Secondary Dominants Pt. 2 | Guitargate

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Instructors
Jamie
Lyle
Guthrie
Jack
Michael
Secondary Dominants Pt. 2

In this guitar masterclass, Jack provides an in-depth lesson on secondary dominants and approaches for soloing over them. He begins by explaining secondary dominants as harmonic devices that create tension and lead to different parts of a chord progression or song. Jack demonstrates this with an A minor to E7 example.

Jack discusses learning the notes of dominant 7th chords, like E7, and practicing arpeggios to navigate these chords on the fretboard. He shows how to blend these arpeggios with minor or blues scales when soloing. Jack also introduces playing diminished chords, like G# diminished, over dominant 7ths to add tension before resolving. He demonstrates moving these diminished chords around the neck in minor thirds.

The discussion then turns to applying these concepts in a blues progression. Jack solos to demonstrate targeting chord tones, using arpeggios and diminished ideas over the changes. He also addresses scales like altered and harmonic minor that can expand the sound. Throughout, Jack emphasizes understanding the harmonic function of chords to inform improvisation.

In this in-depth masterclass, Jack provides a comprehensive lesson on approaches for soloing over secondary dominant chords and demonstrates their application over different progressions.

Transcript Summary

Introduction (0:00-4:20)

  • Jack introduces the lesson topic of secondary dominants
  • Secondary dominants create tension and resolve to different parts of a chord progression or song
  • Demonstrates this concept with an A minor to E7 example

Learning chord tones and arpeggios (4:20-7:25)

  • Learn the notes of dominant 7th chords like E7
  • Practice arpeggios to navigate chords on the fretboard
  • Blend arpeggios with minor or blues scales when soloing

Playing diminished chords over dominants (7:25-13:13)

  • Introduces playing diminished chords like G# diminished over dominant 7ths
  • Adds tension before resolving the dominant chord
  • Demonstrates moving diminished chords around the neck in minor thirds

Perhaps you remember seeing the video above titled “THIS MAN is my favorite guitar player in the world right now.”

Well nothing has changed. Jack Ruch is quite simply THE player I’m aspiring to become, and he embodies EVERYTHING that I try and teach on Guitargate.

From his buttery lines and perfect voice leading - to his beyond tasteful chord tone soloing - Jack is quite simply astounding.  And he absolutely KILLS live. A total professional & Nashville staple, Jack will be teaching you all of the things that he uses in real life, each and every night. You know: TRIADS, CHORD TONES, & MELODIES!

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