Jazz Novice

[sdr]

I've been noodling with jazz for a few years. Recently started playing with a group (not professional), picked up an inexpensive jazz box and decided to get serious about it. For the first time since I was a teenager, I found myself working on my picking technique. I just realized that I was playing a little differently and said, "hmm, I'd better work on that".

So the question is - Is it possible for a middle aged guitarist, with limited practice time and decades of bad habits under his belt, to significantly improve his chops?

Of course it is! Let's hear some inspirational stories from folks in the same boat.

[GuitaRoland]

Originally Posted by sdr

So the question is - Is it possible for a middle aged guitarist, with limited practice time and decades of bad habits under his belt, to significantly improve his chops?
Of course it is! Let's hear some inspirational stories from folks in the same boat.

How middle aged are you, I just turned 63 and I'm still struggling to improve my theoretical knowledge and technique, will I give up? I don't think so, for me the music and playing are a big quality of life. I think it keeps you (me) younger too!

Keep on!
/R

[cosmic gumbo]

If you know what you need to do, it can be done. I find the most difficult task has been to not waste time on stuff that ends up being bullshit. That's why at any age, it's worth paying an advanced professional guitarist to share what you really need to know, as opposed to what you think you need to learn.

[Reg]

[quote=sdr;79539]

So the question is - Is it possible for a middle aged guitarist, with limited practice time and decades of bad habits under his belt, to significantly improve his chops?
How much time required to improve chops is a direct relationship to how bad your habits or your technique is. Bad fingering and picking technique can make the process very slow or even almost impossible, where as good technique and the right practice schedule could make the process fairly simple...
When your young... it takes five to ten years to become a jazz player,( usually closer to ten). Once you've lived a little and you have an understanding as to how things work... you can usually cut the time in half. This time line starts after you've become a guitar player. I've seen schedules on this forum from a few teachers that look pretty impressive or as mentioned get a teacher who can cover... Reg

[FatJeff]

Of course it is possible. But sacrifices have to made. By limited practice time, what exactly are you talking about, time-wise? an hour a day? 3 hours?

In my case I decided to enroll in a jazz studies performance degree at the local university. I just finished my first year. I am 44 and have been playing jazz now for maybe 1 1/2 years. I'm nowhere as good as I would like to be, but I am a hell of a lot better than I was before these past two semesters. I practice for anywhere between 2 and 3 1/2 hours a day.

Cosmic Gumbo is right - getting a qualified teacher is absolutely the best route to getting the best and quickest results. It can be done on your own, but it's much more efficient to get a good jazz teacher. Doesn't even have to be a guitar teacher - a solid jazz piano teacher or even bass or horn would do you.

[GuitaRoland]

Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo

That's why at any age, it's worth paying an advanced professional guitarist to share what you really need to know, as opposed to what you think you need to learn.

Where I live there are no such thing as a qualified teacher, so you just try to make it on your own.

/R

[sdr]

Good tips from everyone. Thanks. For the record, I'm 40 (is that less middle aged or more? I don't know. This is actually one of the first times I ever put that number down in writing. Feels weird.), with 2 young children. I get to play maybe an hour a night on average.

I've seen some of the other threads on good practice routines. There's a big difference between the tricks and licks that get you by in a rock band and the well articulated, fully picked lines that jazz requires. Gotta turn some of that "play" into "practice" and get the routine down to build the speed up.

[cosmic gumbo]

Spend time practicing and get off the interweb.

[sdr]

Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo

Spend time practicing and get off the interweb.

Right. If only I could have a guitar with me at work

[bass2man]

Speaking fo middle age, I hope that 50 is the new 40...

Sure you can do it!!!

I too only have a few hours a week to practice but I make sure that the time is well spent on learning tunes, arps, scales etc. I find that learning a song slowly and then speeding it up over a month that it helps in getting the scales and ideas, as well as my picking, under my belt.

This sure would be easier if I had any talent....

[franamico]

Man,
I'd like to give you an inspirational story. But, in my opinion you don't need any. You must start writing YOUR story.
You can do whatever you set yourself as a goal.
Practice your guitar and enjoy the journey!