Polyphonic Jazz Guitar Series VOL 1

Master Chord Melody, Harmony & Arranging for Jazz Guitar

Polyphonic Jazz Guitar Series VOL 1

Master  CHORD MELODY, HARMONY & ARRANGING  

What is the Polyphonic Jazz Guitar Series?

This series is the natural continuation of the Bebop Guitar Improv Series. While that course focused on linear improvisation, this one dives into the polyphonic dimension of jazz guitar: functional harmony, chord melody arranging concepts and comping. 

Volume 1 provides the essential foundation, combining a detailed Lesson Book, an extensive Workbook, and a full online course with video demonstrations and guided assignments.

You’ll learn not just “what to play,” but how to think harmonically as a jazz guitarist.

This series is the natural continuation of the Bebop Guitar Improv Series. While that course focused on linear improvisation, this one dives into the polyphonic dimension of jazz guitar: functional harmony, chord melody arranging concepts and comping. 

Volume 1 provides the essential foundation, combining a detailed Lesson Book, an extensive Workbook, and a full online course with video demonstrations and guided assignments.

You’ll learn not just “what to play,” but how to think harmonically as a jazz guitarist.

Who is this training for?

The Polyphonic Jazz Guitar Series VOL 1 is designed for the guitarist who wants to go beyond single-line improvisation and confidently arrange and perform chord-melody textures.

Whether you’re a beginning to intermediate jazz player looking to expand your harmonic vocabulary, or an advanced guitarist searching for a structured system to master arranging and reharmonization, this training will give you the theoretical depth and practical tools you need!

What’s Inside?

A three-part structure that moves from theory, to practice, to arranging.

PART 1: Functional Harmony

  • Understanding The Overtone Series & Circle of Fifths
  • Major & Minor Tonalities, Modal Interchange & Harmonic Cadences
  • Harmonic Analysis of Standards
  • Reharmonization Theory  (Diatonic, Secondary Dominants, Substitutes, Diminished, Sus4, Turnarounds) and more!

PART 2: Chord Studies

  • Mechanical (Drop) and Non-Mechanical Voicings
  • Using Upper Extensions in Voicings
  • Voice-Leading Principles
  • The Heptatonic System & Chord-Scale Mapping
  • “Zig-Zagging” Practice Across String Groups and more!

PART 3: Arranging Concepts

  • Melodic Analysis
  • Step-by-Step Chord-Melody from Leadsheets
  • Reharmonizing Target & Approach Notes
  • Applying Diatonic, Chromatic, Dominant, and Diminished Reharmonizations
  • The Barry Harris 6th and Diminished Concept
  • Employing Inner Moving Lines
  • Putting It All Together in Full Arrangements and more!

Includes chord diagrams, regular notation and TAB !

You’ll also find appendices listing jazz standards sorted by harmonic cadence type—a ready reference to apply your new skills to real tunes!

What’s Inside?

A three-part structure that moves from theory, to practice, to arranging.

PART 1: Functional Harmony

  • Understanding The Overtone Series & Circle of Fifths
  • Major & Minor Tonalities, Modal Interchange & Harmonic Cadences
  • Harmonic Analysis of Standards
  • Reharmonization Theory  (Diatonic, Secondary Dominants, Substitutes, Diminished, Sus4, Turnarounds) and more!

PART 2: Chord Studies

  • Mechanical (Drop) and Non-Mechanical Voicings
  • Using Upper Extensions in Voicings
  • Voice-Leading Principles
  • The Heptatonic System & Chord-Scale Mapping
  • “Zig-Zagging” Practice Across String Groups and more!

PART 3: Arranging Concepts

  • Melodic Analysis
  • Step-by-Step Chord-Melody from Leadsheets
  • Reharmonizing Target & Approach Notes
  • Applying Diatonic, Chromatic, Dominant, and Diminished Reharmonizations
  • The Barry Harris 6th and Diminished Concept
  • Employing Inner Moving Lines
  • Putting It All Together in Full Arrangements and more!

Includes chord diagrams, regular notation and TAB !

You’ll also find appendices listing jazz standards sorted by harmonic cadence type—a ready reference to apply your new skills to real tunes!

