I want to know if anyone purchased this book

guitarplayer007 · #1 08-10-2009, 02:15 PM

The Barry Harris Harmonic Method for Guitar (Spiral-bound)

And if so any comments please

Thx

Ken

guitarplayer007 · #2 08-10-2009, 06:35 PM

Bluesguy · #3 08-10-2009, 06:53 PM

Maybe no one bought it. I didn't.

guitarplayer007 · #4 08-10-2009, 07:20 PM

I guess thats possible

bako · #5 08-10-2009, 11:47 PM

I don't have the book but I have attended a few sessions of a class Barry Harris has been teaching for perhaps 30 years, once a week for 5 hours at a very low cost. The book is written by a very talented guitarist, former student, former sideperson and close associate of his, Roni Ben Hur. I am assuming that this book tries to lay a foundation to understand some of Barry's individual approaches.

If you are around NYC try to attend one of his classes to see if his approach works for you. You can see on his website when he is in town and teaching. Ten years ago I pondered how much longer can he keep this going but he is still at it including clinics on the road.
Barry is one of a few living masters of bebop that was there. He is an excellent and extremely dedicated educator.

Jazz Workshops - Keyboard Magazine Article - Diminished Dimensions

I don't know you and what you are hoping to find in a book but I think I can safely say that it is well done.

Here are a few links to articles by another former student Howard Reese that will give you an idea of his approach.

Jazz Workshops - Keyboard Magazine Article - October 1998

http://www.jazzworkshops.com/docs/vo.../article33.htm

Jazz Workshops - Keyboard Magazine Article - March 2001

Jazz Workshops - Keyboard Magazine Article - Diminished Dimensions

I'll have to go back and reread them myself when I get a moment.

guitarplayer007 · #6 08-11-2009, 12:33 PM

Thanks Bako, i cant wait to get this book, it sounds great!
Ken

guitarplayer007 · #7 08-19-2009, 12:09 PM

And i think this is what i have been looking for over a year now.It teaches how to moves though chords. Making your comping more fluid and its shows how to move up and down the neck with lots of movement. I really dig this book and i just got it the other day.
ken

guitarplayer007 · #8 08-21-2009, 11:40 AM

After having the book for a week or so, i highly Recommend it. Barry teaches you have to have fluid chord movent and learn the ability to move up and down the neck with chords

GodinFan · #9 08-21-2009, 12:14 PM

IIRC correctly, the guitar book is written by Alan Kingstone, applying Barry's concepts to the fretboard.

Alan's a terrific player, and a really nice guy, so let's gave him the credit he's due.

Jazzaluk · #10 08-21-2009, 12:44 PM

Roni Ben Hur also has a book that uses Barry Harris' approach. It received excellent reviews.

guitarplayer007 · #11 08-21-2009, 12:50 PM

Yes you are correct it is written by Alan Kingstone but called
"The Barry Harris Harmonic Method for Guitar (Spiral-bound"

FatJeff · #12 11-13-2009, 09:27 AM

So, I just got this book the other day (the one by Alan Flintstone, or whatever his name is), and I have to say that - uh - I don't get it. The book itself says practially NOTHING about the actual Barry Harris approach, so if you're not already clued into the supposed miracles of thinking in "diminished sixths", you're SOL. For a $30.00 book, would it have killed this guy to at least put in a few pages about the overall approach advocated by Mr. Harris?

I'm not one to quit so easily though, so I'll try to dig into some other resources to understand what it is that is trying to be said here. I'll report back.

guitarplayer007 · #13 11-13-2009, 09:48 AM

I agree there should have been some better examples, but if you take a 2-5-1 progression and play the dim scale over it you start to hear how you can use it. Took me a while but i'm starting to get it
Ken

FatJeff · #14 11-13-2009, 10:07 AM

Thanks for your reply Ken. I only found out about Barry Harris last week during a late night rehearsal...our trusted leader started in with a mini-lecture about bop lines and how they are created, and as we were all working on basic descending bop scales he slipped in that he had gotten a lot of his information from Mr. Harris. So, naturally, I was intrigued and when I found out there was a book for the "Harris Method" for guitar, I bought it.

