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Course Review: Harmonic Freedom by Dan Wilson

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Back in December 17, 2022, I reviewed Dan Wilson’s first course Fretboard Freedom released in collaboration with Jazz Memes (founded by Chase Maddox & his brother Kevin Maddox).

As with the previous course, this is a massive course. The main material is divided into eight modules with an additional Bonus Module.

Here is the video & material outline as per the website:

Module 1: Simple Harmonization: 3rds & 6ths

  • Intervallic Harmonization in 3rds ✅
  • F Major Scale Descending in 3rds (Diatonic) ✅
  • Natural Minor Descending in 3rds ✅
  • Harmonic Minor ✅
  • Melodic Minor ✅
  • Dorian ✅
  • Phrygian (check third degree) ✅
  • Lydian ✅
  • Mixolydian ✅
  • Lydian Dominant ✅
  • Inverted Diminished ✅
  • Whole Tone ✅
  • F Major Scale Descending in 6ths (Diatonic) ✅
  • Natural Minor Descending in 6ths ✅
  • Harmonic Minor ✅
  • Melodic Minor ✅
  • Dorian ✅
  • Phrygian ✅
  • Lydian ✅
  • Mixolydian ✅
  • Lydian Dominant ✅
  • Inverted Diminished ✅
  • Whole Tone ✅

Module 2: Diatonic Triads and 7th Chords

  • Major ✅
  • Natural Minor ✅
  • Harmonic Minor ✅
  • Melodic Minor ✅
  • Dorian ✅
  • Phrygian ✅
  • Lydian ✅
  • Mixolydian ✅
  • Lydian Dominant ✅
  • Inverted Diminished ✅
  • Whole tone ✅

Module 3-5: Dan’s Concept of Walking Bass Lines

  • Going Beyond Simple Chromatic Approach for Bass Lines ✅
  • Biggest Mistakes You Hear Other Guitarists Make in Walking Bass Lines ✅
  • Song Examples ✅
    • Bb Blues
    • “Have You Met Miss Jones”
    • In 4
    • In 2
    • Basslines Basics
    • Corcovado
    • Feel Like Making Love – Funk
    • Misty

Module 6-8: Practical Comping Studies 

  • Practical 7th Chords
    • Types of motion – using 3-note shell voicings ✅
      • Oblique Motion
      • Contrary Motion
      • Similar Motion
      • Hand Strength
  • Triads
    • Triadic Approach – Rhythm Changes ✅
    • Hymns ✅
    • Gospel Chords
    • Voice Leading/ Harmonization built in ✅
    • Quartet playing ✅
    • The basis of funk guitar ✅
    • Shouts – talk about pickup setting and pick direction ✅
      • Variation #1
      • Variation #2
    • Montunos – Night in Tunisia ✅
  • Advanced Comping Concepts
    • Developing Rhythmic Vocabulary for Comping Beyond “Charleston” Rhythm ✅
      • Bb Blues 
    • Playing Lines into Chords (Pianistic Approach / Self-Comping) ✅
      • Monk bass lines into chords –
      • On a Clear Day
      • Autumn Leaves
    • How to comp with another guitarist playing ✅
      • Examples of Comping with Guitarist
      • “Pent Up House”
      • “Sunny”
      • “Corcovado”
      • “Have You Met Miss Jones”
    • How to comp with a pianist playing ✅
      • Examples of Comping with Piano Player
      • “Sunny” 
      • “Night and Day” – swing
      • “Cantaloupe Island” – funk
      • “On Green Dolphin Street” – fast Samba
    • Discussion of Chord Melody Concepts ✅
      • Shadow of Your Smile

The first two modules are strong foundational material. Everything (as per the first course) is demonstrated in one key: F, and the exercises are notated in both standard notation and tablature.

Modules 3 to 5 are interesting because Dan shares the way he looks at basslines which makes his playing different than typical compers who are thinking more chord voicing. The contrapuntal aspect and groove aspect of the bass line makes Dan’s playing more interesting. When I first started on the course, this section was the most influential one for me. It had a really positive effect to my playing and I recommend going through the videos many times to fully get the benefit of what Dan shares.

Another one of my favorite sections of the course are the five pieces that Chase Maddox and Dan Wilson play duets on… as well as the discussion & breakdown that they do after each piece. That is really valuable to hear about how Dan approaches each piece.

And the duets in the Comping with a Pianist is such a treat especially the duo version of Canteloupe Island. They are really grooving and it’s great to see Dan accompany with a pick instead of fingerstyle as he does in the majority of the pieces.

Overall, I would say that the course has a lot of information and it would take many repeated viewings (along with a notepad – digital or physical) to get these ideas down.

In conclusion, the course gives good insights into how a masterful player like Dan Wilson approaches the guitar. If you want to level up your chord work, there’s some great ideas here for the taking. There’s a lot to absorb and considering what you get, the course is priced at a bargain really.

Pros: There’s a lot of material for practice!
Cons: It can be overwhelming to have this many things to practice.
TLDR: For anyone curious about Dan Wilson’s approach to chords and harmony, this is a good one to get. Recommended for anyone who got the earlier Fretboard Freedom course too.

You can get the course here: https://www.chasesguitaracademy.com/harmonic-freedom

[Submissions for Review Consideration]

  • Are you an author who wrote a jazz, guitar or music book?
  • Have you created a DVD or an online video course or subscription based website?
  • Would you like me to review your book/course?

Please send me a message at azsamad3 at gmail.com with:

For courses: a link to the course/video/product + access info etc.
For books: a link to the book (Dropbox) or PDF attachment (if it’s small) for review consideration.

Depending on whether I dig the book/course, I’ll let you know if I do plan to review it!

I cannot guarantee a review for every submission & if I’m not too into it, I may opt not to review it. I mean, it’s better to get a good review that for me to write a bad review just because it’s not a match for the kind of stuff I dig right? :p

NOTE: All reviews reflect my honest personal opinion so be aware that I will point out both cool Pros and Cons that I see in the work. You dig?