Early Jazz Guitar
Chord Soloing
$19.99
Unlock the Chordal Soloing Secrets of Early Jazz Pioneers!
What you get
💡 Discover Authentic Swing Concepts and Techniques
🎸 Learn Phrases, Shapes, Voicings, and Exercises
🔎 Explore 13 Etudes on Standards to See the Concepts in Action
🎵 Includes Audio and Guitar Pro Files
Early Swing Soloing
COVERING
Traditional Block Chord Soloing Techniques
Top & Inner Voice Melodic Pathways
Authentic I–VI–ii–V Chord Applications
Etudes on Classic Swing Standards
Syncopation, Slides, and Tremolo Techniques
Double-Stops, Diads & Chordal Textures
Open Strings, Trills & Ornaments
Rest Stroke & Pick Technique for Projection
Take a Look
Featuring...
- 95+ Pages
- 100+ Chord Concepts, Phrases, Techniques, & Voicings
- 78 Musical Examples
- 13 Study Etudes
- Listen to it!
Check out a selection of the included audio examples!
Available in Paperback and PDF
A Musical Method!
Step 1: Learn
Learn voicings, melodic connections, and chordal techniques.
Step 2: Practice
Educate your ears and train your fingers with essential exercises.
Step 3: Apply
Make it musical with 13 etudes to master on well-known standards.
Course Overview
Chapter 1: Simple Block Chord Soloing
Learn to play early jazz guitar chord solos using basic three-note voicings, starting with the I–VI–ii–V progression. Develop an understanding of melodic pathways and rhythm guitar techniques in the swing style.
Chapter 2: Block Chords with Top-Voice Scales
Add passing tones to your chord solos by incorporating top-voice scale notes. This transforms static voicings into flowing, melodic lines rooted in G major and A harmonic minor.
Chapter 3: Block Chords with Inner-Voice Scales
Explore melodies that move through inner voices and not just the top notes. Learn a “La Campanella” inspired technique that allows notes to ring out for chiming, bell-like textures.
Chapter 4: Block Chord Soloing on Honeysuckle Rose
Apply your knowledge to the standard “Honeysuckle Rose.” Build chord melodies and chordal solos using the techniques and voicings from earlier chapters.
Chapter 5: Exploring Other Keys
Move beyond the key of G and explore flat keys like Bb. Learn how to transpose block chord ideas and work with II–V–I progressions in new tonal centers.
Chapter 6: Jazz Blues & Rhythm Changes Studies
Tackle essential jazz progressions in Bb. Learn how to apply chord soloing to the blues and rhythm changes, including use of diminished substitutions and cluster chords.
Chapter 7: Stylistic Ornaments & Techniques
Enrich your chord solos with slides, tremolo, inner voice movement, open strings, syncopation, and more. Embrace the banjo-inspired origins of swing-era jazz guitar.
Chapter 8: Etudes on Swing Jazz Standards
Play through full studies of six jazz standards, arranged to demonstrate techniques from the book in musical context. Great for practice and inspiration.
Chapter 9: Solo Jazz Guitar
Develop complete solo arrangements that combine melody, harmony, rhythm, and expression. Features etudes for “Rose Room” and “Honeysuckle Rose.”
Chapter 10: Further Harmonic & Melodic Techniques
Apply advanced harmonic ideas like contrary motion, shell voicings, and oblique motion to your block chord playing. Features a modern etude on a I–VI–ii–V progression.
By the End of This Book…
You’ll have a comprehensive toolkit for early jazz guitar chord soloing—ranging from basic voicings and scale paths to advanced embellishments and full solo arrangements. Whether for traditional jazz or more modern adaptations, the skills developed here will help you speak fluently in the language of swing guitar.
Yuji Kamihigashi
Yuji Kamihigashi is a swing guitarist from the Kansai region of Japan. Fascinated by the sounds of early jazz guitarists such as Eddie Lang, Carl Kress, Dick McDonough, George Van Eps, Allan Reuss, Nick Lucas, George M. Smith, and others, he has spent countless hours collecting resources related to this style of playing. Based in Osaka, Japan, he is highly active as a guitar and ukulele teacher and is one of the very few guitarists in the country dedicated to this niche genre. He has performed with all the major figures in Japan’s early jazz scene.
What Students are Saying
Dog Owner
February 10, 2025
This is a great introduction
This is a great introduction to swing guitar. It does not fail to be valuable on any level. Work it step by step and you will be playing swing guitar like a pro.
January 9, 2025
Brilliant!
I have seriously been waiting decades for a book like this. Bravo! Please tell me that Yuji is working on follow up editions.
September 26, 2024
The book I’ve been waiting for
I’ve been studying jazz guitar for a while and just started to get into chord soloing after looking into gypsy jazz. This book breaks down a lot of the concepts I’ve been trying to get into my playing in an approachable, do-able way. The Van Epps Method books are recognized bible but reading that content in standard notation would take me forever. This book makes some of those ideas accessible. Thank you!
March 17, 2025
A really great book
I purchased the pdf version so I can’t say much for the book version, but as for the content, it’s a wonderful book, really gets you acquainted with this playing style in a logical and step by step way. Couldn’t recommend enough, there honestly isn’t much in the way of modern resources for this style so this is such a treat to have. Really hoping there will be a volume 2 and even 3!
Carter
January 12, 2025
Absolutely Fantastic!
This is the best guitar “method” book that I have purchased in years! Please come out with another book on solo early jazz chord melodies.
Koji Hori
August 7, 2024
Great tool to elevate your guitar skills
Yuji Kamihigashi’s Early Jazz Guitar Chord Soloing is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in swing jazz and chord soloing. Covering beginner to intermediate levels, the book is well-structured and accessible, with clear explanations and practical exercises. Yuji’s expertise shines through, making complex concepts easy to grasp. Highly recommended for anyone looking to improve their guitar skills!
Unlock the Chord Solo Secrets of Jazz Legends
Early Jazz Guitar Chord Soloing is the definitive guide to mastering the chordal techniques of the early jazz guitar pioneers. Renowned guitarist Yuji Kamihigashi takes you on a journey through the golden era of swing guitar, revealing the secrets behind the styles of legends like Eddie Lang, George Van Eps, Allan Ruess, Carl Kress, and Dick McDonough.
Designed for intermediate to advanced guitarists, this book offers meticulously crafted examples that translate historical techniques into modern guitar practice. With these insights, you'll be able to bring the authentic sound of the early jazz guitarists into your playing for richer, fuller, and more musical solos.
Master Traditional Techniques
✔ Master Early Jazz Guitar voicings, concepts, & Techniques
✔ Learn 13 etudes on Essential standards and Progressions
✔ Includes Audio and GuitarPro Downloads for every Example
✔ Discover Authentic Approaches to Chordal Improvisation
You’ll learn how to master traditional block chord soloing techniques and apply expressive tools like slides, tremolos, and chromatic approaches to bring your chord solos to life. These methods are taught in the context of classic standards such as “Honeysuckle Rose,” “Sweet Georgia Brown,” and many more.
This book prioritizes a music-first approach, utilizing standards and progressions to musically explore every concept.
THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES...
✔ Detailed breakdowns of traditional jazz guitar techniques
✔ Comprehensive chordal pathways for melodic freedom
✔ Thirteen solo etudes on swing jazz standards
Pick up your copy today and immerse yourself in the rich tradition of early jazz guitar with one of the genre’s most dedicated practitioners.
Chordal Swing Soloing
with Yuji Kamihigashi
$19.99