Playing at the speed of jazz

[youns]

Hello jazzguitar.be,

This is a Reg appreciation post And also a jazzguitar.be appreciation post: at the time of Reddit, I prefer 100% this type of internet. It is nice to see that the community is still going. I am a long time lurker of jazzguitar.be, and I struggled through years trying to learn jazz guitar. One year and a half ago I read a post from Reg saying something like: "you have to devote time to build a strong technique which give you a reference system and the ability to play at the speed of jazz".

To keep things short and since I am not a native english speaker : Thank you Reg!!!

This in fact the best advice I had in my learning. I followed it and focused since (but not only) on building a stronger right hand by deconstructing and reconstructing my technique. I am learning the gypsy right hand and try to copy Stochelo Rosenberg's technique.

The result in 1.5 year: I went from the eternal struggle of the unreliable right hand to "Yes!! I can play something that sounds like what I want to play, with infinitely more ease and musicality!!".

I found that gypsy picking applies and sounds very well on other instruments like an Ibanez RG, a telecaster, an archtop, a classical guitar etc with minor adjustments. My old technique enabled me to play moderately fast but it was an incompatible technique with jazz. The ability to play Pantera stuffs doesn't translate at all to playing Charlie Parker inspired lines!

"The ability to play at the speed of jazz": this is definitely a thing, and it is true, building a strong technique is a prerequisite. The entry level to playing bebop for example is high. You need a strong and reliable reference system compatible with the idiom.

I would like to buy you some beers Reg, I am a bit too far for that...

[AllanAllen]

I found that gypsy picking applies and sounds very well on other instruments like an Ibanez RG, a telecaster, an archtop, a classical guitar etc with minor adjustments. My old technique enabled me to play moderately fast but it was an incompatible technique with jazz. The ability to play Pantera stuffs doesn't translate at all to playing Charlie Parker inspired lines!

Learning Charlie Parker heads is a great route to playing Charlie Parker inspired lines.

[Reg]

Thanks Youns...

Where are you, I'll be in Italy end of August and couple weeks of September LOL

[Strat-itis]

I also picked up that advice from Reg back in 2021 or so. I started music in 2000. It never occurred to me that technique was an important facet of music lol! Since focusing on technique as a separate discipline that has to be developed, my playing has drastically improved. I believe the other 3 facets of music to be ear, creativity, and theory.

[DawgBone]

It's brutal, deconstructing and reconstructing your playing. I'm still closing in on my reward as I have a little less than a year long deep dive into building some effortless flowing major-minor pentatonic runs across the neck in a half dozen keys so I'm not box-bound in any way. I'm close but still stumble on it here and there live. My feel isn't quite 100%.

I guess the point is it's critical to set some clear goals and then do the work. Congrats on your hard work paying off and nice work with the advice Reg!