Marc-Andre Seguin – Summertime

Chord Melody, Soloing, and Comping Guide on Summertime

“Summertime” is one of the most beloved jazz standards, and this video course offers an in-depth exploration to help you master the tune. With a comprehensive approach, this course covers everything you need: a lead sheet with accurate chords, a chord melody arrangement, a comping study, and a transcribed single-note solo. Whether you’re new to this classic or looking to deepen your understanding, this course will guide you through each section with clarity and precision.

Chord Melody

Get a complete arrangement for solo guitar for “Summertime.” This chord melody is a fundamental arrangement of the melody and chord progression, providing a simple yet rich way to play the song. With no frills, it sticks to the essentials to make learning accessible while maintaining musical integrity. Once you’ve learned this arrangement, you’ll be able to use similar techniques to create your own chord melodies for other jazz standards.

Comping Study

In this section, you’ll explore a comping (accompaniment) study based on the chord progression of “Summertime.” The study introduces key themes, techniques, and comping vocabulary that will help you build a strong foundation for playing behind soloists. The comping study offers you different ways to approach the tune, with each section providing options to suit various musical settings and tempos. By practicing these techniques, you will expand your ability to comp effectively in jazz.

Single-Note Solo

Want to dive deeper into soloing on this jazz standard? We offer a fully-transcribed single-note solo arrangement, centered around expanding jazz vocabulary and thematic development. The solo is based on the melody of the tune, giving you a clear example of how to build an improvised solo using the core melodic idea. By learning the solo and assimilating its phrases, you’ll be able to integrate new lines and ideas into your own improvisation practice.

What’s Included in This Course?

• Soundslice Integration: Every video is integrated with Soundslice, an amazing tool that lets you read along with synchronized sheet music while listening to the demonstration. You can control the playback speed, loop sections, or slow things down to make learning easier and more efficient!
• Complete Video Instruction: Each section comes with a clear, step-by-step instructional video, accompanied by relevant backing tracks to practice with.
• Fully-Fleshed-Out Sheet Music: Each arrangement comes with detailed sheet music and TABs, along with a simple lead sheet for melody and chords.
• XML Files for Sheet Music: These files are compatible with Finale or Sibelius, allowing you to hear and visualize the music as you play.
• Backing Track MP3s: Downloadable backing tracks for each arrangement, designed to help you practice in a realistic musical setting.

All materials, including PDFs, XML files, and MP3s, are downloadable and yours to keep forever, so you can revisit and practice at your own pace.

Course Curriculum

• Video Samples – Summertime [2:03]
• Introduction – How to Use This Course [4:08]
• Lead Sheet – Melody + Chords (with backing track) [2:27]
• Chord Melody – With Backing Track
• Chord Melody – With Metronome
• Comping Study – With Backing Track
• Comping Study – With Metronome
• Single-Note Solo – With Backing Track
• Single-Note Solo – With Metronome
• Advanced Chord Melody – Rubato
• BONUS: Harmony Primer on “Summertime” [6:31]

Additional Resources

• PDF Files: “Summertime” Lead Sheet, Chord Melody, Comping Study, Single-Note Solo
• Backing Tracks: Multiple tempo options (96 bpm, 112 bpm, 132 bpm) to practice with.
• BONUS Webinar: October 2015 Webinar on “Summertime”
• BONUS Sibelius Files for easy integration into your music software.

How to Use Soundslice

Maximize your learning experience with the 5-minute tutorial on how to use Soundslice effectively. Control playback speed, loop sections, and get the most out of your practice sessions!

What’s Next on Your Journey?

Now that you’ve mastered the basics of “Summertime,” you’re ready to continue your jazz guitar journey. Keep refining your chord melodies, comping, and solos, and explore other jazz standards to further expand your musical vocabulary. With continued practice and exploration, you’ll soon be able to apply these skills to any tune, advancing your mastery of jazz guitar.