Carol Kaye recommends Robert Conti's books on chord melody playing

[MarkRhodes]

Some time back, someone told me they say where Carol recommended Robert Conti's chord melody material. I went looking for the source, couldn't find it, got distracted, and here we are years later.

This morning, I emailed Carol and asked her about it.

She wrote back, "I refer all to Conti, yes. He's a good teacher and knows chordal playing/teaching well."

Conti's chord melodies were a regular feature in "Just Jazz Guitar" for years.
If one is new to chord melody, his "Chord Melody Assembly Line" is a great place to start.

(I have no financial connection with either Carol or Conti. Just a fan hoping to learn a few things from those who know better.)

Chord Melody Assembly Line • RobertConti.com

[Woodstove]

Thanks Mark- Just got it and it looks excellent.

[MarkRhodes]

[Kirk Garrett]

Great post, very useful, thanks Mark.

[MarkRhodes]

From NAMM, 2004. There are scattered clips of them jamming together at NAMM shows.

[MarkRhodes]

[lawson-stone]

Even after spending over 20 years on chord-melody playing I found his book very useful and insightful.

[Marty Grass]

First of all, Bob is a good teacher and easy to understand. He speaks clearly and emphatically. Second of all, his lessons are interesting. Third, he's an amazing player.

I got his course long ago and never came close to finishing it. Life got in the way. I'm starting it up again. Thanks.

[Cunamara]

I have the chord melody assembly line book (is there more than one, I can't remember?). Conti does a very nice job of building the skill up in a graded fashion, using as I recall a folk song for the melody. he's good at doing bite-size steps. The student has to do some problem-solving at times, which in my experience seemed to make the lesson stick a little better.

As a player, Conti has really impressive chops although somehow he's never quite grabbed me as someone I want to spend time listening to. I really don't understand why, but there it is.

At least in the chord melody materials, he deemphasizes theoretical concerns in favor of getting it under your fingers and in your ears.

[MarkRhodes]

I have the chord melody assembly line book (is there more than one, I can't remember?). .

Yes, there is more than one book. "Assembly Line" is the nuts and bolts. "The Formula" is putting the pieces together.

[JerryB]

I have the chord melody assembly line book (is there more than one, I can't remember?). Conti does a very nice job of building the skill up in a graded fashion, using as I recall a folk song for the melody. he's good at doing bite-size steps. The student has to do some problem-solving at times, which in my experience seemed to make the lesson stick a little better.

As a player, Conti has really impressive chops although somehow he's never quite grabbed me as someone I want to spend time listening to. I really don't understand why, but there it is.

At least in the chord melody materials, he deemphasizes theoretical concerns in favor of getting it under your fingers and in your ears.

Interesting thread as I'm a big Conti fan, working through the same book/DVD. Regarding your "grab me" comment, here's a video from a Conti direct to disc album that I think you'll enjoy:

[2bornot2bop]

Oh, I thought this was about Bill Conti who scored the film Rocky. Well, that was great too!

[Sleeko]

I think of Robert Conti daily in an indirect way as we are having major road construction near by and the company doing the work is Conti. I can't help but see the name every day on the way to work LoL.