Nick Kellie
Nick is a Guitar instructor at JamPlay.com
Nick was awarded the BBC Big Band Jazz awards "John Dankworth trophy for outstanding young soloist" and recorded a special show for BBC radio 2. He was invited to become a member of the Wigan Jazz Orchestra, and has played as part of the Wigan International Jazz Festival. He has played extensive gigs which include accompaniment, reading, soloing as well as styles ranging from Soul, R&B, Blues, Rock and Jazz in locations such as London, Norway, Germany and Greece.
Nick, with... (more)
Nick currently offers 92 guitar lessons at JamPlay, with 68 intermediate lessons, 3 song lessons, 6 lessons in our Artist Series and 15 Lick & Riff Library entries.
Nick Kellie's contribution to JamPlay
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Theory and Improvisation with Nick Kellie
Nick Kellie teaches the CAGED system and theory of modes based around this system of learning.
CAGED System
Nick Kellie teaches the CAGED system and the 3 point root guidelines to finding your chords.
22:29 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Major Triad Arpeggios
Building on the CAGED system he taught in lesson 1, Nick teaches the major triad arpeggios built off those chords.
7:13 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Dominant 7th Arpeggios
Nick Kellie demonstrates the dominant 7th arpeggios as they relate to the CAGED system.
9:29 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Major Pentatonic Scales in the CAGED System
Nick Kellie demonstrates the major pentatonic scales as they relate to the CAGED system shapes.
7:40 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
CAGED System Major Scale
Nick Kellie demonstrates the major scales in relation to the five shapes of the CAGED system.
5:35 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
CAGED Minor Shapes
Now that he has already covered the major CAGED shapes, Nick Kellie demonstrates the minor shapes for the CAGED system.
10:58 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Minor Triad Arpeggios
Nick Kellie teaches the minor triad arpeggios for the CAGED system.
5:19 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Minor 7th Arpeggios
Nick Kellie teaches the minor 7th arpeggios as they relate to the CAGED system.
6:39 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Minor Pentatonic Scale
Nick Kellie demonstrates the minor pentatonic scales as it relates to the CAGED system.
3:10 Runtime
0.5 Difficulty
CAGED Natural Minor Scale
Nick Kellie demonstrates the natural minor scale using the CAGED system.
4:29 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Intervals
Nick Kellie discusses intervals and interval spacing on the guitar.
24:28 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Parent Scales
Nick Kellie discusses the three parent scales that all other diatonic scales are derived from.
10:14 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Harmonizing the Major Scale
Nick Kellie discusses how to harmonize the diatonic major scale.
13:19 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Modes of the Major Scale
Nick Kellie discusses the seven modes derived from the diatonic major scale.
22:07 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Phrygian Mode
Nick Kellie covers the Phrygian mode of the major scale.
6:43 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Lydian Mode
Nick Kellie covers the Lydian mode of the major scale.
7:37 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Mixolydian Mode
Nick Kellie covers the Mixolydian mode in five positions.
8:10 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Aeolian Mode
Nick Kellie demonstrates the Aeolian mode in five positions.
5:09 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Locrian Mode
Nick Kellie covers the Locrian mode in five positions.
6:20 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Changing Keys Using Modes
Nick Kellie explains how to change modes while improvising.
15:26 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Building Modal Chord Progressions
Nick Kellie discusses and demonstrates how to create modal chord progressions within the seven different modes.
28:35 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Chord Development
Nick Kellie discusses chord development. Taking key strategies from pianists, Nick demonstrates how playing with a single bass note can benefit your chord construction.
15:17 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Lick Development
Nick Kellie discusses and demonstrates how to use the licks you learn.
11:14 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Determining the Key
Nick Kellie demonstrates how to find the key of a song.
13:49 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Non-Diatonic Chord Progressions
Nick discusses and demonstrates some uses for non-diatonic chords within a progression.
7:08 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
7th Chords
Nick explains how to harmonize the major scale with diatonic 7th chords.
11:27 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Soloing Over Chords
Nick explains how to use scales and modes effectively when soloing over a chord progression.
9:53 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Modal Alterations
Nick discusses how to transpose a lick or riff into a different mode.
8:36 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Modal Pentatonic Scales
Nick Kellie demonstrates pentatonic scales derived from the modes of the major scale.
9:32 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
9th Chords
Nick Kellie discusses 9th chords, how they are used, and demonstrates a few voicings to get you started.
8:35 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
11th Chords
Nick Kellie discusses 11th chords and their applications.
4:39 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
13th Chords
Nick Kellie discusses and demonstrates voicings for 13th chords.
6:08 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Dorian and Super Locrian
Nick Kellie discusses how to use the Dorian and Super Locrian modes effectively within a single chord progression.
10:03 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Jazz Soloing #1
Nick Kellie discusses concepts and ideas for soloing over jazz compositions.
20:50 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Jazz Soloing #2
Nick Kellie demonstrates jazz solo techniques for his song "30 Hour Journey."
10:50 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Building Chords
Nick Kellie demonstrates and discusses building chords and chordal tones from within a scale.
5:58 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Reading Scale Charts
Nick Kellie discusses how to read scale charts pertaining to the CAGED system of playing.
8:36 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Understanding Modal Playing
Nick Kellie returns to his theory and improvisation series with a lesson on understanding modal playing and separating the modes from their parent scales.
35:16 Runtime
3.5 Difficulty
Separating Modes from Their Parent Scales
In lesson 38, Nick discussed more basics on understanding modes and modal playing. In this lesson, he discusses separating your modes from their parent scales to give a more balanced and modal sound to your playing.
