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#286861 - 05/08/11 09:51 AM
Learning to play jazz guitar
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mrmatt
Professional Forumite!
Registered: 29/07/08
Posts: 136
Loc: Stockport
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I've been playing guitar for about 15 years. Started with one on one lessons and then kind of carried on off my own back. Chord knowledge is fairly good, and I improvise quite a lot. I'm influenced by a lot of jazz and soul, but have no real knowledge of jazz guitar.
Other than finding a guitar teacher, can anyone recommend any specific jazz guitar tutorial books/DVDs which will enable me, as a fairly intermediate level player, to learn jazz chord and scale theory and develop this area of my playing?
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#286864 - 05/08/11 10:48 AM
Re: Learning to play jazz guitar
[Re: mrmatt]
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Megi
Old Timer
Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 1271
Loc: Lincolnshire
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Actually, it's not a guitar specific book, but if you can read treble and bass clef, and know enough to noodle a bit on keyboard, then I would recommend "The Jazz Theory Book" by Mark Levine. This really is the best "big picture" overview of jazz music theory I have found, and a great introduction to the conventions of jazz too. There is a lot in it, but it has stayed useful to me since I got it ages ago, and will continue to do so I think.
guitar specific books for jazz - I like Ted Greenes stuff: he wrote two volumes on single note soloing, plus the classic book on chords "Chord Chemistry" and the amazing "Modern Chord Progressions". I recently got another book that I think is fantastic, and different, which is "Creative Chord Substitution for Jazz guitar" by Eddie Arkin. I guess one thing you probably really need is a good overview jazz guitar method though - I don't have it myself, but I understand the 4 volume series by Jody Fisher is excellent.
Wow, where do you stop? - there really is a lot of great stuff out there! A lot of stuff that has influenced and helped my playing is actually not from books. Some brilliant websites:
TedGreene.com
allthingsemily.com
Matt Warnock
jazzguitar.be
I learnt a lot (and continue to do so) from 2 videos I bought in the '90's by the (sadly) late Emily Remler - I forgotten the titles but it's all been put onto YouTube these days anyway. Actually there is tons of good stuff on YouTube (plus some less good also, so exercise a bit of scepticism).
I could go on, jazz is something of an obsession for me, and a lifetimes study really (although it doesn't take a lifetime before you start to get results fortunately!). One thing I would recommend if you don't already, and that is to learn to read music - for studying jazz it really makes a difference, plus you will end up knowing your guitar neck so much better as a result.
And listen to lots of jazz - it really helps to get your ears tuned in to the music, and IMO jazz is largely a hearing art - you have to hear what you are playing.
Hope I'm not appearing patronising, or telling you things you already know - not my intention if so - I'm just an enthusiast who like's talking jazz guitar really. Good luck with learning jazz guitar though, not easy, but worthwhile! 
_________________________
Graham, jazz guitar nut!
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#286925 - 08/08/11 07:03 AM
Re: Learning to play jazz guitar
[Re: Megi]
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mrmatt
Professional Forumite!
Registered: 29/07/08
Posts: 136
Loc: Stockport
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Thanks for the response, that's really helpful. I've checked some of the websites and I'm going to spend some time looking at them.
I already listen to a reasonable amount of jazz, and lots of stuff that has jazz influences.
Hope to start developing my playing.
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#286936 - 08/08/11 02:53 PM
Re: Learning to play jazz guitar
[Re: mrmatt]
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Megi
Old Timer
Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 1271
Loc: Lincolnshire
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I remembered the names of those 2 Emily Remler videos, one was "Bebop and Swing guitar" the other was "Advanced Jazz and Latin Improvisation". The titles are a bit misleading, they both contain stuff that is useful at any level.
But no probs re my previous post - it was obviously biased towards things I like, but I hope you find some of the suggestions useful at least. One guitarist I think anyone into jazz guitar should listen to is Wes Montgomery (a major influence on George Benson, so there is a soul-jazz connection there). Generally the best stuff to listen to is his Riverside albums, made before he went more commercial. Although "Smokin at the Half Note" has some wonderful guitar playing, my favourite Wes album - actually my favourite jazz guitar album of all.
_________________________
Graham, jazz guitar nut!
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#286938 - 08/08/11 04:03 PM
Re: Learning to play jazz guitar
[Re: Lester]
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Megi
Old Timer
Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 1271
Loc: Lincolnshire
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Hope to start developing my playing. Having just bought a Burny RFA-75 jazz gu itar from Richards Guitars I will join you, also hoping to develop my jazz playing. 
_________________________
Graham, jazz guitar nut!
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#286957 - 09/08/11 10:02 AM
Re: Learning to play jazz guitar
[Re: Lester]
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Megi
Old Timer
Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 1271
Loc: Lincolnshire
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Seriously nice looking guitar you've got yourself Lester! I'm quite envious of that one. You haven't heard it yet; I am stunned by how smoothly it plays and how awesome it sounds. I think part of that was Richard's superb set up. I need to learn a jazz tune to demonstrate it. So, we have ourselves a jazz corner. Great! I have just ordered Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book."
I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Jazz Theory Book - it's great if you really want to understand what is going on with how jazz works. A bit of work is involved applying things to the guitar, but nothing worthwhile is easy!
_________________________
Graham, jazz guitar nut!
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#287408 - 25/08/11 02:45 PM
Re: Learning to play jazz guitar
[Re: Lester]
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Megi
Old Timer
Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 1271
Loc: Lincolnshire
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So, we have ourselves a jazz corner. Great! I have just ordered Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book."
_________________________
Graham, jazz guitar nut!
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#287411 - 25/08/11 04:08 PM
Re: Learning to play jazz guitar
[Re: Megi]
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Lester
Professional Forumite!
Registered: 28/05/11
Posts: 543
Loc: UK & Slovakia
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Hi Graham. Yes, I have it but not the time to start on it right now. I have work I must finish before I come over to the UK in September. I live near High Wycombe, will be in the Lake District for a week and hope to get to visit Richards Guitars. After I return on 12th October I will have some spare time and plan to start studying and playing jazz guitar so please bear with me for about 6 weeks. I am looking forward to a jazz corner on the forum. I wonder how many others here are interested in playing jazz?
PS. I did see your Ibanez JP20 Joe Pass in the Meet my girls thread. Very nice!
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