Nathan Borton

I used to think the "Cry Me A River" lick was only for minor chords...

We all know the classic line... It’s usually taught as a Minor 7 vocabulary piece (starting on the 9th). It works great like that, but if you only use it for minor chords, you are missing out on a world of application.

Try this next time you have a guitar in your hands: https://youtu.be/3t6W75eNOzE

Take that exact same shape, but play it off the #9 of a any dominant chord. (Example: Over G7, play CMAR lick off A#/Bb). Just changing where you start this line creates a completely new sound... altered!

Why? Because you are suddenly starting on the #9 and hitting the b9 and b13 perfectly. You get that complex "Altered Scale" sound without having to think about a new scale—you just move your hand.

In today's video, I break down how the "Cry Me A River" shape actually works over 6 different chord types—including Lydian and Half-Diminished.

I also made a PDF "Cheat Sheet" mapping out the starting notes for all 6 sounds so you don't have to do the math in your head.

Grab your guitar and check out the full lesson here: https://youtu.be/3t6W75eNOzE

7 hours ago | [YT] | 19

Nathan Borton

If your solos feel disjointed or you panic at jam sessions when tunes are called, you’re practicing the wrong way. The secret isn't learning more songs—it's mastering the 4 Core Harmonic Formulas that unlock 90% of the entire jazz repertoire. (no really!)

▶️ https://youtu.be/kVzVEPVr88c

The Lie: You need to grind through endless Real Books.

The Truth: You only need to master 4 progression types. Understanding the building blocks to tunes helps you learn FASTER.

🧠 What Pros Know (The Formulas):

1) The V-I Power: The fundamental tension-release and the key to Secondary Dominants.

2) The Essential ii-V: The most common progression, practiced in both short and long forms.

3) The Backdoor Dominant (F-7→B\flat7): The harmonic curveball that confuses most players, with a simple trick to master it.

4) The #4 Walkdown: The fast chain of ii-V's that structures many standards.

I'm showing you the exact formulas and guitar-centric shortcuts (like the power chord trick for finding secondary dominants) that allow pros to learn an entire tune in seconds.

Ready to swap frustrating chord by chord memorization for effortless mastery?

▶️ https://youtu.be/kVzVEPVr88c Watch the full lesson now! Link in bio!

#JazzGuitar #JazzPractice #GuitarLesson #JazzTheory #MusicTheory #ChordProgressions #JazzShortcut

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 27

Nathan Borton

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 🦃🍁

I wanted to take a moment to say a huge thank you for your amazing support of this channel over the last several years (and a warm welcome to all new supporters!).

Honestly, without all of you, I would not be able to continue making educational content and enjoying what I love to do. Your support on YouTube and Patreon literally makes this possible!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you! I hope everyone has a restful, wonderful holiday. Enjoy! 😊

P.S.

Excited about tomorrow’s lesson! It’s such a cool, simple, and easy concept that everyone, from beginner to advanced, can use! Keep a look out for that :)

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 127

Nathan Borton

Do you find yourself wasting time because you don't know what to practice or how to organize it? It’s a brutal frustration when you feel like you’re doing the work but seeing zero progress. Stop stressing over the information overload! The truth is, most players waste time because they don't have a clear system.

In my latest lesson, I'm giving you the exact framework I use every day that got me to a professional level—a system designed to deliver real, measurable results! 🚀

🔗 https://youtu.be/d4fgvSyvv1g

🧭 Quick Tip #1: The Long-Term Mindset

Stop expecting quick results. If you practice a concept every day for a month, you likely won't see it emerge freely. Real musical integration takes 6 months to a year. The solution is consistency and managing your expectations, not abandoning the method!

👂 Quick Tip #2: The Ear-to-Fretboard Trick

When learning new tune harmony by ear, focus on the piano and bass. Use a pitch shifter to listen to the bass notes an octave up! This puts the bass into a guitar-friendly range, making it much easier to identify the notes/chords and internalize the changes.

🎯 Quick Tip #3: Quality Over Quantity

When building vocabulary, truly internalizing just 5 licks can generate hundreds of improvised solos. Conversely, half-learning 20 different phrases results in wasted practice time. Focus on quality, consistency, and integrating technique (like specific pickings/fingerings) directly into the language you are learning!

-In the full lesson we define the core categories required for jazz mastery (Aural Skills, Vocabulary, Technique, Theory, Repertoire).

-We also layout routine & structure: How to allocate your time using a daily rotation (e.g., pairing Aural Skills + Repertoire) to maximize efficiency and avoid burnout.

