Beginning chords and methods

Ken · #1 12-05-2011, 12:43 PM

I've read many posts that recommend various chord books and methods, but I have not seen anyone recommend "Mickey Baker" book 1 & 2. This is Mickey of "Mickey and Sylvia" fame. Is there any reason why his works are not talked about?

BigDaddyLoveHandles · #2 12-05-2011, 12:55 PM

I see them being recommended here all the time.

I wish they had more explanation in them, though.

jmstritt · #3 12-05-2011, 01:01 PM

If you do a search, you will find Mickey Baker's books talked about quite extensively on here. There were even some folks that did a study group and tackled a lesson a week or something like that.

The only knock that I have heard on the Mickey Baker books is that they are laid out kind of strangely. It starts off with having you memorize like 20 something chord "grips" from the very first lesson. Some of those aren't even talked about until much later in the book. Also the types of chords are kind of interesting... He will show the reader a major 6th a major 7th and then a dom7b913. Kind of makes you say, "Huh?"

It is a good beginner method with lots of great material, I just think that he zigs and zags around some material and that looses a lot of folks. Having said that, there are a lot of folks on here that will disagree with me and say how much they love it and how it is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

One thing I have learned about instructional books and methods, is that everybody learns differently. What may work for you may not work for me and vice versa. At the end of the day I am all for whatever gets more folks interested in playing jazz!

whiskey02 · #4 12-08-2011, 09:52 PM

For an introduction for beginners I'd recommend Mike (Corey's dad) Christiansen's Complete Jazz Guitar Method by Mel Bay. Lots of useful info, basic theory, chords and extensions a CD, DVD and spiral bound. I bought a copy a ways back from Chordmelody.com well worth the price.

Dad3353 · #5 12-09-2011, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken

...Is there any reason why his works are not talked about?

Good evening, Ken...
Perhaps the phenomena that you have felt is rather more like an 'open secret' (in French: secret de Polichinelle...); something presumed so well known that it goes without saying..? There are many threads here (and doubtless other forums...) that extol the virtues (and vices...) of these publications. For my part, I have often enough recommended their study (I've been doing that myself for 40 years...), but I agree that there are other, complementary, works now available, on divers media. Mickey doesn't do it all for all folks (nothing does...), but imho is a pretty low sum well invested. Anybody that hasn't at least given it a go would quite likely find something there (most especially Vol 1, the vol 2 is rather optional, although not without interest...).
Just my tuppence worth...

Drumbler · #6 12-10-2011, 07:42 AM

There are numerous Mickey Baker threads.

The Jazz Guitar Forum - Search Results

Mickey Baker's book is one of the best of the jazz books. It assumes that the user is NOT a beginning guitarist though.

Saying it is one of the best must be taken with a grain of salt. Just about all the books have limitations. Still it will get you up and running.

Learning from books is possible but I'd recommend personal lessons or Jimmy Bruno's online lessons as superior.

Baker Book 2 is something you might want to buy for curiosity sake. There is enough in Book 1 to keep you going for years.