The 3 Membership Levels Offered

What is included in the SILVER, GOLD & PLATINUM levels and which option is better suited for me?

A Quick Note Before Choosing…

Before I describe each level, let me share a quick disclaimer. Jazz harmony and arranging are complex skills, and in my experience, most guitarists can’t fully master them without regular interaction with a qualified mentor. One-on-one guidance makes a huge difference. That said, unless you’re already fairly advanced or on a very tight budget, I recommend the Platinum Level so I can personally mentor you and help take your playing to the next level. Please keep this in mind when deciding which option is best for you.

Silver Level — $55

The Silver Level gives you access to the E-Books that make up the Polyphonic Jazz Guitar Series: the Lesson Book and Workbook. As a bonus, you’ll also receive the Scales & Arpeggios book from my Bebop Guitar Improv Series, which serves as a reference for the Heptatonic System of fingerings.

After purchasing the books, you can download the accompanying MP3s and Band-in-a-Box files with etudes and select exercises.

This level is ideal if you:

  • Are an intermediate player with good reading skills

  • Prefer to work through the material independently

  • Are on a limited budget but still want access to a condensed program worth several semesters of university-level instruction

At just $49, this option is truly a steal.

Gold Level — $110

The Gold Level is by far the most popular choice. For a one-time payment of $99, you’ll receive:

  • The 3 books (Lesson Book, Workbook, Scales & Arpeggios)

  • All downloads (MP3s + Band-in-a-Box files)

  • 150+ HD streaming videos demonstrating every detail in the books

  • Access to a members forum to post your questions and exchange ideas with other participants

All of this is available 24/7 for a full year. At the end of this period, Membership renewal is available for another year at half price!

The Gold Level is for you if you want the complete course experience at an unbeatable price. The included “hands on” video demonstrations will make a huge difference in your learning experience. All the information is presented in an organized, step-by-step system—similar to what you’d learn at a good music school, but at a fraction of the cost and with the freedom to learn at your own pace.

Platinum Level — $220

The Platinum Level includes everything in the Gold Level, plus:

  • Four private 30-minute online lessons (scheduled anytime within 9 months)

  • Six exclusive video lessons where I demonstrate, step by step, how I use the course’s harmonic concepts to create chord-melody arrangements of well-known standards

As I mentioned earlier, personal guidance is what accelerates progress the most. Every student has unique challenges, and the ups and downs of learning often require a mentor’s direction. Through Platinum, I’ll personally oversee your progress, answer your questions, and help you apply the material directly to your playing.

At $199, this is an exceptional value. Private lessons alone at this rate are far below my standard fee, but I’ve reserved this level for a limited number of serious, committed students who want to go deep. These are the students I most enjoy working with, and many continue with me long after the course is finished.

⚠️ Please note: Platinum spaces are limited. If it’s full when you try to enroll, you can request to be placed on the waiting list, or join at the Gold Level and add Private Online Lessons separately.

What if I have questions or need personal help?

If you enroll in the Platinum program, it includes 4 “one on one” online lessons which will provide  personal guidance and ensure you are on the right track with all the assignments. Otherwise, you can always purchase an individual lesson every now and then if the need arises. For more info please check out “Private Lessons”.

In addition, the members forum is also a great place to post and seek answers to any questions you might have about the subjects being thought. Here you will also benefit from those questions posed by others.

What is Band in a Box and do I need it?

Band in a Box by PG Music, is a piece of software available for both Mac and PC which allows you to type in the chords for any song using standard chord symbols (like C, Fm7, or C13b9), choose the style you’d like, and it automatically generates a complete professional-quality arrangement of piano, bass, drums, guitar, and strings or horns. It retails for approximately $129.00, if you purchase the Pro version without all the unnecessary bells and whistles.

The advantage to using Band in a Box is that if you open up any of the included files in it and hit play, you will not only be able to hear the given etude or exercise, but you will in addition be able to alter its playback to any tempo you desire, loop any number of measures and transpose it to any key with the simple click of a button. All of this is very advantageous when you want to play along in a certain key or at a specific tempo which isn’t possible with the provided MP3s. Something to consider…

The 3 Membership Levels Offered

What is included in the SILVER, GOLD & PLATINUM levels and which option is better suited for me?

