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It is widely agreed upon that one of the most successful ways you can improve your skills as a guitarist is to play with other musicians. That’s where the real learning happens. By jamming with other players, following along with the rhythm section, and filling in behind soloists, you can sharpen your comping chops and learn how to improvise sweet solos.

In James Hogan’s Soul Jazz edition of Trading Solos, you’ll jam with James over five famous jazz grooves in an array of keys and feels so you can start improving your comping skills right at home.

Here are four free videos from the course. For the full course, check out James Hogan’s Trading Solos: Soul Jazz on TrueFire!

Soul Jazz Guitar Lesson – Track 3 Rhythm Ideas


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This example is a take-off of the funky soul jazz standard “Cold Duck Time”. This Eddie Harris classic follows a 12-bar form, but uses some alternate changes and chord breaks which are perfect for trading solos! Once I demonstrate the groove and show you a few licks we can use, we’ll lay down some solos and trade with one another. If you want to dig deep into this style, definitely check out the original recording of this tune. Eddie Harris is THE man! His playing, sound & approach are completely unique and his licks lay out really well on guitar. This tune has been recorded by some legendary players over 50+ years so there’s a lot of great musical information out there if you search for it! Dig it!

Soul Jazz Guitar Lesson – Track 3 Soloing Ideas


Download the tab & notation for this soul jazz guitar lesson

Let’s check out a lick I pulled from the great saxophonist, Eddie Harris. Eddie likes to make repeated note patterns around a pentatonic scale, and in this number, we’ll use the F minor pentatonic scale.

Soul Jazz Guitar Lesson – Track 3 Playalong Preview


Download the tab & notation for this soul jazz guitar lesson

Before we do some solo trading, let’s see how some of these comping an soloing ideas layer together!

Soul Jazz Guitar Lesson – Track 3 Let’s Trade Solos


Download the tab & notation for this soul jazz guitar lesson

It’s time to trade some solos. I’ll kick us off while you comp for me, and then I’ll comp for you while you take a solo!

Digging these free lessons? Check out James Hogan’s full course, Trading Solos: Soul Jazz.