Chuck D’Aloia, a respected and admired guitarist in the jazz and blues guitar community, released his first video guitar lesson amply named, “Blues with Brains”. This video lesson is the first in a new series of on-line lessons by Chuck and is one of the most effective guitar lessons I have ever encountered. I had the pleasure of spending an entire weekend with it. The simple “note alternations” to the Dom7 and minor blues scale that Chuck so elegantly demonstrates immediately improved my playing and changed my perspective. I have never had a lesson have such an immediate impact on my playing.
Download Details:
Click HERE for a link to the Blues for Brains download page.
Payment: $20 through Paypal (Click the DONATE button)
Verification: When payment is received, Chuck will personally contact you and send a download link via YouSendit.
Video Format: Quicktime (1 hr & 15 min)
Material: This lesson is blues based (Dom7 and Minor). It explores variations on the pentatonic scale to deal with chord changes. Chuck touches on the half-whole diminished sound and talks about fundamental ideas to keep the diminished patterns musical and appropriate. There is a lot of great playing on this lesson with Chuck demonstrating every detail. Backing tracks are included in the lesson.
Chuck’s "Mode Backtrax" MP3's are also available:
- 12 Medium tempo funk grooves, all starting on A for the 7 modes of the major scale.
-Melodic minor, Lydian b7, Altered, Diminished 1/2-1 and Diminished 1-1/2
-Very useful for getting these sounds in your ears and under your fingers. Order HERE
-Payment for Mode Backtrax is $10.00 through the Paypal donate button on the same page.
Chuck D’Aloia Website: http://www.chuckdaloiamusic.com/
All content is Copyright 2009.
The lesson starts off with his exploration of the A minor pentatonic scale over a standard chord progression. This concept sounds simple enough but as you will learn, there are certain notes within the pentatonic scale that just don’t sit well over certain chords. Chuck offers insight on a few simple note changes that completely unlock to power of the pentatonic scale. He also shows how playing the same basic scale in other keys can add interest to your playing.
Later in the lesson he shows how to “commit and expand” on simple melody ideas and motifs. This is such a great concept and doesn’t require extensive technical skill. What I got from it was a way to take a simple lick and play around it and expand that concept in interesting ways. It’s very effective! One of my favorite parts of the video is Chuck’s lesson on how to integrate the diminished scale. I love the way the diminished scale sounds but this pattern is tricky to play right. What this video shows is that when a diminished pattern is played in the right spot in a chord progression, it gives your playing a sophistication beyond the simple blues scale.
I have had the pleasure to see Chuck work his magic on the guitar on several occasions and words cannot describe his soulful and mesmerizing playing style. He has an amazing ability to choose the perfect arrangement of notes and rhythmic patterns across simple chord progressions that create a complex musical landscape. He also has a touch and feel that makes each note stand and deliver. His guitar playing and tone is truly inspirational!
Player Profile:
Chuck D'Aloia is one of today’s premier jazz, R & B, and studio guitarists. Chuck has a diverse and extensive music background in recording, performing and instruction. His recording and performance experience includes working with legendary artist such as Nick Brignola and J.R. Monterose to name a few. Check out Chuck’s work on Nick Brignola’s CDs “All Business” and “Tour de Force”. His recent work with drummer, Art Bernstein, is simply amazing. Chuck has also worked with fellow session players such as John Pattitucci, Bill Stewart, Eddie Gomez and Billy Hart. His playing style fits comfortably across many music genres including jazz, funk, Brazilian, blues, bop, fusion and, of course, rock.
Chuck also has extensive teaching experience ranging from formal classroom lessons to clinics and seminars to private lessons, and most recently, on-line lessons via a SKYPE Internet connection. In addition, he has written scores for television, radio, and film. Check out Chucks CDs with Art Bernstein HERE.
