Jam Track, High Water Guitars, Cecil Alexander
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Guitar Practice
Today, lets do some practice with a jam track.
This progression might look simple. We're just using a few common triads. Trying to solo over this can be tricky though, as we're quickly bouncing between 3 keys.
If you want to approach this by playing scales:
- The G Dorian Mode would work well over G minor > C.
- A > D minor can throw us for a bit of a loop. If we think of this bar being in the key of A major, that D chord would usually be a major chord, and not minor. So using a regular A Major Scale wouldn't work well here.
- There's a mode called Mixolydian b6 that would work over this. The fifth mode of the Melodic Minor scale, Mixolydian b6 contains the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, b6, b7 notes of the major scale). This is sometimes also called the major/minor scale, as it starts off as a major scale and finishes as a natural minor scale.
- The A Phrygian Mode (A, B♭, C, D, E, F, G) is another option over A > Dm.
- For Bb > F > Eb, a Bb Major Scale would work, as these are the I, V, IV chords in Bb.
That said, I'd argue that since we're not sitting in any one key for very long, a another way to approach this might be to think in terms of each chord, rather than strictly scales. This is especially true for the A > Dm section.
For the sake of practice and learning some scale patterns, I included some options below, but when passing through the A > Dm section, I find myself thinking more in terms of just playing chord tones, rather than trying to use 3 different scales over quick changes.
Gear Showcase
High Water Guitars
High Water Guitars is the dream turned into reality of New Jersey-based artist and master builder, Mark Megaro.
High Water Guitars combines hand-made craftsmanship with the accuracy of technological breakthroughs, creating artistic custom guitars that play like no other and have their own identity and soul.
While a lot of luthiers talk about building guitars as being an art form, Mark Megaro came from a true art background.
After graduating from art school majoring in ceramics and sculpture, Mark worked for several sculptors, learning the ins and outs of a 3D studio, and how art, craft, and construction really all came together. He was training and working as an artist and art teacher, and his personal art work became focused on sculptures.
In addition to visual art, Mark was also interested in guitar. He bought, traded, and modified all types of guitars, but realized that most production models guitars didn't have the feel, tone, and vibe he was looking for.
Mark's skills and passions came together, and he researched and learned everything he could about how to build guitars. Rather than using a blueprint or trying to replicate existing guitars (which is the more traditional way for luthiers to get started), he started by reinventing the guitar from the ground up.
Each guitar Mark builds shows an evolution as a builder, and he tries to make each new guitar the best one he's ever built.
While High Water Guitars focuses on a few different guitar designs, the Jerry Garcia inspired 'The Miracle' stands out. It's 'Super Strat' construction results in an incredibly versatile guitar (especially with pedals)..not to mention being straight up eye candy.
Check out High Water Guitars: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Guitarist Spotlight
Cecil Alexander
Cecil Alexander is a jazz guitarist, composer, & educator from Michigan, and now based in Boston, MA. With a range of influences including Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, Jimi Hendrix, George Benson, Pat Martino, B.B. King, Frank Zappa, and others, Alexander’s music grooves pretty damn hard.
He graduated with a bachelors degree in Jazz Composition from Berklee College of Music (where he’s now an Assistant Professor of Guitar), and then went on to get a masters in Jazz Performance at William Paterson University.
Cecil has racked up some nice accolades, including winning the 2017 Wilson Center Jazz Guitar Competition and the 2018 Lee Ritenour Six String Theory Competition, and was a finalist in the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Guitar Competition in 2019.
While guitar awards often tend to favor the fastest and flashiest players - and Cecil can certainly pull off those things well - it’s his creative, dynamic, and soulful playing that really makes him stand out.
After playing with and recording with various different musicians, Cecil released his debut album ‘Introducing Cecil Alexander’ on Kurt Rosenwinkle’s Heartcore Records in 2022. While the album is Alexander introducing his own music to the world, it’s also a tribute to his father Cecil Alexander Sr. (who passed away in 2019) who was a big influence on his development.
In 2023, Alexander released Duos, a collection of guitar and vocal duets with his wife, Ari Alexander, which showcases his brilliant accompaniment skills. Check out their take on the Beatles Here, There and Everywhere.
Recently, Cecil has begun playing in the touring band of American jazz trumpet player Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, as well as gigging with his wife in the Ari and Cecil Alexander Quartet.
Cecil Alexander also teaches private lessons, as well as offering "Shed With Cecil" membership. It’s an organized lesson plan designed after years of creating a practice approach for himself as well as his students at Berklee College of Music. Each month, he explores a new topic, such as pre-bebop, bebop, the blues, pentatonics, specific players, and much more.
Key Gear:
- L5 style arch top guitar made by Alexander Polyakov
- Thinline Telecaster with a humbucker pickup in the neck position
- Fender ’65 Princeton Reverb amp
Check out Cecil Alexander: Website | Instagram | Facebook
🎸 Trending
- Fender released 70th Anniversary Stratocaster coffee table books. The book features 224 pages of rare archival images and stories from the shop floor. The Deluxe version includes a presentation case, decals, guitar picks, a poster, and a signed & numbered certificate of authenticity.
- JHS Pedals has pulled the plug on its Ross effects line, just 18 months after reviving the brand. Despite excitement about the launch, JHS founder Josh Scott said they sold less than 400 Ross pedals in 2024, and the pedal line became too much of a drain on their time and energy. They did a fire-sale this past Friday, and sold around 3k pedals within just a couple hours, with some pedals selling out in minutes. 😮
- The Play Your Guitar podcast posted a great episode about developing your signature guitar style. It's a quick 19-minute listen that can have an impact on your guitar playing. Listen on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
- Gretsch announced a limited edition Billy Duffy Signature Falcon to honor The Cult's 40th anniversary. The headstock of each guitar is hand signed by Billy.
- Guitar Center announced a couple exclusive limited-edition colors of the Fender Player II Stratocaster: An HSS in Ocean Turquoise, and a SSS version in British Racing Green. Both models have a rosewood fretboard.
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