Question. Have you purchased any other material on this stuff? I know he plays piano, not guitar, but I'm guessing that's where the meat of his approach is discussed.

guitarplayer007 · #15 11-13-2009, 10:16 AM

No this is thje only book i have from him
Ken

FatJeff · #16 11-13-2009, 10:26 AM

OK, well I just discovered that this site: Evolutionary Voicings, Part I- Jazz Workshops has some introductory information that I'll work through this evening. (What I didn't see at first was that the images - when clicked - pop up a slide show that has some accompanying explanatory text). Like I said, I'll report back.

In the meantime I've been listening to Roni Ben Hur (supposedly one of Harris' protege's) - what a great guitarist!

guitarplayer007 · #17 11-13-2009, 11:29 AM

Will check it out
ken

A. Kingstone · #18 02-23-2010, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatJeff

So, I just got this book the other day (the one by Alan Flintstone, or whatever his name is), and I have to say that - uh - I don't get it. The book itself says practially NOTHING about the actual Barry Harris approach, so if you're not already clued into the supposed miracles of thinking in "diminished sixths", you're SOL. For a $30.00 book, would it have killed this guy to at least put in a few pages about the overall approach advocated by Mr. Harris?

I'm not one to quit so easily though, so I'll try to dig into some other resources to understand what it is that is trying to be said here. I'll report back.

I'm sorry you feel this way. If you would like to ask some questions regarding Barry Harris's HARMONIC method, contact me directly in the e-mail address provided within the book.

guitarplayer007 · #19 02-23-2010, 02:29 PM

Hi A kingstone,

You actually wrote this book? If so i would love to ask you some questions on how to apply this method. As i stated i have been using it over 2-5-1 progressions, but i've only been learning jazz for two years and would love to know from a pro how to use this method over standards and more modern tunes as well. i will look for your email in the book.
Thanks!
ken

A. Kingstone · #20 02-23-2010, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarplayer007

Hi A kingstone,

You actually wrote this book? If so i would love to ask you some questions on how to apply this method. As i stated i have been using it over 2-5-1 progressions, but i've only been learning jazz for two years and would love to know from a pro how to use this method over standards and more modern tunes as well. i will look for your email in the book.
Thanks!
ken

Ken: Thanks for the reply and enthusiasm. Drop me a line and we can go over plugging in some 2/5/1's, (which are so wide spread throughout standards).

FatJeff · #21 02-23-2010, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. Kingstone

I'm sorry you feel this way. If you would like to ask some questions regarding Barry Harris's HARMONIC method, contact me directly in the e-mail address provided within the book.

Alan, thanks for responding.

I think I should apologize for my comments. I was clearly having a bad day. The book itself is fine, I just don't "get" the Harris approach. To be fair, I have not really put a lot of effort into getting it, either, so the fault is mine, not yours.

Regards,

Jeff

A. Kingstone · #22 02-23-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatJeff

Alan, thanks for responding.

I think I should apologize for my comments. I was clearly having a bad day. The book itself is fine, I just don't "get" the Harris approach. To be fair, I have not really put a lot of effort into getting it, either, so the fault is mine, not yours.

Regards,

Jeff

Thanks Jeff: The offer remains if you feel so inclined.

Barry says "I don't play chords I play movements."

I've attempted to translate Barry's piano concepts to guitar in this work.

guitarplayer007 · #23 04-30-2010, 07:00 PM

Hey Alan,

Any news on the new website?
ken

A. Kingstone · #24 06-08-2010, 04:02 PM

All material has been delivered, should be any time now.

It will be launched as Jazz School Online.

FatJeff · #25 06-08-2010, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. Kingstone

All material has been delivered, should be any time now.

It will be launched as Jazz School Online.

What is this exactly? Just curious.

A. Kingstone · #26 06-08-2010, 04:12 PM

They are 3 part lessons on a given subject based on the teachings of Barry Harris. There is a section for piano harmony, guitar harmony and improvisation. There will be downloadable transcriptions for each example.

Barry's coming to Toronto next weekend for anybody in the area.

FatJeff · #27 06-08-2010, 04:23 PM

OK thanks. I'll keep an eye out for it.