Into the Labyrinth

If you’ve ever wondered about the depth of thought vs. pattern playing that goes into jazz guitar improvisation, you’ll find the answer in this book. University of North Texas jazz guitar instructor and stellar musician, Davy Mooney is as fluid in writing about the physical and cerebral processes of jazz guitar improvisation as he is in playing over tunes, chord changes and modulations.


Mooney describes the guitar fretboard as “…a labyrinth ruled by shapes and patterns.” He recounts his own journey toward fretboard fluency beginning with the CAGED major scale positions and connecting them with ascending arpeggio shapes. The purpose of his book is to show you a way into the labyrinth, how to navigate it, and find your way out, should you so desire.


Five is the magic number in this book. With five jazz chord progressions, fretboard scale and arpeggio diagrams in five positions, and transcribed eighth-note improvisations, Mooney illustrates how five giants of jazz—Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Thelonious Monk, and John Coltrane—might have approached improvisation had they been jazz guitarists.


Written in standard notation and fretboard diagrams for the intermediate to advanced guitarist already well-acquainted with jazz scale and chord theory. Includes access to online audio for all 60 etudes, play-along and improv examples.