Joe Chawki

Joe Chawki

Joe is a Guitar instructor at JamPlay.com

Joe Chawki received his first guitar at age 12, and rapidly developed his skills. Having a handful of lessons, he was mostly self taught with the help of some instructional videos and books. Primarily interested in progressive, instrumental, fusion and improv, Joe joined and became the primary songwriter for NYC progressive metal act October Thorns in the late 1990’s. Following October Thorns, Joe collaborated briefly with keyboardist and synth player Norbert Sator (of Oc... (more)

Joe currently offers 15 guitar lessons at JamPlay, with 15 intermediate lessons.

Joe Chawki's contribution to JamPlay

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Speed and Technique

Technique & Concepts

The fans spoke, and they said, "Joe Chawki" - here he is, ladies and gentlemen. In this series Joe breaks down some of the techniques and concepts that he draws from in his own improvisation. He blends numerous styles and influences to create a mesmerizing sound that is as musically beautiful as it is technically challenging.

1

Series Introduction

Joe kicks off his series and gives a little preview of what's to come.

1:39 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

2

Modal Musings

The concept of modes is absolutely vital to your ability to improvise at an advanced level. Join Joe as he takes a look the modes of the major scale.

5:28 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

3

Bursting & Sprinting #1: Economy Picking

Joe walks through an economy picked sequence using a grouping of 5.

3:47 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

4

Bursting & Sprinting #2: Sweep Picking

Learn a few licks that will help hone your sweep picking skills.

3:49 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

5

Bursting & Sprinting #3: String Skipping

Joe takes the common Pentatonic scale and creates a less common sound by string skipping.

3:32 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

6

Bursting & Sprinting #4: Economy Picking

Joe goes further expands on the Pentatonic scale, but goes back to utilizing economy picking for fast musical bursts.

5:51 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

7

Bursting & Sprinting #5: Sequenced Grouping

Join Joe as he demonstrates a sequence made up of groupings of 5 and 8.

2:31 Runtime

4.0 Difficulty

8

Bursting & Sprinting #6: Economy Picking

Joe expands on economy picking with a new 1 note, 2 note per string pattern to help break you out of the 3 note per string box.

4:32 Runtime

4.0 Difficulty

9

Bursting & Sprinting #7: Tapping Extensions

While not something Joe typically relies on, tapping can be a useful tool in extending scales and arpeggios.

4:25 Runtime

4.0 Difficulty

10

Boot Soup Blues

In this beast of a lesson, and I mean that in a good way, Joe improvises a solo using chromatic, diminished, mixolydian, and dominant ideas over a common blues jam and then takes a look at each lick.

19:55 Runtime

4.5 Difficulty

11

Atonal Hacks

Step outside the box with Joe and learn how to grab outside or dissonant sounds.

15:56 Runtime

4.0 Difficulty

12

Synthetic Pentatonics

Also known as "altered pentatonics", learn how to use this concept to create a more interesting sound.

14:30 Runtime

4.0 Difficulty

13

Is it Major? Is it Minor?

It's both! Join Joe for this crash course in the melodic minor scale.

6:36 Runtime

4.0 Difficulty

14

Intro to Yogi's, Gypsies, and Flying Carpets

Joe attempts to condense down the wide world of Eastern music into a short lesson. As well as discussing the topic, Joe performs a hypnotic improvised example over a drone as well as performing an improvisation of the song Quietus, from his album Nazar.

10:34 Runtime

4.0 Difficulty

15

Say It Like You Mean It

In this lesson, Joe explains and demonstrates his approach to dynamics and phrasing.

4:21 Runtime

4.0 Difficulty

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