Where can I find simple chord melody TABS like this

[Stylemaster]

I want to learn jazz guitar but haven't yet had the time to spend with books I have by Mickey Baker, Arnie Berle or Jody Fisher. If I could just sink my teeth into playing a few songs with jazz chords it would be the hook I need.

In the meantime I found this on another forum. It's for the Bobby Timmons song Moanin'. I only know his piano trio version and I love it and this tabbed chord melody is the closest I've come to playing jazz guitar:

The 'A' section is just a straight Bb > F major, then:

(pickup): xx1221 (B9b5 or F7+5)

xx6668 (Bbm9)
xx4566 (Ab13)
xx3444 (G7+5b9)
xx234x (C7#9)
xx1311 (Fm11) > xx1111 (Fm7)

xx6668 (Bbm9)
xx4566 (Ab13)
xx3444 (G7+5b9)
xx5768 (Gm11)
xx8988 (C7)

Are there any other easy to follow jazz melody tabs like the one above? I especially find it easy because it's laid out vertically.

[GodinFan]

That's not a chord melody.

It's a set of chord voicings rendered in TAB, but it does not have the melody present.

If you want to live up to your moniker, it may be time to learn to read standard notation.

[Dad3353]

Good evening, Stylemaster...
A fellow forum member (and not the least...) is Matt Warnock; his excellent site has numerous chord-melody 'resources' in both notation and tab. May I recommend a browse around in there..?
There is much more, but his chord-melody stuff is top notch. Special bonus: they are free pdf downloads...
Matt Warnock site
Hope this helps...

[Stylemaster]

Originally Posted by GodinFan

That's not a chord melody.

It's a set of chord voicings rendered in TAB, but it does not have the melody present.

If you want to live up to your moniker, it may be time to learn to read standard notation.

Okay, I was wrong. I thought it was chord melody, but it sounds prettier than just about anything I ever played on guitar. I have been playing blues, rock, pop, soul & country on guitar for 40 years. I've always wanted to learn jazz guitar but never could afford personal lessons and find it intimidating in general.

I have been professional illustrator for 35 years and my moniker refers, to some extent, to what I do visually. You are welcome to go to the link in my signature and see for yourself. But my moniker was actually inspired by a NYC/NJ radio disk jockey who had been on the airwaves for over 60 years. He played some kitsch but he also played the real stuff from the Big Band era. He sadly passed last March. His name was Danny Stiles - who I affectionately called the Master of Memorabilia, hence "Style Master."

Thanks for your response, however I found your saying "If you want to live up to your moniker" to be quite unnecessary if it indeed evinces the kind of snobbery and put-downs one sees on guitar enthusiast forums that I hoped wouldn't be the case here.

[brwnhornet59]

Easy now, it's all good. I do not believe that was Godinfan's intention. What he said is true, but not as a put down. It is easy for us all to forget what it is like to be at the start of this wondrous journey. We tend to think everyone knows the abc's, so it is easy to critique out of context.

Dad3353 posted a link that I would have given you as well. Matt's site is a plethora of knowledge. Spend some time poking around really good. There are things in there from beginner to advanced. I have spent my fair share of time in it. There is much to be learned. Matt is not a snob in any way shape or form. He and his site is dedicated to the learning of music, especially jazz.

I also found your site to be quite cool. T/y for sharing the link. Stick around and go through the old threads. I am sure that you will have a lot of questions. Don't let one experience pollute the rest. Someone will always be around to answer you. Thanx for stopping by.

[GodinFan]

Sorry if it sounded snarky - a pic of a Les Paul with the nick Stylemaster and no other context in the OP is certainly easy to construe in the way I did.

Follow others advice about studying online with Jimmy Bruno - he's a great teacher, with a very well thought out method, particularly in his approach to scale fingerings.

[Stylemaster]

Thanks brwnhornet59 for keeping things positive. I've been on a lot of forums and am well aware that there are always some who don't realize how their comments might come across as offensive. Then there are some who intend to offend. It's the anonymity of the Internet that allows people to behave badly at times. Fortunately, the majority of the membership of all of these forums are well meaning and helpful. I don't let such things ruin my experience on the forums however I do think it's important to point them out when necessary.

I will definitely check out Matt Warnock's site. I'm sure it's going to be very helpful and that's why I posted this thread - to become better informed by asking questions of members who are trained and experienced in jazz guitar as I am not.

Also thanks for your kind words about my artwork!

Originally Posted by brwnhornet59

Easy now, it's all good. I do not believe that was Goodnfan's intention. What he said is true, but not as a put down. It is easy for us all to forget what it is like to be at the start of this wondrous journey. We tend to think everyone knows the abc's, so it is easy to critique out of context.

Dad3353 posted a link that I would have given you as well. Matt's site is a plethora of knowledge. Spend some time poking around really good. There are things in there from beginner to advanced. I have spent my fair share of time in it. There is much to be learned. Matt is not a snob in any way shape or form. He and his site is dedicated to the learning of music, especially jazz.

