The topic of jazz phrasing is difficult to teach. Jazz musicians spend years transcribing solos, learning repertoire, practicing technique, and acquiring vocabulary, but even advanced players can struggle with the organization of these raw materials in their improvisations.

In this book, jazz guitarist and educator Davy Mooney describes the method he devised to help intermediate to advanced players improve their phrasing. He presents a series of jazz solos based on the styles of players such as Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, Bud Powell, and Joe Pass, converts them to rhythmic notation, and demonstrates how one can improvise on the phrase structure of these solos, using one’s own notes. In other words, you play where the soloist played, and rest where they rested.

The book contains audio examples of Mooney demonstrating the method, and his solos are transcribed and analyzed, with left-hand fingerings included. There are backing tracks so that the reader can use this practical method to achieve great jazz phrasing.   

Chapter 1

How to Achieve Great Jazz Phrasing

Chapter 2

Dexter-Type Phrasing

Chapter 3

Lester-Type Phrasing

Chapter 4

Dolphy-Type Phrasing

Chapter 5

Pass-Type Phrasing

Chapter 6

Jarrett-Type Phrasing

Chapter 7

Miles-Type Phrasing

Chapter 8

Powell-Type Phrasing

Chapter 9

Dorham-Type Phrasing

Chapter 10

Mooney-Type Phrasing