Beginner looking for comprehensive jazz instruction

phlegma · #1 03-07-2010, 11:23 PM

Greetings all. I'm a beginning guitarist looking for comprehensive guitar method, and namely through a jazz and theory perspective. I'm looking to learn to read music along the way.

At the present moment I've taken a year of music theory, and I understand how to read and interpret written notation, but of course I can't sit down with a guitar and apply it.

I've got a great book my Tom Kolb - Guitar Method (Hal Leonard) which is a really comprehensive manual for theory applied to the guitar, but it doesn't really teach me any music or to read it along the way.

Any tips? I'm currently looking through this WorkshopLive program, some Jody Fisher books, Mel Bay books, not sure what to do. Susan Palmers' looks very methodical. I have dreams of Metheny's books, but I know it'll be a while...

Cheers!

FatJeff · #2 03-08-2010, 09:04 AM

If you are dead set on learning out of a book, there is an extensive thread on this site that deals with people going through the Micky Baker method: http://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/getting-started/2425-mickey-bakers-complete-course-jazz-guitar.html. This seems to be a good method for getting up and playing quickly, and it's been used for at least 50 years.

I also know that a lot of people have used the William Leavitt 1-2-3 series: Amazon.com: A Modern Method for Guitar - Volumes 1, 2, 3 Complete (Berklee Methods) (9780876390115): William Leavitt: Books. This one will definitely improve your sight reading.

The standard answer, however, is for you to get yourself a qualified teacher. You can either try to find yourself someone in your area, or join up with an online site like Jimmy Bruno, Mark Elf, Andreas Oberg, etc. Let us know if you have questions.

phlegma · #3 03-08-2010, 06:56 PM

the berklee book looks like exactly what i'm after.

much obliged!

Reg · #4 03-09-2010, 11:06 AM

Good choice... I picked up a composition degree from Berklee back in the 70's but went through all three books my 1st year...at the time I thought I was a pretty hot shit...reality set in pretty quick, Berklee really refined my playing skills as well as my ears. I already had chops, the series doesn't help that much with proper technique, You'll need to a few lessons along the way. Good luck Reg

phlegma · #5 03-09-2010, 11:23 AM

i'll remember that. thanks!

littleAngel89 · #6 03-09-2010, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatJeff

If you are dead set on learning out of a book, there is an extensive thread on this site that deals with people going through the Micky Baker method: http://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/getting-started/2425-mickey-bakers-complete-course-jazz-guitar.html. This seems to be a good method for getting up and playing quickly, and it's been used for at least 50 years.

I also know that a lot of people have used the William Leavitt 1-2-3 series: Amazon.com: A Modern Method for Guitar - Volumes 1, 2, 3 Complete (Berklee Methods) (9780876390115): William Leavitt: Books. This one will definitely improve your sight reading.

The standard answer, however, is for you to get yourself a qualified teacher. You can either try to find yourself someone in your area, or join up with an online site like Jimmy Bruno, Mark Elf, Andreas Oberg, etc. Let us know if you have questions.

Thanks a million!
I'm also beginner and your post has helped me alot
Hope that in the near future I can have chance to post some of my playing here then everyone can have a comment

ecohen · #7 03-11-2010, 07:32 AM

I've been learning jazz guitar since June (never touched a guitar before) so had the same challenge. I found it really depends on how you want to learn. I started with Mickey Baker, which I love, but ended up with a series of books that I use for different purposes. I first spent time learning music theory to understand what I'm doing (e.g., so that I can figure out how and why an A7 turns into an A7#5 and how to find my own voicings). This made it easie r to not only remember the Baker chords, but have a chord vocabulary that is much larger. Then I focused on basic reading, how chords work together, modes, improvisation approaches etc. In less than a year, my technique still stinks but I have a great tool set that allows me to figure out songs, improvise and quickly explore new concepts. The most important thing was spending time on the basics (theory, patterns, scales, modes, chords etc) and then learning how to apply it.

I posted a short list of books here but am always picking up more.
The Books | Mastering Mickey

phlegma · #8 03-11-2010, 11:11 AM

nice tips, cool blog approach too.

i've got the berklee volume 1 at the moment, and have made a list on amazon of various intriguing books. the baker method looks great, and i'll probably pick that up once i get my basics down.

cheers!

ecohen · #9 03-17-2010, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phlegma

nice tips, cool blog approach too.

i've got the berklee volume 1 at the moment, and have made a list on amazon of various intriguing books. the baker method looks great, and i'll probably pick that up once i get my basics down.

cheers!

Hi Phlegma,

Would you mind posting your list from Amazon? I know I should do one but due to laziness I thought I'd ask you first.

And yes, returning to Baker after getting the basics down made all the difference (you don't waste time learning chords you already understand and instead focus on Baker's technique).

phlegma · #10 03-17-2010, 04:45 PM

Well honestly I've kinda scrapped most of them after seeing how good the Berklee approach is. I'm only on page 9 of the first method but I really like it. Seeing that these three volumes are Berklee's own standard for which they teach their students, I don't think I'll need to look into too many other books.

I'll pick up the Baker Method after I finish the first volume of the Berklee set to see how its material compares with what I've learned and will continue to learn with Berklee volume two. I will likely compliment my progress with some theory books, I don't know what yet.

By the way, if you buy the Berklee volumes separate, they are more expensive, but the first volume comes with a DVD which follows along every lesson with Berklee's dept. chair. It's a real treat if you're teaching yourself, like me. It's nice to play along with him in the duets, he's got good tips, friendly, and it's nice to see his fingers if you have technique questions.

franamico · #11 03-19-2010, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phlegma

Greetings all. I'm a beginning guitarist looking for comprehensive guitar method, and namely through a jazz and theory perspective. I'm looking to learn to read music along the way.

At the present moment I've taken a year of music theory, and I understand how to read and interpret written notation, but of course I can't sit down with a guitar and apply it.

I've got a great book my Tom Kolb - Guitar Method (Hal Leonard) which is a really comprehensive manual for theory applied to the guitar, but it doesn't really teach me any music or to read it along the way.

Any tips? I'm currently looking through this WorkshopLive program, some Jody Fisher books, Mel Bay books, not sure what to do. Susan Palmers' looks very methodical. I have dreams of Metheny's books, but I know it'll be a while...

Cheers!

That reminds of my teens...:-) eons ago...

Hey that could be overwhelming.

My first tip is:

Get an easy tune and practice writing down the roots of the bass lines.
See what the guitar player is doing and do EXACTLY what he/she does
Get a couple a lines from the solos and play it in unison with the record
Break all the lines apart and look at the relationship with the chords of the melody

That should keep you busy for a while.

But let me tell you one thing: don't spend a fortune in tuition.

It is true that you need a good instructor.
I just created a review of what I believe are the best of the best
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