Gregori Hofmann

Here are a few random thoughts on transcribing and ways to get the most out of your transcriptions. The process starts when you can hear and play the line but then you should spend most of the time learning how to develop it and use it in every way you can.

Just sharing what I was trying to jam on today. I’m checking out 4 Bars of the Wayne Shorter tune ‘Night Dreamer’ and looking into ways of playing over slash chords. In this tune we have 2 bars of B-7/E followed by 2 bars of C-7/F

Here is an introduction to the Pentatonic Scale. Once you have these shapes under your fingers check out lesson 2 for ways to use Pentatonics to create Bass lines and Solos

Here I look at ways to add percussion and bounce to your lines by using ghost notes and raking. Both these techniques were used extensively by Jaco Pastorious so I suggest you check out the tunes ‘Come on Come Over’ off his album Jaco Pastorius and check out the track ‘Havona’ by Weather Report.

Here I discuss applying chords to grooves as well as some thoughts on a chordal approach when soloing.

When I first started transcribing and getting into playing Standards I bought the Omnibook. Its a reccomendation that so many teachers/musicians tell you to check out. The book is a collection of solos and melodies from Charlie Parker’s compositions. The book is quite a piece of work. To have transcribed all those amazing solos is [...]

The first question in the Ask Greg Anything Section comes from Vian. Hey Greg I’m trying to train my ears to recognize root movements because it’s often hard for me to know where I am in a tune if I’m not counting all the time. I know bassists are especially good at this so please [...]

”One thought can produce a million vibrations” CONCEPT #2 So I hope you checked out my first post in this new ”One thought can produce a million vibrations” lesson series. I explained my thought process behind this new set of lessons and the way you can apply simple concepts, thoughts and ideas into your music [...]

Whether we like to admit it or not, Most of us have got gaps in our playing. We lack the strong base we truly need to understand and explain what we are doing during improvisation and even fills and bass lines. By putting in at least 10 minutes a day of the following exercises into [...]