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Instruments > Guitar > Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar with Sean McGowan

Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar
with Sean McGowan

Join jazz guitar master Sean McGowan as he teaches his critically acclaimed sound through hundreds of online guitar lessons designed for players of all levels. In this comprehensive guitar course, Sean breaks down his improvisational and fingerstyle techniques, outlining their practical applications within a variety of different sub-genres of jazz. Through technical training exercises and étude lessons in various styles, elevate your skills to become a well-rounded guitarist and musician.

Jazz, R&B, Funk, & MoreGuitar Tab + Notation

Music Theory + ImprovDozens of Play-Along Tracks

About Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar with Sean McGowan


Unleash your inner jazz guitar virtuoso and embark on a transformative musical journey with acclaimed guitarist and educator Sean McGowan. Welcome to the world of “Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar with Sean McGowan” at ArtistWorks, where aspiring guitarists of all levels can master the instrument and reach new heights of musical prowess.

Sean McGowan, known for his extraordinary technical abilities, diverse improvisational style, and holistic approach to playing, is here to guide you through every step of your guitar adventure. Sean has decades of experience as a professional musician and revered guitar instructor and is the ideal mentor to help you refine your skills and unlock your full potential.

This online guitar course is designed to cater to all skill levels, from beginners looking to grasp the fundamentals to intermediate and advanced players seeking to expand their repertoire and push the boundaries of their abilities. Whether you aspire to play fingerstyle jazz, Latin jazz, R&B, funk, or any other jazz-inspired genre, Sean McGowan’s versatile teaching approach will equip you with the tools, techniques, and knowledge you need to excel.

One of the standout features of “Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar with Sean McGowan” is the interactive video exchange platform. This unique system allows you to submit videos of your playing directly to Sean himself, who will provide personalized feedback, guidance, and encouragement. This invaluable one-on-one interaction ensures that you receive tailored instruction that caters to your specific needs, enabling you to progress rapidly and overcome any challenges you may encounter along the way.

Inside the course, you'll find an extensive library of high-definition video lessons covering a wide range of topics, including guitar basics, scales and modes, improvisation, fingerstyle techniques, rhythmic awareness, melodic ornamentation, music theory, and much more. Each lesson is meticulously crafted, breaking down complex concepts into easily digestible segments, so you can learn at your own pace and build a solid foundation of skills.

In addition to the comprehensive video lessons, you'll gain access to a wealth of supplementary learning materials. These include downloadable play-along backing tracks and sheet music, allowing you to practice the techniques taught by Sean McGowan in a variety of musical contexts.

Join a vibrant community of guitar enthusiasts from around the world through the course's active forum. Engage in discussions, seek advice, and connect with fellow learners who share your passion for guitar, jazz, and more. The supportive environment fosters a sense of camaraderie and provides an additional avenue for learning and growth.

Don't miss this incredible opportunity to learn from one of the world's greatest guitarists and educators. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, the “Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar with Sean McGowan” course at ArtistWorks will unlock your true potential and revolutionize the way you approach the guitar. So, grab your guitar, plug in your amplifier, and start your musical journey today!


About Video Exchange® Learning



What ultimately sets these fingerstyle guitar lessons apart from other offerings is the ability to submit a video for review using the ArtistWorks Video Exchange Learning® platform. Sean reviews each submission and records a video response, offering specific guidance to take your guitar playing to the next level. All students can access the Video Exchange library and watch each other’s interactions with Sean. This library is constantly expanding and may contain the key to unlock your playing.


About Sean McGowan


Sean McGowan is a fingerstyle jazz guitarist who combines many diverse musical influences with unconventional techniques to create a broad palette of textures within his compositions and arrangements for solo guitar. As a solo artist, he has released six critically acclaimed albums, including his record debut River Coffee, which won the Best Independent Release of the Year Award (2002) from Acoustic Guitar magazine, and Sphere: the Music of Thelonious Monk, which was named one of Acoustic Guitar magazine’s “Essential Albums of 2011.” Sean has performed at notable worldwide festivals including the Novi Sad International Jazz Festival in Serbia, the Healdsburg Guitar Festival in Napa Valley, Copper Mountain Guitar Town, the La Conner Guitar Festival, the Chet Atkins CAAS Convention, and the Artisan Guitar Show with Jimmy Bruno and Brent Mason. Sean is an avid arts educator and currently serves as an Associate Professor of Music at the University of Colorado Denver. He earned a DMA in Guitar Performance from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and has conducted workshops at colleges and guitar organizations throughout the country. Sean is a contributing editor and educational advisor for Acoustic Guitar magazine and is also the author of Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar Solos (Hal Leonard) and the String Letter book/video instructional methods: The Acoustic Jazz Guitarist, Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar Essentials, and Holiday Songs for Fingerstyle Guitar. Sean has taught at ArtistWorks since August 2024 and has also produced eight courses for ArtistWorks’ sister company, TrueFire.


Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar Lessons


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Technique: Fretting Hand Independence

Fretting Hand Independence - Introduction
Building Technique
Posture
Getting Ready to Play - Warm-Up Stretches
Basic Terminology & Nomenclature
Segovia Octave Warm-Up Exercise
Finger-Switching Coordination Exercise
Finger-Switching Articulation Exercise
Sustained Notes Exercise
Strength & Coordination Exercises: Hammer-Ons
Strength & Coordination Exercises: Pull-Offs
Strength & Coordination Exercises: Hammer-Ons & Pull-Offs Combined
Strength & Coordination Exercises: Hammer-Ons & Pull-Offs Variation
Chord Shape Exercises
Slurred Scale Exercises

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Technique: Picking Hand Independence

Picking Hand Independence - Introduction
Accenting Exercises
Dynamics Exercises
Subdivide & Conquer
Control & Rhythmic Acuity Exercises
Arpeggios & String Crossing
Arpeggio Types - Crossing 6 Strings - Exercise 1
Arpeggio Types - Crossing 6 Strings - Exercise 2
Playing Chords: Piano Exercise
Playing Chords: Rolled Chords Exercise
Playing Chords: Separation Variations Exercise

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Technique: Hand Synchronization

Hand Synchronization - Introduction
IM Exercise 1: Pentatonic Scale Inversions
IM Exercise 2: A Major Scale
IM Exercise 3: A Major Scale with Grace Note
Thumb Work: Muting & Shadowing
Thumb Work: Thumb Drops - Exercise 1
Thumb Work: Thumb Drops - Exercise 2
Thumb Work: Brushing Octaves
Thumb Work: Brushing Chords
Thumb Work: Articulating Basslines
Thumb Work: Alternate Picking - Exercise 1
Thumb Work: Alternate Picking - Exercise 2

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Technique: Extended Techniques

Introduction to Harmonics
Natural Harmonics
Artificial Harmonics: Basic Techniques
Artificial Harmonics: Double Stops
Artificial Harmonics: Adding Natural Notes
Percussive Techniques
Pedal Points
Hybrid Picking Basics

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Fingerstyle Jazz Essentials

Playing on 2 and 4
Walking Bass Lines: Scale Tone Approach
Walking Bass Lines: Chromatic Approach
Walking Bass Lines: Dominant Approach
Walking Bass Lines: Additional Advice
Walking Bass Lines: Applying to a Blues Progression
Walking Bass Lines: Applying to a Standard Progression
Articulations: Introduction
Articulations: Pull-Off to Nowhere
Articulations: The Pinch
Etude: 12 Bar Jazz Blues in C
Guide Tones: Introduction
Guide Tones: Voicings for Style
Guide Tone Extensions: GT+1 Voicings
Guide Tone Extensions: GT+2 Voicings
Etude: ii-V-I-vi in the Key of C
Articulation & Independence Exercises: Introduction
Articulation & Independence Exercises: Planting & Releasing
Articulation & Independence Exercises: Note Duration Variations
Articulation & Independence Exercises: Thumb - Pinch Rhythms
Articulation & Independence Exercises: Thumb - Claw Rhythms
Articulation & Independence Exercises: The Charleston Rhythm
Articulation & Independence Exercises: Beat Placement
Etude: "Napa Valley Blues" in G - 1st Chorus
Etude: F Blues 1 "The Colfax Blues"
Etude: "Walking Through Autumn" in A minor

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Chord Voicings

Introduction to Chord Voicings
Guide Tone Foundations
Chord Types: 3 Note Voicings
Chord Types: 4 Note Voicings
Chord Types: 5 Note Voicings
Voice Leading GT Chords: Approach 1
Voice Leading GT Chords: Approach 2
Etude: "Red and Gold" - Version 1 with GT Voicings
Etude: "Red and Gold" - Version 2 with GT+1 Voicings
9th Chords: Root Placements
9th Chords: Exploring Sounds
9th Chords: Altering the 9th
9th Chords: Moving the 9th Around
9th Chords: Upper Structures
Etude: "A Chill in Air" - Using 9th Chord Voicings

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Harmony

Introduction to Harmony
Diatonic Harmony: Diatonic Triads
Diatonic Harmony: Diatonic 7th Chords
Perfect & Deceptive Cadences
Secondary Dominants
Passing Diminished 7th Chords
Tritone Substitutions
Chromatic Passing Chords

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Melody & Improv: Solo Guitar Improvisation

Introduction to Improvisation & Arranging
Question & Answer Improv Approach
Etude: "Bb Solo Blues Q&A"
Creating Melodic Lines: Chord Forms
Creating Melodic Lines: Chord Shape Inversions
Etude: "All Good Things"

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Melody & Improv: Single Note Lines

Introduction to Melodic Improvisation
Neighborhoods of the Fretboard: Introduction
Neighborhoods of the Fretboard: The CAGED System
Neighborhoods of the Fretboard: Major Triad Arpeggios
Neighborhoods of the Fretboard: Modified Triad Arpeggios
Neighborhoods of the Fretboard: Major 7th Chords
Neighborhoods of the Fretboard: Modified 7th Chords
Neighborhoods of the Fretboard: Scales
Introduction to Phrasing a Melody
Melody & Phrasing: Anticipation & Delayed Attack
Melody & Phrasing: Embellished Phrasing
Rhythmic Phrasing: Playing on the 2 and 4
Developing Improv & Phrasing
Phrasing with Offbeats & Bebop Triplets
Etude: "Love is the Greatest" - Key of Bb

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Melody & Improv: Modal Soloing Concepts

Introduction to Modal Soloing
Minor Pentatonic Substitution
Minor 6, Kumoi & Dominant Pentatonic
Intervals
Patterns
Etude: "Expressions" - Key of D Modal

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What's In This Plan


  • Unlimited Access to Lessons
  • Unlimited Access to Video Exchange Library
  • Unlimited Video Submissions to Teacher
  • Music Theory Workshop
  • Backing Tracks across Instruments
  • VIP Bonus Content
  • 100s of guitar lessons at your own pace
  • All levels and styles of playing welcome
  • Slow Motion & Looping on videos

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