A Quick Note Before Choosing…

Before I describe each level, let me share a quick disclaimer. Jazz harmony and arranging are complex skills, and in my experience, most guitarists can’t fully master them without regular interaction with a qualified mentor. One-on-one guidance makes a huge difference. That said, unless you’re already fairly advanced or on a very tight budget, I recommend the Platinum Level so I can personally mentor you and help take your playing to the next level. Please keep this in mind when deciding which option is best for you.

Silver Level — $55

The Silver Level gives you access to the E-Books that make up the Polyphonic Jazz Guitar Series: the Lesson Book and Workbook. As a bonus, you’ll also receive the Scales & Arpeggios book from my Bebop Guitar Improv Series, which serves as a reference for the Heptatonic System of fingerings.

After purchasing the books, you can download the accompanying MP3s and Band-in-a-Box files with etudes and select exercises.

This level is ideal if you:

  • Are an intermediate player with good reading skills

  • Prefer to work through the material independently

  • Are on a limited budget but still want access to a condensed program worth several semesters of university-level instruction

At just $49, this option is truly a steal.

Gold Level — $110

The Gold Level is by far the most popular choice. For a one-time payment of $99, you’ll receive:

  • The 3 books (Lesson Book, Workbook, Scales & Arpeggios)

  • All downloads (MP3s + Band-in-a-Box files)

  • 150+ HD streaming videos demonstrating every detail in the books

  • Access to a members forum to post your questions and exchange ideas with other participants

All of this is available 24/7 for a full year. At the end of this period, Membership renewal is available for another year at half price!

The Gold Level is for you if you want the complete course experience at an unbeatable price. The included “hands on” video demonstrations will make a huge difference in your learning experience. All the information is presented in an organized, step-by-step system—similar to what you’d learn at a good music school, but at a fraction of the cost and with the freedom to learn at your own pace.

Platinum Level — $220

The Platinum Level includes everything in the Gold Level, plus:

  • Four private 30-minute online lessons (scheduled anytime within 9 months)

  • Six exclusive video lessons where I demonstrate, step by step, how I use the course’s harmonic concepts to create chord-melody arrangements of well-known standards

As I mentioned earlier, personal guidance is what accelerates progress the most. Every student has unique challenges, and the ups and downs of learning often require a mentor’s direction. Through Platinum, I’ll personally oversee your progress, answer your questions, and help you apply the material directly to your playing.

At $199, this is an exceptional value. Private lessons alone at this rate are far below my standard fee, but I’ve reserved this level for a limited number of serious, committed students who want to go deep. These are the students I most enjoy working with, and many continue with me long after the course is finished.

⚠️ Please note: Platinum spaces are limited. If it’s full when you try to enroll, you can request to be placed on the waiting list, or join at the Gold Level and add Private Online Lessons separately.

What if I have questions or need personal help?

If you enroll in the Platinum program, it includes 4 “one on one” online lessons which will provide  personal guidance and ensure you are on the right track with all the assignments. Otherwise, you can always purchase an individual lesson every now and then if the need arises. For more info please check out “Private Lessons”.

In addition, the members forum is also a great place to post and seek answers to any questions you might have about the subjects being thought. Here you will also benefit from those questions posed by others.

What is Band in a Box and do I need it?

Band in a Box by PG Music, is a piece of software available for both Mac and PC which allows you to type in the chords for any song using standard chord symbols (like C, Fm7, or C13b9), choose the style you’d like, and it automatically generates a complete professional-quality arrangement of piano, bass, drums, guitar, and strings or horns. It retails for approximately $129.00, if you purchase the Pro version without all the unnecessary bells and whistles.

The advantage to using Band in a Box is that if you open up any of the included files in it and hit play, you will not only be able to hear the given etude or exercise, but you will in addition be able to alter its playback to any tempo you desire, loop any number of measures and transpose it to any key with the simple click of a button. All of this is very advantageous when you want to play along in a certain key or at a specific tempo which isn’t possible with the provided MP3s. Something to consider…