The Jewel Box

The Jewel Box Vol.1 is a free, downloadable collection of 29 short guitar lessons, complete with audio, notation, tab and a brief explanation and analysis of the ideas presented, along with suggestions for developing the ideas in your own way.

Dive right in and download the whole thing from here for absolutely free by clicking the ‘download’ link on the music player below. All the notation/tab etc., is included in the download.

The lessons range from simple to complex, so for an example of what’s included, here are two of the 29 PDFs included in the download: a simple one [listen] featuring some laid-back, funky comping, and a more complex one [listen] featuring a syncopated, chromatic fusiony solo. And, if you want, all the audio can be previewed in the player below.

Feel free to share it and pass it along. That would make me very happy :)

Mike Outram

Table of Contents:

  1. 4 Ways To Target Chord IV
  2. 4 Ways To Approach The Turnaround
  3. How To Solo Using Triplet Groupings
  4. Jazz Fusion Solo & Miscellaneous Bending Techniques
  5. Jimi’s Chords, Wes’s Octaves, Metheny’s Phrasing And The Tri-Tone Substitution
  6. 4 Burning Lydian Dominant Licks
  7. Unlocking The Super Locrian
  8. Mixing Major And Minor Pentatonics Ala BB King And Rhythmic Scale Exercises
  9. Making The Changes: Using Triads 1
  10. Making The Changes: Using Triads 2
  11. Making The Changes: Using Triads 3
  12. Making The Changes: Using Triads 4
  13. Making The Changes: Using Triads 5
  14. Making The Changes: Using Triads 6
  15. How To Use Octaves And Chords In The Style Of Wes Montgomery
  16. Double-Time Soloing In The Style Of Wes Montgomery
  17. Simple Funky Comping Using 3rds & 7ths
  18. Funky Soloing In The Style Of Grant Green
  19. Four-To-The-Bar Comping Using Inversions And Passing Chords
  20. Spacious And Simple Comping On A Laid-Back Funky Minor Blues
  21. Phrasing Expansion: Inflections And Articulation
  22. A Documentary About Cuddly Pets And Their Owners
  23. Suspended Harmony – Focusing On The 4th
  24. 4ths, Consecutive 4ths, Damnation And Pain
  25. Contrasting Simple And Extended Minor Harmony
  26. A Rhythm Gtr Part Using Sextuplets In 12/8 Phrased In Groups Of Five
  27. Anticipation, Chromaticism, MelodicUppyDownyism, Syncopation And Sleepless Nights
  28. Fingerstyle Constant Bass With Improvised Upper Part [exercises]
  29. Fingerstyle Constant Bass With Improvised Upper Part [solo example]

Plans are afoot for Jewel Box Vol.2. Sign up to the mailing list and I’ll let you know when it’s out.

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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Paul Turner August 11, 2010 at 3:17 am

Fantastic – thanks for this Mike…reminds me of Saturday morning lessons in Ealing back in the days before I disappeared off to Thailand (2001-2006). Sadly my guitar playing hasn’t improved much since then, but this has given me a much needed kick in the right direction!
Cheers,
Paul

Reply

Mike Outram August 11, 2010 at 8:31 am

Hi Paul, Nice to hear from you :) Can’t believe you went to Thailand in 2001! Glad this stuff is of use to you. Hope all is great with you. Keep in touch. M

Reply

Cameron August 11, 2010 at 11:26 pm

Hi Mike,
My name is Cameron, and I’m soon to be studying jazz guitar at the Guildhall for it’s BMus course, and I’d just like to say thank you so much for all the snippets of music/info/musical-as-opposed-to-guitar-head talk throughout your blog, especially the recent Jewel Box download – I’ve found it most enjoyable and am eagerly awaiting the arrival of Vol 2 (…3, 4, 5…???)! I am just getting into the more contemporary side of jazz harmony, and your blog has been very useful in relating it to the guitar, as well giving me a good laugh! :)

Here’s hoping to meet you sometime in the near future,

All the best,

Cameron

Reply

Mike Outram August 17, 2010 at 8:40 am

Hi Cameron,
Thanks for your kind words and really pleased you’re enjoying the site. Good luck at the Guildhall; I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Look forward to hearing you! M

Reply

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