-Plus other tips like how to use a timer to train your brain to want to practice more!

🔗 https://youtu.be/d4fgvSyvv1g Don't let another year go by practicing without a plan! Click to watch the full framework, download the 30 Core Tunes List and Essential Solos, and get access to all lesson materials over on my Patreon!

1 month ago | [YT] | 27

Nathan Borton

The pentatonic scale is one of the most recognized sounds in all of music, but let's be honest: guitarists often use it in a very limited way. 😩 This scale was made for the fretboard, and not knowing how to truly master it is leaving so much easy-to-apply information on the table!

This lesson aims to solve that problem and give you the ultimate guide to mastering this iconic sound. 🚀 https://youtu.be/hcstgsLfH70

🎸 Instant Insight #1: Fretboard Mastery (Beyond the Box!)

Stop thinking in static "box" patterns! The first step is to master the pentatonic scale across the entire guitar neck so you can connect those boxes fluently. This is key to accessing all the easy-to-apply lines waiting on the fretboard. The simplest way to do this is find one octave box patterns around the neck! In the full lesson we cover 2 finger patterns and full 2 octave box positions off every note of the pentatonic scale!

💡 Instant Insight #2: Generating Creative Ideas

The pentatonic scale is a tool for generating ideas. I show you simple tricks for breaking the scale apart and creating fresh, sophisticated phrases instead of just running up and down the shape. (like pentatonic triads!)

🎯 Instant Insight #3: Universal Application

The pentatonic scale works on everything! I break down how to apply this scale over different kinds of chords and harmonic sounds so you can use it universally in your solos, not just over blues or minor chords. (for example play minor pentatonic up a major second from whatever minor chord your playing... it will sound great!!!)

This is your single resource for all things pentatonic! In the full video, we cover:

Fretboard Fluency: Techniques for mastering the scale across the entire neck.

Creative Tools: Methods for generating compelling and unique ideas.

Universal Application: How to apply the pentatonic scale over all types of chords and harmonic sounds.

🔗 https://youtu.be/hcstgsLfH70 Click to watch the full video and access all lesson materials, Guitar Pro files for every example, and the

1 month ago | [YT] | 20

Nathan Borton

When masters like Jim Hall or Joe Pass played, they built their entire harmony around small, simple shapes that gave them complete rhythmic and harmonic freedom. This is the real way to learn jazz chords! 🚀

In my latest lesson, I show you how to transform your comping from static grips into beautiful, flowing phrases using the foundation of their genius! 🔗 https://youtu.be/hGLs7cIi4es

💡 #1: The Shell Voicing Core

Every jazz chord is built around a "shell voicing"—just the 3rd and 7th of the chord. This simple core is essential! To unlock harmonic freedom, masters interchange this shell with related substitutions. For example, over a Cmaj7, you can substitute the shell voicing for E-7 or A-7. Practice these variations to instantly start creating beautiful comping!

🥁 #2: Rhythm is the True Secret

The real comping secret isn't just the chords—it's rhythm! Masters like Jim Hall took simple phrases (like the Charleston rhythm) and started them on beats other than just beat 1 (e.g., starting on beat 2 or 3). Practicing rhythm this way will make any chordal idea you play swing and drive the band forward.

✨ #3: Embellishment and Melodic Movement

Add life to your shells by using chromaticism (moving into a shell voicing one fret above or below) or by creating a small melody with the notes around the shell. This simple trick adds sophisticated flow and prevents your comping from ever sounding static.

This lesson is your shortcut to professional comping and the indispensable foundation for understanding all other jazz chords! In the full video, we cover:

🔗 https://youtu.be/hGLs7cIi4es Click to watch the full lesson and access Guitar Pro files for every example and a BONUS etude to put these concepts into practice—all available on my Patreon!

What are some useful ways you use shell voicings? Share below! 👇

2 months ago | [YT] | 56

Nathan Borton

Do you struggle with comping? 🤔 Is it tough to translate chord grips you learned from books into actual music?

The problem often lies in the fact that you don't have a blueprint to follow! Just like you transcribe solos to learn language, you need to "transcribe" comping to sound like a pro. But transcribing comping is incredibly difficult...

That's why I created written-out Comping Etudes! 🚀

These etudes are designed to be your blueprint. They show you not only new ways to play chords, but give you a practical roadmap to follow that will guarantee to improve your comping. This is exactly how I learned to comp (and still practice today!), but now I've made the process much easier for you.