I also found your site to be quite cool. T/y for sharing the link. Stick around and go through the old threads. I am sure that you will have a lot of questions. Don't let one experience pollute the rest. Someone will always be around to answer you. Thanx for stopping by.

[brwnhornet59]

Originally Posted by Stylemaster

Thanks brwnhornet59 for keeping things positive. I've been on a lot of forums and am well aware that there are always some who don't realize how their comments might come across as offensive. Then there are some who intend to offend. It's the anonymity of the Internet that allows people to behave badly at times. Fortunately, the majority of the membership of all of these forums are well meaning and helpful. I don't let such things ruin my experience on the forums however I do think it's important to point them out when necessary.

I will definitely check out Matt Warnock's site. I'm sure it's going to be very helpful and that's why I posted this thread - to become better informed by asking questions of members who are trained and experienced in jazz guitar as I am not.

Also thanks for your kind words about my artwork!

No worries. As Godinfan said, Jimmy Bruno's courses are great, but there is a fee. Matt's site is free. There are tons of free lessons in there as well.

Yeah, we all come off wrong at times. It's a hazard that we face in the forums. We are all very opinionated, But I would also like to think that most of us are very open minded and we do critique each other all of the time. This is something that I have no problem with as long as it is constructive. That is how we learn and grow as a group.

So anyway again, Welcome! Feel free to ask anything anytime. We look forward to having you here.

[Stylemaster]

Originally Posted by GodinFan

Sorry if it sounded snarky - a pic of a Les Paul with the nick Stylemaster and no other context in the OP is certainly easy to construe in the way I did.

Follow others advice about studying online with Jimmy Bruno - he's a great teacher, with a very well thought out method, particularly in his approach to scale fingerings.

Thanks for your response and your explanation. That is my Les Paul. It's the finest instrument I've ever owned and collecting is part of my passion. I have the same nick on a Les Paul forum (with the same avatar pic) as well as the Telecaster forum (with a really beautiful Tele I own as the avatar pic) and no one's ever taken exception with any of it before, no matter what the context of the thread or post. (In fact a boutique Tele pickup winder has named a pickup after me, "The Stylemaster," because I helped him design it). I am quite competent and confident as a blues player and as a comping soul rhythm guitarist. Many of the great guitarists that have inspired me couldn't read music either. I'm trying to take the giant step of taking on jazz which is, frankly intimidating to me.

It seems my worst problem so far is not being able to make a decision and commit to one of the books or DVDs I have: Mickey Baker's, Arnie Berle's, Jody Fisher's or Roger Edison's. I do have the Jimmy Bruno's No Nonsense DVD and found that immediately intimidating for various reasons including the fact that it takes for granted that the viewer/pupil already knows a good deal of theory.

I only started this thread because I know that learning some simple jazz voicings for a few simple songs would help provide a hook to help me get started.

I only started this thread because I know that learning some simple jazz voicings of a few simple songs would be a good hook to help get me started.

I will figure this out, and I will chose one of those books/DVDs, I chip away at this huge learning curve bit by bit and I will learn to to read the notes off the staff and know what each note is on each string at each fret. If I don't finally dig in and really do this in earnest, I will be missing out on one of the top items of my bucket list and, well time is marching on.

[GodinFan]

Jimmy's course teaches the theory you need. His approach is more refined now than the No Nonsense course, from most accounts.

I tried Jody Fischer's book and really disliked it. I have no useful opinion on the others.

[Stylemaster]

Originally Posted by GodinFan

Jimmy's course teaches the theory you need. His approach is more refined now than the No Nonsense course, from most accounts.

I tried Jody Fischer's book and really disliked it. I have no useful opinion on the others.

If you're talking about Jimmy's online course I can no longer afford any such expenditures, unfortunately.

[brwnhornet59]

Andy, there is plenty to pickup on Matt's site while you decide. Do you know the major scale and it's modes? Can you build chords from them? Do you know what a circle of 5th is?

[mr. beaumont]

My advice to a jazz newbie is always the same.

Chords and tunes.

Tunes is easy--learn as many songs as you can. Listen ravenously...jazz is not for dabbling, you'll get nowhere. It takes time and effort. The rudiments aren't that hard, really...when the chord changes, you change...outline your solo in the notes from the chords, don't look for a catch-all scale.

Chords is bigger...chords are no longer the crap you wait through until it's time to solo. Chords are everything. You can never know enough. Knowing one place to place a chord isn't enough...you gotta know the fretboard, and how to build chords, if you bank on memorizing a bunch of "shapes" you're a dead man...it'll never happen. For every chord you learn, learn an arpeggio for it in that position. It's crucial...that's your "solo map"--the arpeggios.

You can do all this without a book, really. Grab some songs you take an interest in...Listen to as many versions of them as you can and learn the melody by ear if you can. Get a Real Book and check out the chords...understand that a Real Book is a guide, not an ultimatum, but for starters they're a fine resource. Learn the chords to the song...brush up on chord formulas if you're not comfortable...learn those chords in as many places on the neck as possible.

You don't necessarily have to read music, but it sure helps. You do have to know the major scales, those are gonna help you build those chords. That's non-negotiable, IMHO.

