Guitar Practice
Minor Chord Chromatic Descent
Let's look at the idea of taking one static minor chord, and moving one note down one fret (one half step) four times. This creates 4 different related forms of the chord.
➡️ These progressions feature a minor/major chord, which is a minor 7th chord with a major 7th note (instead of a flat 7th). It can also be looked at as a major chord with a flat 3rd).
This type of chord motion is common in Cuban music, as well as jazz (such as in Grant Green's 'Idle Moments').
You can play these with or without the root note. For the first progression below (using the G minor chord), it can be played using your thumb to fret the root note).
Progression 1:
Progression 2:
Progression 3:
Guitarist Spotlight
Charlie Ballantine
Charlie Ballantine is a jazz guitarist and composer from Indianapolis, Indiana known for his ability to blend jazz with other styles like rock, folk, and Americana.
With a style and sound in the realm of Julian Lage, John Scofield, Wes Montgomery, and Bill Frisell, Charlie was named one of the top 200 living guitarists by All About Jazz Magazine.
Charlie's playing is full of emotion, often featuring beautiful melodies and rich, atmospheric sounds that draw listeners in. Charlie started playing guitar at a young age, and his love for music only grew stronger over the years. He later studied jazz guitar at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where he studied with the late David Baker, as well as guitarist Cory Christiansen - refining his technique and developing his own musical voice.
Throughout his career, Charlie has released several well-received albums that showcase both his skills as a guitarist and his talent as a composer. Two of his most notable albums are Life Is Brief: The Music of Bob Dylan and Reflections/Introspection: The Music of Thelonious Monk. In these projects, he takes the work of legendary artists and re-imagines it through his own creative lens.
Charlie has really hit his stride with his original music lately, as his albums Love Letters and Graffiti (2024) and the recently released East by Midwest (2025) are some of his best work.
Charlie performs regularly across the United States and has built a strong following among fans of modern jazz. His music stands out because it’s not just about technical skill—it’s about telling a story and creating a mood. Whether he’s playing a gentle ballad or a more upbeat tune, his style is always thoughtful and expressive.
Part of Charlie's sound is driven by his picking technique. He uses a flatpick, but also his middle and third finger - something he developed from learning Chet Atkins and Merle Travis songs.
In addition to performing, Charlie is also a dedicated music educator. He teaches lessons and gives workshops to help young musicians grow and explore their own creativity. Through his work as a performer, composer, and teacher, Charlie Ballantine has become a respected and inspiring voice in today’s jazz world. His music continues to evolve, and he remains committed to pushing boundaries and sharing his passion with others.
Key Gear
- Collings City Limits guitar
- Kevin Heffernan-built T-Style guitar with a Bill Lawrence mini humbucker in the neck position, and a Joe Barden single coil pickup in the bridge.
- Fender ’65 Deluxe Reverb reissue
- MXR Carbon Copy delay
- TC Electronic Flashback delay
- Boss tremolo
- Rat distortion.
Check out Charlie Ballantine
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Gear Showcase
Collings I-35
The Collings I-35 is a modern take on the double cutaway semi-hollow electric guitar that combines vintage soul with impeccable craftsmanship.
Handbuilt in Austin, Texas, the I-35 takes inspiration from classic 335-style designs but elevates them with Collings' signature attention to detail, premium materials, and refined aesthetics.
With hand-carved solid wood construction that includes high arches, and a 15" body size, the Collings I-35 is arguably the highest quality double cutaway semi-hollow electric guitar on the market.
The body being carved from solid mahogany and maple gives a bit of a different, more 'airy' character than the majority of other semi-hollow guitars. If you're looking for the more traditional ES-335 type sound, Collings also makes a I-35 LC version (with LC standing for laminate construction).
The I-35 usually comes with Lollar pickups, which help the guitar sound great whether you’re playing soft and clean or loud and dirty. The thicker C-shape mahogany neck is a dream to play. It works well for lots of music styles—jazz, blues, rock, and more.
The Collings I-35 is built for serious players who want great sound, easy playability, and a beautiful look. Its smooth shape, perfect finish, and top-level craftsmanship make it something really special.
Key Features:
- 15" body size
- Hand-carved solid wood construction
- Nitrocelulose laquer finish
- Premium flamed maple top
- Honduran mahogany neck
- Mahogany back and sides with a maple center center block
- Thick C-shape neck
- Lollar Low Wind Imperial humbucker pickups
- 24 7/8" scale length
- Rosewood fretboard
View the Collings I-35 | View on Reverb
News & Notes
- Gretsch announced a new G6134TG Limited Edition Paisley Penguin with a String-Thru Bigsby, an Ebony Fingerboard, TV Jones TV Classi and TV Classic Plus Filter’Tron pickups, in Gold Paisley.
- Fender added Miami Blue and Dark Night color options to its Mod Shop.
- Gibson released a couple limited edition SG models - a SG Special in Dark Walnut, and a SG Junior in Vintage Cherry.
- Catalinbread released a new chorus/octaver pedal called Wake, inspired by the early digital processing hardware of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.
- Epiphone added a bunch of new features to their Inspired by Gibson Custom lineup, including vintage gloss finishes, rosewood fretboards, USA-built pickups from the Gibson Pickup Shop, loads of vintage-correct details, historically accurate Gibson “open book” headstocks, and historic-inspired cases.
- Jazz guitarist Adam Levy joined the Always Getting Better podcast, giving a lot of great advice for guitar players. Apple Podcasts | Spotify
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