16:34 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Practical Modal Applications
Returning to his theory and improvisation series, Nick discusses how you might already being applying modal playing without even knowing it. He discusses how you can pull modal scale ideas and progressions out of the progressions your playing with or over.
9:34 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Scale Sequencing
Nick Kellie returns to his Theory and Improvisation series with a discussion on scale sequencing. In this lesson he discusses how sequencing in both numeric and intervalic forms can open up the scale for you in your playing.
12:17 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Pentatonic Scale Sequencing
Now that Nick has covered the basic concepts of sequencing scales, he covers how you might sequence within the pentatonic scale. He also discusses linear and non-linear playing.
14:17 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Sequencing Triads
Nick Kellie returns with another look at sequencing. Nick has been talking primarily about playing sequences using diads or intervals. In this lesson, he demonstrates sequences based on diatonic triads and seventh chords.
7:04 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Diatonic Seventh Chord Arpeggios
Now that you've learned how to sequence triads, Nick applies the same concepts horizontally with diatonic seventh chords and their arpeggios.
5:54 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Harmonizing Keys
Nick Kellie discusses how a key is harmonized and how this knowledge can help unlock playing over chords and within different keys.
15:42 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Backing Track Study #1
In his 46th lesson, Nick Kellie takes an applied approach to soloing over a backing track. In this lesson, he discusses ways to solo and connect scales and modes over his track "Melody of Hope".
18:47 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Backing Track Study #2
Nick Kellie takes a look at another backing track and discusses how to implement scale ideas over it.
15:17 Runtime
3.0 Difficulty
Scales and 3rd Intervals
In this lesson, Nick discusses how applying the third interval across a scale idea can open up melodic ideas in your playing. To get you started, he teaches the third interval pattern for all adjacent string pairs in the key of A.
10:20 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Tips and Tricks with Nick Kellie
Nick Kellie demonstrates useful methods to enhance, and add depth to your playing.
Harp Harmonics
Nick Kellie demonstrates how to incorporate harp harmonics into your playing.
7:37 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Economy Picking
Nick Kellie demonstrates how the economy picking technique is performed.
17:24 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
More Economy Picking
Nick Kellie demonstrates and talks more about economy picking.
5:57 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Double Stop Bends
Nick Kellie offers up another trick for your bag. In this lesson, he discusses and demonstrates how to incorporate double stop bends into your playing.
17:12 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Adding Embellishments to Chord Progressions
In this short lesson, Nick discusses adding flair to your rhythm playing by embellishing your chord progressions.
10:00 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
String Skipping Exercise
Nick returns to his Tips and Tricks series with an exercise designed to help you with string skipping. Incorporating this picking technique into your playing well help open up your arpeggios and scale work.
11:02 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Basic Ear Training
In this lesson, Nick provides a primer course on ear training. By matching intervals with popular songs, you can help develop an ear for basic intervallic distances.
12:44 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Smooth Jazz with Nick Kellie
Nick Kellie covers the smooth jazz concept as it relates to guitar playing.
Smooth Jazz Series Introduction
Nick Kellie is starting a new Smooth Jazz series! In this lesson series he will cover key concepts to playing in this style, as well as how it differs from traditional forms of Jazz.
2:53 Runtime
0.5 Difficulty
Octaves
Nick Kellie demonstrates the octave shapes and how they are utilized in the smooth jazz style of playing.
11:06 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Ornaments
Nick Kellie demonstrates commonly used rhythmic and melodic ornaments in the smooth jazz style.
4:07 Runtime
1.5 Difficulty
Chromatic Enclosures
Nick Kellie explains how to encircle a target tone with upper and lower chromatic neighbor tones. This melodic technique is used frequently in all jazz styles.
4:45 Runtime
0.5 Difficulty
Arpeggios
Nick Kellie demonstrates arpeggios as they relate to smooth jazz playing.
8:02 Runtime
0.5 Difficulty
Improvisation
Nick Kellie demonstrates and discusses how to use the techniques he has taught in the context of an improvised solo.
3:42 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Jazz Blues
In this lesson, Nick discusses how to implement a jazz blues into your playing.
13:30 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
R&B and Soul with Nick Kellie
Learn to play in the Motown style of R&B and Soul.
Introduction to R&B and Soul
Nick Kellie introduces a lesson series designed to highlight the tendencies, techniques and concepts of R&B and soul playing. Characterized by rhythmic elements and simplicity, this style combines muted left and right hand techniques with melodic scale ideas. In the first lesson, Nick discusses the basics of this style and introduces the core techniques.
31:45 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Popping
Now that Nick has discussed the basics of the R&B and soul style of playing, he demonstrates a common funk / soul technique. Known as "popping," this technique adds a sharp staccato and rhythmic feel to your playing.
12:41 Runtime
0.0 Difficulty
Interval Usage
In the third lesson of his R&B and Soul series, Nick discusses common ways to use melodic and harmonic intervals.
8:57 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Single Note Strumming
In this lesson, Nick Kellie demonstrates a common technique he calls "single note strumming". This technique combines the simplistic nature of R&B and soul with a rhythmic strumming element.
7:26 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
Hendrixisms
In the fifth lesson of his R&B and Soul lesson series, Nick discusses commonalities made popular by Jimi Hendrix that are often used in this style of play.
10:57 Runtime
2.0 Difficulty
Seventh Chords, Progressions and Song Structure
To wrap up his look at the stylistic approaches of R&B and soul, Nick provides a lesson that touches on a few topics. He discusses the use of seventh chords and how to easily decipher what chords can be played with what progression. Nick also talks about the approach of arranging song structure in the style.
21:46 Runtime
2.5 Difficulty
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