideas and how to apply them, understand the energy that each element of a 2-5-1 can bring and gain an overall appreciation for how to approach jazz.

You’ll explore the relationship between harmony and melody. Learning how composers have used the tritone, inversions and extensions to shape their creations. As you expand your harmonic vocabulary, you’ll unlock a vault packed with ideas to enrich both your writing and soloing.

Not only will this Masterclass help you to learn the major facets of jazz, but it will show you how to put them into context.

What theory is covered?

James’ aim is to help you get to the “good stuff” quickly with each chapter focusing on a different jazz pillar.

• Modes
• 2-5-1
• The tritone
• Expanding on the 3 and 7 voicings
• Triad shapes
• Pedals and harmonic movement
• Voice leading
• Non-root and slash chords
• Inversions and shared shapes
• Upper extensions

What techniques are covered?

• Alternate picking
• Jazz articulations
• Dynamics

Who is this for?

This Masterclass is designed to help guitarists of all backgrounds infuse their playing with the signature hints of jazz. Open up a world of creative possibilities.