Herb Ellis: Swing Jazz Soloing & Comping: Guitar DVD

Ellis teaches from a place of genuine ease; he doesn't overcomplicate the fundamentals or hide behind theoretical jargon. His focus on the 12-bar blues as a teaching vehicle means students see real swing guitar vocabulary applied to the most practical harmonic foundation in jazz, making the lessons immediately transferable to jam sessions and ensemble playing.

Relaxed and conversational without being casual. Ellis speaks directly to the player, walking through practical decisions (equipment, picking angles, phrasing choices) that separate competent jazz guitarists from swinging ones. The one-hour format feels like a masterclass with a mentor who listens as much as he talks.

Intermediate and advanced jazz guitarists who want to develop authentic swing phrasing and comping within the blues form. This DVD assumes you read chord charts, understand basic jazz harmony, and are ready to internalize how experienced players actually construct ideas in real time.

• Work through the chord formations and tuning segments before tackling the solo lines; Ellis's approach assumes a solid foundation in hand position and instrument setup.
• Study the arpeggios lesson as a bridge between understanding changes and creating fluid melodic ideas; this directly informs how to construct phrases over the blues.
• Listen closely to how Ellis voices his comping chords in the demonstrations; the rhythm guitar work is where much of the swing lives, not just the solo lines.
• Use the bonus Joe Pass performance as a reference for how multiple right-hand approaches can achieve swing; compare his touch to Ellis's and experiment with both.

Use this as a resource for jazz ensemble guitarists preparing to take on comping and soloing responsibilities in a big band or combo setting. The blues foundation means anything learned here applies directly to standards and jazz compositions students will encounter in rehearsal.

• Blues soloing over 12-bar changes
• Swing phrasing and rhythm feel
• Chord-melody comping techniques
• Arpeggios in jazz context
• Practical chord voicing for guitar
• Improvisation from melodic lines rather than scales