Experienced guitarist wanting to immerse himself in jazz and learn but...
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Incredibly overwhelmed! I can really play blues and rock, I know basic theory, how chords are built and scales constructed, decent at improvisation but I do not sound jazzy and my chord melody playing is very weak. Any advice!?
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What do you mean by sound jazzy? Can you put a video or an audio link of your playing? -
Stef-Ramin: Unfortunately I have no way of posting an audio or video, though I'd like to work to that end as I see the benefit of it. Sound jazzy? That is a bit overgeneralized/generic, but the best way I know to explain it is I was just jamming on some blues backing tracks and by using certain bending techniques, licks, rhythm, etc., I sounded 'bluesy.' I know this from time spent working with a teacher and improvising on my own. Anyway, no teacher right now so I'm trying to learn how to play
'bebop sounding jazz,' e.g. Wes Montgomery and 'jazz fusion,' e.g. John McLaughlin. I just lend those two players to give you some idea as to what's in my head when I think 'jazz guitar.' I'll close by saying my scale and single note practice has yielded good results in blues and rock, but jazz is going to require a different approach I believe. Any ideas? -
First you should banish bends. One of the most important things is to practice seventh arpeggios and their extensions (9-11-13) by trying to associate them with their related chords.
You should also try to approach the chord tones (1-3-5-7) chromatically or diatonically as explain in this article.
Hope it helps. -
Thanx so much Stef-Ramin. I'm familiar with (that is can play one or two ways) 7th chords and their extensions, so I guess I have a foundation. Let me check the article though.
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Stef-Ramin, I followed the link you offered and gave the site a good looking over: WOW.
I now know the answer to my question: to sound jazzy or just play jazz you've got to master
the right intervals and techniques. I may have known that all along but I did not consider
the How? from the right perspective. Feel like I'm on my way, thanx! -
How do I download your cheat sheets
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Go to https://www.jazz-guitar-licks.com/pages/cheat-sheets/
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I’m in the same situation as the original poster.
I’m a long time blues/classic rock player and am new to playing jazz. My situation is a little different. I got shot in the hand about a year and a half ago, and have only recently picked up a guitar again. The worst part of my injury is the ring finger of my left hand...that’s right, the finger you use for 90% of bending. It’s gradually getting more limber, albeit painfully. It aches a LOT when I exercise it. In any event, I thought this would be an opportune time to try to become proficient in jazz. Now with the advent of COVID-19, I have time alone at home to learn with the help of you, my new friends!
So I’m appreciative of any help you can give me. -
Listen to horn players try to imitate their phrasing. Remember horns were playing the melodies before the guitar came into the picture melodically. Sax layers usually stat a phrase tounging the first two notes then tongue they every other note. So, you want to lean legato or sliding, hammering on and off to replicate that phrasing. I think it was Miles who when asked where he got his phrasing he replied "Frank Sinatra". Listen to frank...
Have fun! -
I don't know if this helps but I was in the same exact situation and this one really really helped me out:
https://anrimaruyama.com/jazz-guitar-online-courses
Best course you can get in my humble opinion!
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