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Practice Secrets

Book Review: 10 Pentatonic Voicings ii-V7alt-I Voice Leading Studies by Hristo Vitchev

August 14, 2020 by azsamadlessons Leave a Comment

Sometimes you don’t need a lot of pages for inspiration.

This is one of those moments. Some might call Hristo’s latest book a pamphlet or class handout.

But, don’t be quick to judge!

This 4-page page volume explores II-V7alt-I voice leading studies based around pentatonic voicings. So, it’s exactly what Hristo calls it.

Now, how do these sound like?

Here’s a video of the first 4 examples for your listening/viewing pleasure:

As I played through the musical examples, I started to see how Hristo organised the studies. I love that he took some simple pentatonic substitutions to drive this entire volume.

The examples are generally demanding on the left hand with uncommon shapes & stretches. I recommend you playing these on a guitar with easy access to higher frets. A cutaway guitar with a slim guitar neck would be perfect for these.

Once you get the example under your fingers, the sounds are very rewarding.

I love that Hristo wrote these all out in one key. It made it easier for me to digest the material.

I found that the book inspired my own ideas immediately after the first time I read through it.

I like the less stretchy voicing and adapted his examples into my own playing. For intermediate and advanced guitarists, this approach will be helpful.

Powerful stuff!

In conclusion, this is a great book for anyone looking to develop new ideas for comping. If you play in duos, or guitar trios, this might spice up your voice leading approach away from standard drop voicings and 4th voicings.

Pros: Great book with cool sounding ideas.
Cons: Exercises include higher range of guitar neck. I recommend practicing these exercises on an electric guitar.
TLDR: Get this if you’re bored of how your comping sounds right now.

This book was a gift from Hristo to me.

Thanks Hristo! You can get it here: https://gumroad.com/l/UpoqA

[Review Archive]
I wrote a lot of other book, course and video reviews too.
Check out the rest here:
[Read more reviews]

[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? 

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Chord Melody, Composition, Guitar Chords, Guitar Technique, Jazz, Jazz Guitar, Jazz Guitar Harmony, Jazz Guitar Harmony, Practice Secrets Tagged With: comping, hristo vitchev, jazz guitar pedagogy, pentatonic voicings

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