This week, I've released a new, priceless Modern/Colorful Comping Etude over a Bb Blues that gives you sophisticated ways to add color and interest to that essential form.

Ready to revolutionize your comping? These etudes are only available on my Patreon! 🔗 www.patreon.com/NathanBortonMusicPatreon

2 months ago | [YT] | 25

Nathan Borton

Have you ever listened to Wes Montgomery and thought, "How does he make those single-note lines sing and flow so effortlessly?"

It’s not magic! It’s one simple, powerful concept that acts as the backbone for his most beautiful phrases: Guide Tones! In this lesson, we decode Wes's entire phrasing system. 🔗 (https://youtu.be/vS4VgcoapHE)

💡 Instant Insight: The Basic Blueprint

Wes builds entire phrases around a simple, two-note guide tone movement (like Bb moving down to A) that connects the harmony. To use this yourself, just pick two chord tones from adjacent chords [like C in D-7 (ii-7) moving to B in G7 (v7)] and build your line around that simple motion. This instantly gives your phrase purpose!

This lesson gives you the ultimate framework for creating these effortless, connected lines! In the full video, we cover:

-Four lines pulled directly from Wes’s solos (e.g., from The Incredible Jazz Guitar album).

-How to combine simple two-note notes into long-form guide tone lines.

-The three specific ways Wes embellishes each guide tone (jumping, arpeggios, scales).

🔗 [https://youtu.be/vS4VgcoapHE] Click to watch the full video and access all lesson materials, Guitar Pro files for every example, and a bonus etude to put this theory into practice—all available on my Patreon!

What's the one thing you want to steal from Wes's playing? Let me know below! 👇

2 months ago | [YT] | 53

Nathan Borton

"How do you embellish and improvise around melodies?" 🎶

This is one of the most common questions I get asked! After a lot of thought and study, I realized the answer lies in the genius of Thelonious Monk. He is truly the master to study for a clear, melodic approach to improvisation.

I created a full masterclass diving into the method I found while studying his work for the past year. Learning this method will honestly change how you think about soloing! www.patreon.com/NathanBortonMusicPatreon

Instead of a random stream of licks, you can focus on building lines around what really matters, transforming your solos from "stream of consciousness" into compelling storytelling. ✨

If you're ready to make your solos more melodic and intentional, I highly recommend checking out this masterclass (along with tons of others that dive deep into specific topics!) over on my Patreon. The value and depth of the work there is something I'm truly proud of!

Not only that, but choosing Patreon is the best way to directly support this channel!

Looking forward to see you soon!

www.patreon.com/NathanBortonMusicPatreon

2 months ago | [YT] | 23

Nathan Borton

Ever listened to a great bebop soloist and wondered how they play those beautiful, unending streams of ideas? 🤯 It's not magic! It's all about a concept I call "Lego Bebop."

In my new video lesson (https://youtu.be/KVqhYOZlMR4), I demystify that sound and show you how to build your own fluid bebop lines from just two essential building blocks! Let me break down the concepts for you!

🤯 Instant Insight #1: The Bebop Scale's Downbeat Secret!

The core system to lego bebop lines is making sure your chord tones consistently land on downbeats. The key to this is the Bebop Scale! This Mixolydian scale with an added natural 7th creates an 8-note scale that naturally places every chord tone exactly where you want it—on the beat!

💡 Instant Insight #2: Up an Arpeggio, Down a Scale!

Here's a simple blueprint for your first bebop line: up an arpeggio, then down a scale. The Bebop scale gives you four different arpeggios to use as launching points, allowing you to create four different lines from the same idea! This is a simple, powerful system for generating endless lines.

🔗 Instant Insight #3: The Power of Enclosures!

Enclosures are your special connectors! These small chromatic phrases are the perfect way to smoothly lead into your bebop legos. They pull the listener's ear toward your target note, adding a sophisticated flair and a sense of effortless flow to your lines.

In the full lesson, we unpack:

-How to use arpeggios (from the Bebop scale) with linear scale runs.

-The two types of enclosures you need to know to embellish your phrases.

-The "Big Picture": How to apply these ideas using harmonic generalization (playing over a V7 instead of a whole ii-V-I!).

-How to sound "altered" by applying these ideas off a tritone substitution.

🔗 [https://youtu.be/KVqhYOZlMR4] Click to watch the full video and access all lesson materials, bonus etudes, and more over on my Patreon! www.patreon.com/NathanBortonMusicPatreon

What's the one thing you want to steal from bebop soloing? Let me know below! 👇

3 months ago | [YT] | 38