Information overload sufferers' idea

[larryb]

To those of you who have been following the "information overload" thread, I have an idea and would like to see if anyone is interested. One of the problems I have about "just playing" a song is that there are so many directions to go. Learn the chords? Arpeggios? Which ones? Substitutions? Improv on the melody line? What to do, what to do?

So here is my thought. How about we get a group of us together who need to break free of info overload? Then we decide on a song. Maybe one of the pros or teachers or experts on here can guide us. Then collectively, we decide what we should work on first. Should it be learning the melody? What should we do with it? Memorize it? Improv on it? What next? Arpeggios? Which ones? And so on.

That way we will combine learning a song with learning from each other and getting some guidance as to how to go through this. I imagine that if we pick a song together, work on it for a few weeks, then pick another, follow the same process, by the time we get through 6 or 7 songs, we will have enough confidence and guidance to go it alone.

Anyone interested? I'll give this a few days to see if there are any takers and if so we can proceed from there.

Looking forward to our virtual jam session.

[augusjazz]

Excellent idea, I'm interested.
Put me on the list.

[fep]

Originally Posted by larryb

To those of you who have been following the "information overload" thread, I have an idea and would like to see if anyone is interested. One of the problems I have about "just playing" a song is that there are so many directions to go. Learn the chords? Arpeggios? Which ones? Substitutions? Improv on the melody line? What to do, what to do?

So here is my thought. How about we get a group of us together who need to break free of info overload? Then we decide on a song. Maybe one of the pros or teachers or experts on here can guide us. Then collectively, we decide what we should work on first. Should it be learning the melody? What should we do with it? Memorize it? Improv on it? What next? Arpeggios? Which ones? And so on.

That way we will combine learning a song with learning from each other and getting some guidance as to how to go through this. I imagine that if we pick a song together, work on it for a few weeks, then pick another, follow the same process, by the time we get through 6 or 7 songs, we will have enough confidence and guidance to go it alone.

Anyone interested? I'll give this a few days to see if there are any takers and if so we can proceed from there.

Looking forward to our virtual jam session.

I'd suggest we use the practical standards study group threads for that. What you are describing is the a big part of what those threads are about.

There's one more or less every month. It's Straight No Chaser this Month. You could jump in right now and move that thread in that direction. And there's already a group of folks following those threads.

A side note, the word 'Practical' was added to the title of those threads as we didn't want them to become filled with esoteric theory discussions.

[larryb]

Yes, for sure. Sorry I overlooked that. I'm jumping in. Thanks for the tip.

Originally Posted by fep

I'd suggest we use the practical standards study group threads for that. What you are describing is the a big part of what those threads are about.

There's one more or less every month. It's Straight No Chaser this Month. You could jump in right now and move that thread in that direction. And there's already a group of folks following those threads.

A side note, the word 'Practical' was added to the title of those threads as we didn't want them to become filled with esoteric theory discussions.

[tytlfamily]

Fep,
I jumped in myself recently, and thanks for hosting/working that pratical standards group, it is very useful.

Tytl

[mr. beaumont]

I don't "know" a song until I can play the melody, comp freely and inventively, and improvise on the structure.

Meaning, yes, I need to learn the melody, I definitely need to learn the chords (in as many places as possible) and I need to spend some time in the shed with the changes. Then I truly "know" the song.

That said, I play songs I don't "know" all the time!

[Modern Saint]

That practical thread is slick. I am glad that stumbled on this thread to lead me there.

[tachee500]

Hello Jeff and other old guys!!!

Jeff, I like your post about learning the melody, the comping chords, and then improvising. I can do the first one pretty darn well. Occasionally the third one.

I have trouble with the second though, because most Jazz tunes don't have that big guitar or piano sound cranking out the chords which I can easily hear and pick up. Most rock and folk songs do, as do blues tunes of course. I can usually figure out the swing jazz tunes of the 30's and 40's, but the tunes starting in the 50's, no chance. For example, I recently figured out the entire head of Wes' 4 on 6, by ear, and had it down pretty darn well inside an hour. But I can't figure out the chord progression to comp. I know I can download a lead sheet, but I really want to pick it up by ear. Is this a losing battle, or is it a matter of more experience? I don't mean about that one tune specifically, but rather most jazz tunes where the non-improving muscians are just playing moving suggestions of chord fragments.

I think you see what I'm driving at. Thanks Jeff.

The "other" larry b.