Nathan Borton

Are you memorizing jazz, or are you actually learning the language?

The hardest part of improvising isn't finding the "right" scales to play over a chord. It's taking fundamental concepts and connecting them into a vocabulary you can actually recall on the bandstand without thinking. Instead of just throwing a massive solo transcription at you to memorize and forget, we need to fix HOW you practice.

If you ever feel aimless in the practice room, I want to invite you to check out my Tune of the Month series over on Patreon. I’ve been running this since September, and the goal is simple: helping you build a core improvisational language that actually sticks. www.patreon.com/NathanBortonMusicPatreon

Every month, we tackle a new standard. But instead of just giving you a chord melody and a solo transcription, we break down the fundamental improvisational elements with clear, actionable goals. We focus on reusing the same core material across different tunes so you can finally internalize it, while introducing small, digestible new concepts each month.

And the best part? You don't have to go back and start at month one. You can jump right into the current tune, pick the specific goals that match your current playing level, and start building your vocabulary from exactly where you are today.

Plus, to make sure you're actually progressing, we wrap up every month with an exclusive listening session. It's a Patreon-only livestream where you can submit an audio recording of your playing over the tune, and I give you direct, personalized feedback to keep you moving in the right direction.

It's all about healthy, sustainable practice habits that yield real results over time. Let's get to work! Check out this month's tune and the full archive right here: www.patreon.com/NathanBortonMusicPatreon

20 hours ago | [YT] | 21

Nathan Borton

Stop trying to learn new licks every week. 🛑

The legends didn't work that way... Grant Green, for example, had one specific "Master Key" phrase that he played literally thousands of times throughout his career.

This was the HONEYSUCKLE ROSE quote... and he didn't need new licks because he knew how to take this lick and make it a "harmonic chameleon."

Here is the simplest version of his formula that you can try right now!

🎸 Take the Honeysuckle Rose Quote. Let’s say you are in the key of C.

✅ Over a C Major Chord: Start that phrase on the 9th (D). You get a beautiful Maj9. ✅ Over a C Minor Chord: Start that exact same phrase on the 11th (F). Suddenly, it sounds bluesy and soulful, highlighting the 11th and 6th.

Same shapes. Different starting points. Totally different sounds.

In the new video dropping today, I show you the phrase Grant Green used to do this over Major, Minor, Dominant, and even advanced Altered chords.

Check out the full breakdown here: https://youtu.be/99VeAsfdarg

1 week ago | [YT] | 67

Nathan Borton

Did you know the standard Major Scale has a "rhythm problem"? 🎸

It has 7 notes. Mathematically, that’s an odd number. This means if you run a standard scale up and down in 4/4 time, your chord tones land in random, awkward spots. It sounds like a scale, not a melody.

The Fix? Add the Barry Harris b6.

By adding just one note (the Flat 6), you get an 8-note scale. Now, every single chord tone lands perfectly on a downbeat. You stop fighting the rhythm and start flowing.

But that’s just the start...

This same 8-note scale creates what I call "Harmonic Simplification." Instead of panic-switching scales for every chord in a progression like Fly Me To The Moon (Am7 - Dm7 - G7 - Cmaj7), you can use this ONE scale to glide over all of them.

It fixes your rhythm and simplifies the changes.

In today's new video, I’m breaking down this "Magic Scale" (The Barry Harris 6th Diminished) and showing you exactly how to use it to create endless, professional jazz lines.

Watch the full lesson here: https://youtu.be/hkG4fVFq9k4

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 37

Nathan Borton

Are you still trying to memorize a unique arpeggio shape for every single chord type? 🤯 That is the slow path to frustration.

The truth is, legends like Joe Pass (for example) didn't think in huge, complex grids. They used a simple, elegant system based on just 3 fundamental shapes (one octave arpeggios). The "secret" wasn't knowing more shapes; it was knowing how to superimpose them.

Here is the "Cheat Code" formula from my latest lesson to instantly get sophisticated, pro-level sounds without learning any new theory:

1) Want a lush Major 9 sound? Play your Minor 7 shape starting on the 3rd of the chord.

2) Want a modern Dominant 9 sound? Play your Minor 7 shape starting on the 5th.

3) Want a beautiful Minor 9 sound? Play your Major 7 shape starting on the b3.

It's not magic; it's just geometry.

In my brand new video, I break down this entire "3-Shape System," show you how to map it across the fretboard using "String Sets," and give you a 3-level practice routine to turn these shapes into real bebop lines.

Stop practicing exercises and start creating music :)

Watch the full lesson here: https://youtu.be/OodqdxApfbc

1 month ago | [YT] | 152

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

1 month ago | [YT] | 62

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 months 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 :)

2 months ago | [YT] | 128

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!

3 months 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

3 months 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! 👇

4 months ago | [YT] | 56