The Swing Scale Workshop FAQ
Published: Thu, 05/18/23
No. While I am conducting a three-workshop series this spring on how to play the changes on the blues (Freddie Green Chords, The Swing Scale and Bebop For Beginners), my Fingerstyle Five membership and the majority of what I put out on Youtube will continue to focus on the specifics of how to play acoustic fingerstyle blues: how to develop your right-hand technique, how to build a solo instrumental repertoire, and how to start to improvising over a steady bass or alternating thumb groove. Sorry, Derek.
How intermediate or advanced will this weekend's material be?
Most people would probably consider it intermediate. I'll be focusing largely on phrasing, targeting essential notes of of the I, IV and ii chord, how to build a vocabulary of swing-style licks and the best ways to practice improvising with them. We won't be getting into things like altered tones, chromaticism or playing over the VI chord until next month's Bebop For Beginners workshop. I do think players of any level might benefit from the ideas in The Swing Scale, but check out the playing at the start of this week's videos and, in particular, tomorrow's upcoming Youtube video ("Build Your Vocabulary") to get a better idea of the level of material I'll be getting into this weekend.
I missed last month's Freddie Green Workshop. Is there a replay available?
Yes, an on-demand replay of the Freddie Green Chords workshop is now available for purchase here:
Freddie Green Chords.
Can I still get the special pricing if I sign up for all three workshop now (the Freddie Green replay plus the The Swing Scale and Bebop For Beginners)?
Yes, you can still save $40 on the total cost of all three workshops. Just sign up for The Swing Scale and choose the bundle option to add the Freddie Green Chords replay and the upcoming Bebop For Beginners to your order on this checkout page:
The Swing Scale
I could also just sign up for The Swing Scale though, right?
Totally. That's at the same link; just don't add the bundle option:
The Swing Scale
What's that jam track you're playing over during this week's Youtube lessons and where can I find it?
That's a track I made myself specifically for these workshops, and I talk about the gear I used to make it in today's Youtube video, which I'll post a link to down below. Everyone who takes the Swing Scale workshop will be able to download an mp4 of the full four-minute track to practice with, along with a fifteen-plus page PDF of all the licks, exercises and model solos I'll be teaching in the workshop.
If you've still go questions, let me know! Meanwhile, here's the link to today's Youtube video:
In Which I Almost Manage To Explain The Gear I'm Using
More soon,
David