Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Jazz Standards

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Hi Tomo, Thank you for your jazz videos. I appreciate the breakdown of chord functions and analysis. I mostly understand the theory you are speaking about in them.

What is most challenging for me is the soloing aspect. At different times I've looked at scalar approaches and most recently, arpeggios approaches. But I'm dissatisfied with the results. Where can I go in your lessons to begin to put together effective soloing?

Thanks for you time to respond.

Ken

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Did you watch this video?
https://tomovhxtv.vhx.tv/videos/at23-simple-2-5-1-jazz-phrase-in-3-positions

Maybe this one?
https://tomovhxtv.vhx.tv/videos/at22-jazzy-minor-blues-soloing-approach

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Jim A.

Thank you so much for sharing! You're very welcome! My pleasure!

First you want to play any jazz tune with R 3 7 Swing groove so you will understand the chord progressions really well.

I can show you more jazz language with these songs. Then we can analyze these phrasing with chords.

Please listen Charlie Christian " Rose Room " His phrasing is not scales (modes)! His phrasing is chord tone with a little chromatic approach. I teach this song to all my private lesson students. I taught this song to John Mayer too!

Basically soloing... you don't want to crate your own with knowledges before you transcribe real music!
So listen JAZZ music! You can look up " triads " and " arpeggios " Definitely important to know them.
Be able to play Maj7 , min7, Dom7, min7(b5) arpeggios from 5th string.

Thank you.

Tomo

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Hi Tomo, Are you offering one on one lessons? Where can I find out about it?
Thanks, Ken

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Tomo Fujita

I do a few only if someone really want to do this.

You can email me at [email protected]

Thank you.

Tomo

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markos liodakis

Thank you Tomo, for your thoughtful response. So I know some of the jazz tunes you cover with full voicing. But you are asking for shell, R-3-7 to simplify and see/hear the harmony in its basic form, right?
I’m happy to try this.
Triads and arpeggios are coming along and in fairly decent form.
Transcribing. Are you suggesting I transcribe with notation or listen and recreate right on the guitar? Sorry, this seems very difficult to me. I can read music at a basic level and have been through Bill Leavitt’s Vol 1 entirely.
I’m in grandparent mode at the moment but will watch and listen to the videos you suggested very soon. Thanks!

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You're very welcome! We can do many ways but I like to keep it so simple.

R 3 7 / R 7 3 ... I prefer not to call "Shell" ... shell sounds... shapes!

Yes! Don't worry! You can do it. So let's do something simple!

Bb Blues! I have this lesson / challenge video.
https://tomovhxtv.vhx.tv/videos/fb-bb-blues-soloing-etude

Please take your time!
1) Practice Bb Blues with R 3 7 Swing Groove with super slow tempo.
2) Listen to that video above and learn that solo etude!

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Hi Tomo! You told me:
Yes! Don't worry! You can do it. So let's do something simple!
Bb Blues! I have this lesson / challenge video.
https://tomovhxtv.vhx.tv/videos/fb-bb-blues-soloing-etude

I've got this pretty well under my fingers, not perfect but okay. Do I post it?

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Tomo Fujita

Yes! Don't worry! Don't compare! Don't expect too fast! Be kind to yourself!

I just don't expect at all!

Yes! That Bb Blues etude. My favorer Blues Etude that I teach all my private lesson students (Homework to copy by ears)

Please do post it. Play it a little slower is good too!

Thank you!

Tomo

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Hi Tomo,
Thank you for your reply. Where does one post a video for TFGW? Do I do a YouTube and paste the link, or? What is the preferred way?
Thank you. Ken

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Tomo Fujita

Great question!

First make a new thread with a proper fun title.

Then post like this ... The title & a little information and the link of YouTube. (Your own YouTube channel)

Learn TRIAD Inversions in 3 Ways (Vertical & Horizontal & Same inversion)

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Ken Stewart
Tomo Fujita

Hi Tomo, I started with the video in the first part of your reply:

You asked Me: "Did you watch this video?"
https://tomovhxtv.vhx.tv/videos/at23-simple-2-5-1-jazz-phrase-in-3-positions

I understand and can play the 3 lines from the video. Even though I know Eb MAJ arpeggio, this is where I stumble. Not very fluid. I did not memorize the lines....should I? I think maybe I need help with MAJ 7 lines.

Next I will do the Bb Blues with R 3 7 and learn that solo etude.

Thank you so much or your guidance!

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Thank you for your reply.

I just made " Phrasing video " on my Instagram LIVE.
Playing over C7 and I demonstrated to play Bb Major7 arpeggios which is
As B7Maj7 : R M3 5 M7
As C7 : b7 9 11 13...

And I demoed to play 6 different positions.

Good job Ken!

Thank you.

Tomo

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Silvije Domazet
Ken Stewart

This is cool. So maj7 arpeggio whole-step bellow root brings in non chord tones of R7 chord.

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Tomo Fujita

This is excellent. Just spent 10 minutes practicing Bbmaj7 and C7 arpeggios (small 1 octave forms), Bb and C major triads on strings 321 and connecting them over some C7 one chord vamp (funk style) from YT. Very amusing.

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Tomo Fujita

This is kind of similar to what i was asking some 12 hrs ago about F major being thought of as 4 6 1 of C major etc. Only here in context of one chord where you can look at Bbmaj7 as 1 3 5 7 but relating to C as root it is b7 9 11 13 :)
So there is often some dual point of view on scale degrees depending which note is thought of as root. But probably for you Tomo as an experienced musician sound comes before theory, and to me i get some theory input and then check out the sound :)

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Tomo Fujita

Thanks! One of popular jazz/fusion improvisation concept!

Major7th Arpeggios are useful just like a Major Scale!

Thank you.

Tomo

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Silvije Domazet
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Tomo Fujita

Yes! Learn that Maj7 arpeggios and learn many positions that possible and learn & learn!

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Ken Stewart

Thanks Tomo. I'm just now new to instagram. It's a jungle! Can you help me find the phrasing video? Thanks!

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https://www.instagram.com/reel/C35FRdWgxGr/?igsh=M2xxajc2Y3RwM3B3

maybe this one

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You're very welcome! Go to my Instagram page. tomojustfunky
Then look for Thumbnail with Yellow guitar, right after a photo of double neck lap steel guitar.

Thank you.

Tomo

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Tomo Fujita

Thank you Silvije & Tomo! Found it! Really cool. Somewhat similar to triple stacks! Nice!

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So happy to hear that!

You're very welcome!

Thank you.

Tomo

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Tomo Fujita
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