Classical and Jazz/electric players!

[blurx]

Hi guys,

Cool just posted on the welcome page and found this here!

I'm trying to find ppl who does electric and classical and hoping to hear your regimes and experiences.

I've been under instruction for many years for my classical and now am teaching, also going for my DipAbrsm, but sight reading is crap lol. I've have always played electric guitar mostly metal.

After learning dream theater's songs, under a glass moon, pull me under, ytse jam, fortune in lies, I decided that the only way for me to grow as a musician is to learn jazz cos improvising is REALLY fun (if you do it well that is) but it seems that my maestro along with my jazz teacher is telling me to choose but I don think i can let whichever go, so wanna hear some stuff from ppl here and ya discuss how you guys practice and how you guys manage it.

Thanks man.

[Andrés_G]

I started playing classical guitar as a kid, then at around 14 years old I bought my first electric guitar. For some years I played both, specially when I was at the local university studying music, when I had to be serious with both classical and electric guitar.
Actually I just focused on electric guitar, it's hard for me to keep a practice routine with both. I know some guitarist that can do both, but I just rather to concentrate on one, so I can be as good as possible.
I always say, that it is better to be really good in one instrument, than being just good in 2 o 3. But it is the way it works for me, I don't mean to discourage you, if you have the time and the discipline, you can achieve it. I see it more like stages in your musical journey, and probably it's best to start with classical, but at some point move to jazz. But well, it is an interesting topic, i'm looking forward to read other experiences.

[ksjazzguitar]

Hey,

I've been playing jazz for almost 20 years and been working on classical for about 6.

I find it hard to study both at the same time. I was already an experienced jazz player when I took up classical. Even then, a lot of my technique slid as I was working on the classical. I think that there is nothing wrong with playing both, but you can't really learn both at the same time, unless you have a lot of free time or you have low standards for progress. I know a few guys who play both, but I can't think of any of them that studied both at the same time - it's just too much work, IMHO.

I don't think that its necessarily better to start with one or the other - as I've said in other threads, they are different instruments to me. Just chose the one that draws your heart the most and focus on that for 10 years. You can dabble in the other, but you can come back to it later for real study. Just my opinion.

Peace,
Kevin

[blurx]

Hi kelvin, andres,

Wow kelvin nice playing man, like dude. Classical is pretty cool too haha.

Ya have been doing classical for 10 years, 25 this year already and feel like crap lol. I am pretty much more of a classical dude and teaching that now so suppose classical will always stick with me, and just wanted to really get my musicianship up a little to know how to sing with my guitar without having to read scores, nothing wrong with reading scores, just do it for knowledge, knowing what scales works over what chords etc, and also not to become a classical snob kind of thing which is pretty prevalent in the classical guitar world haha.

But so kelvin, can i check with you, I'm basically memorizing my arpeggios now and noodling around it in II V I minor with band in a box but man it's kinda dry haha, any advice for ppl new to jazz?

My maj and min triads are ok, but haven got down my dim and aug ones, and well basically my teacher is trying to get me to get the safe notes down hence the arpeggios. He wants me to play melodies and at the same time be aware of which note i land on the 1 3 5 or 7, which i think is cool, but IT'S KILLING ME! haha

Would be great if you let me know thank you...

[Soco]

I am doing both. Playing classical guitar has helped and formed my electric playing as well. I highly recommend doing it.

[JohnRoss]

Originally Posted by blurx

I've been under instruction for many years for my classical and now am teaching, also going for my DipAbrsm, but sight reading is crap lol.

You know, then, that the dip is not just another grade, you're supposed to be on a whole different plane, musically. You'll be examined by a couple of musical experts who will expect you to be as convincing as them. So I would have thought it would be worth your while to leave the jazz guitar to one side for the time being. Your second instrument time would be better spent on the piano, even if you've got your Grade 6 under your belt (it's expected of you even if it doesn't say so in the syllabus, unless things have changed radically).

[blurx]

Hi Ross,

Ya I have my grade 8 Abrsm sometime back haha, aural was the worst haha smoking through it lol. But the dip doesn't have any of that so lucky haha.

My main concern is sight reading cos when I started out always memorize the songs and tend not to read the scores so kinda crappy now but managed to improve it a little. Actually playing jazz kinda helped cos i see the notes even clearer on the fretboard then just from playing classical.

Playing wise the pieces are hard no doubt but I'm in no hurry cos I wanna wait till my sight reading is up before I go for the Dip.

Soco, mind if you share your practice regime? Wanna cross reference to what ppl like me is doing haha.