Go slow. I said in another thread just today that I' ve been at jazz for 12 years and I'm first starting to notice that I'm comfortable in most situations, and that my brain and hands are communicating...I'm actually playing what I hear...another 12 and I might be ready to cut a head or two...

[amhabz]

Mr. B is exactly correct. the chords are the basis of jazz. The way he outlines is exactly the way I was taught many years ago, but on keyboards, not the guitar but the idea is the same. Learn each chord in each inversion so that it becomes natural to you to put your fingers on the right position. Chord melody means the highest note is the melody and the chord follows lower. I know I will never be able to do it on a guitar at my age as I do on keyboards but so what. for a while you may have to write out each chord (a good practice to learn) after a few years it will just be natural for you to know what to play say if the melody note is G and the chord is C7+9. Then you will change the chord a bit for your ear. stay with it.

[Sailor]

Love the responses...same as always which is a good thing! I've only been at jazz for a couple years now. Sure helps to read music and understand theory. I have a degree in Music Ed and I still can't play jazz very well. someone said it above...a little each day...a new lick...a new chord...it's gonna take me a lifetime to say "I play Jazz"

Sailor

[monk]

The chords in first half of the Mickey Baker jazz book will get you a good ways down the road as far as playing rhythm on standards.

That's the book that many of us here began with and it's the book that Robben Ford always mentions using when he started to learn "jazz chords".

[Stylemaster]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

My advice to a jazz newbie is always the same.

Chords and tunes.

Tunes is easy--learn as many songs as you can. Listen ravenously...jazz is not for dabbling, you'll get nowhere. It takes time and effort. The rudiments aren't that hard, really...when the chord changes, you change...outline your solo in the notes from the chords, don't look for a catch-all scale.

Chords is bigger...chords are no longer the crap you wait through until it's time to solo. Chords are everything. You can never know enough. Knowing one place to place a chord isn't enough...you gotta know the fretboard, and how to build chords, if you bank on memorizing a bunch of "shapes" you're a dead man...it'll never happen. For every chord you learn, learn an arpeggio for it in that position. It's crucial...that's your "solo map"--the arpeggios.

You can do all this without a book, really. Grab some songs you take an interest in...Listen to as many versions of them as you can and learn the melody by ear if you can. Get a Real Book and check out the chords...understand that a Real Book is a guide, not an ultimatum, but for starters they're a fine resource. Learn the chords to the song...brush up on chord formulas if you're not comfortable...learn those chords in as many places on the neck as possible.

You don't necessarily have to read music, but it sure helps. You do have to know the major scales, those are gonna help you build those chords. That's non-negotiable, IMHO.

Go slow. I said in another thread just today that I've been at jazz for 12 years and I'm first starting to notice that I'm comfortable in most situations, and that my brain and hands are communicating...I'm actually playing what I hear...another 12 and I might be ready to cut a head or two...

Wow - great advice and information. This is really helpful and it speaks right to me because what I want to start with is chords and tunes. So I guess I wasn't far off. But everything else makes so much sense as well. I also have the Real Book but I need to learn the inversions that will make the tunes sound right; the chords in the Real Book are so fundamental. Anyway, thank you so much!

[Kojo27]

Get some goodies here (they're selling tons of 2nd or 3rd-party merchandise, and the best, imo, is the stuff they offer that's of their own. You get a free chord and arpeggio book, by Stacy McKee, that's free and worth a fortune, with your first order.

Check under "Jazz Guitar Music and Tabs" in the big index thing. There's gold here - you just have to sift a bit.

Chord Melody Guitar Sheet Music: Guitar Tabs, Guitar Tablatures, Guitar Tab Books, Guitar Videos, Guitar DVDs, Guitar Lessons</font>

Oh, and: when a link leads you to a page, unless your screen is 46" or something, you'll see the same damned header every time - it's as if you went nowhere. You have to scroll down past that damned header every time. Just hit PageDown on yer keyboard.


kj

[vittigo]

I've always admired the visual "system" Ted Greene have developed (for non-reading students) to notate chords, chord melodys, riffs and so on.

Here: TedGreene.com - Guitar Lessons - Tunes
You will find some examples of tunes arrangements

This was always appealing to me "visually" - so maybe You will find it interesting too.

One disclaimer: Ted Greene stuff on general is far from basic/novice.

[Al_F]

Mickey Baker's book is great, he starts with chords, and chord melody starts by page 4 with chord diagrams. Learning to read music isn't a big deal (sight reading is ) just start, its really cool once you get rolling.

[pingu]

Originally Posted by GodinFan

That's not a chord melody.

It's a set of chord voicings rendered in TAB, but it does not have the melody present.

If you want to live up to your moniker, it may be time to learn to read standard notation.

It does have the melody on the top ,,,,,,,, it is CM

also try Cm11 B7b5 one beat each to set up the B section

x
6
8
8
x
8

x
6
8
7
x
7

the index and the pinky can stay planted for both chords

nice tune ,

[kelbaker]

I'd also suggest checking out the Ted Greene site. It's a great resource for chord melody. He is someone you should be sure to listen to whether or not use use the copious (and free) materials on that site.