Jon Shields

Unlocking the Power of Inversions on Guitar: A Game-Changer for Your Playing Have you ever played a song and felt like something was off, but you couldn’t put your finger on it? Often, the solution lies in chord inversions. Whether you're playing jazz, classical, or even pop, inversions can elevate your sound and make your transitions smoother. In this Theory Thursday, let’s dive into chord inversions—what they are, how they work, and why you should care, especially as a guitarist. What Are Chord Inversions? At its core, a chord inversion is simply a rearrangement of the notes in a chord. Instead of always starting with the root note of the chord, you can move the notes around so that different tones fall on the bottom. Let’s break it down with a simple example: Imagine you're playing an E-flat major chord. The notes are E-flat, G, and B-flat. In the root position, the E-flat is the lowest note. Now, what happens if we move that E-flat up an octave? We get an inversion. If G is...

  Tune Tuesday: The Story Behind Sonny Rollins' St. Thomas Good morning, and welcome to another Tune Tuesday ! Today, we're diving into one of the most iconic and easily recognizable tunes in jazz—the lively and unforgettable St. Thomas by tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins. It's not only a jazz standard but also a piece that's deeply personal for me, as St. Thomas happens to be the name of my alma mater, the University of St. Thomas. It's always fun to play this one with that connection in mind, but as we’ll see, this tune's history goes far beyond just a catchy melody. The Origins of St. Thomas St. Thomas was recorded by Sonny Rollins in 1956 for his legendary album Saxophone Colossus . While Rollins is widely credited as the composer, the story behind this tune is much more intricate than many realize. In fact, St. Thomas is based on a traditional Bahamian folk song called Sponger Monkey , as well as the English folk song The Lincolnshire Poacher . The path ...

  Capturing the Magic of “Misty” on Solo Guitar What makes a song truly timeless? Is it the melody that lingers long after the music stops? Or the countless interpretations that breathe new life into it over the decades? For me, few songs encapsulate timelessness quite like Misty , the beloved jazz standard penned by the legendary Erroll Garner in 1954. Welcome back to my solo guitar journey! Each month, I challenge myself to strip things down to the essentials: no backing tracks, no loopers—just me, my guitar, and the music. It’s an exercise in creativity, focus, and musicality, and it’s been a rewarding way to push my boundaries as a guitarist. This month’s tune is Misty , a song I never tire of playing. Garner originally recorded this sweet, lyrical ballad for his album Contrasts , showcasing his signature style: lush chords, an effortless sense of swing, and melodies that seem to float in the air. Just five years later, Johnny Mathis’ vocal rendition turned Misty into a househ...

  Unlocking the Fretboard: Mastering the CAGED System If you're looking to elevate your guitar playing, whether you're tackling jazz improvisation or simply learning to navigate the fretboard with more confidence, understanding the CAGED system is a game changer. This powerful concept is a roadmap for mapping your chord shapes across the entire neck, and in today’s post, we’re breaking it down to help you visualize your musical journey. The CAGED system is named after the five basic open chord shapes: C, A, G, E, and D . By learning how to shift these familiar shapes across the fretboard, you can access chords in multiple positions, opening up a world of possibilities for rhythm playing, soloing, and creating unique arrangements. What is the CAGED System? In simple terms, the CAGED system teaches you how to play the same chord in multiple places on the neck by shifting these core shapes. Each chord shape (C, A, G, E, D) can be moved up and down the fretboard, allowing you to p...