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The book has even "Shell Voicing" chapter from the Amazon photos. I used to think Shell Voicing is an advanced topic in Jazz Guitar. But maybe it is not?
Originally Posted by James W
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02-18-2026 10:56 AM
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Many books out there but one fine and highly valued one I haven't seen mentioned here yet (-pardon me if I missed it) is Pat Martino's Linear Expressions.
Pat went his own way (more than once) but this is an excellent treatment of one jazz great's approach to improvising single note lines on the guitar. He taught other things later, but his "convert to minor" (or "minor conversion") approach is easily grasped (at least in broad outline).
I'm a Herb Ellis fan, so it's no surprise I find Herb's books useful: Blues Shapes (-long out of print but if you find a copy, grab it), Swing Blues, Rhythm Shapes, and All the Shapes You Are. These books provide a motherlode of great jazz guitar lines that will get you through most jazz standards.
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I bought that one in the 80s. Got as far as page 8, then loaned it to a friend and he finally returned it last year. Maybe it's time to take another look? I remember it as being more of a 'do this, do that' sort of thing, without much explanation of why 'this' or 'that' worked. Originally Posted by AllanAllen
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Jerry Coker's book were very popular when I began to learn jazz, e.g., this one: Improvising Jazz by Jerry Coker
I hadn't thought about him in a long time, this book sounds very useful: Hearing the Changes by Jerry Coker
This looks good: Improvisation Handbook - Eb InstrumentsLast edited by Mick-7; 02-18-2026 at 01:42 PM.
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I see a lot of guys get bogged down in the theory morass when first trying to learn jazz.When you are a little kid learning to speak,you are not taught grammatical rules,you learn to speak mimicking your parents and siblings.You should learn as many licks or lines as you can at first and then you can delve into theory to understand why and how something works later on.One of the best books for learning licks,phrases is Jazz Guitar Lines of the Greats by Steve Briody.This book has actual lines as played by greats such as Pass,Farlow,Wes.I'll add if the OP digs Joe Pass get his books, his book on chords opened a whole new world for me when i was young.
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No, shell voicings are one of the first things worth learning. They give you the essential tones of chords and get you comping for yourself and others immediately. Originally Posted by GBRow
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This website will help with the “why” stuff. It also expands the exercises a little, which I liked. Originally Posted by CliffR
Mickey Baker
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Great info. Thank you. Originally Posted by PMB
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Latch-key runaway, dirt poor, white trash, dropout mountain kid here - perhaps that explains why my jazz vocabulary sounds alot like 'aint' and white bread cuss words. Still learning the fundamentals - the self taught Jazz equivalent to 'the fork salad goes on the left'... Originally Posted by nyc chaz
You make a great point, I would add that aside from quoting other players, if one can be around quality people, thoughtful well-intended players as much as possible (the teacher recommendation is a great example as well) it can be a real life changer. I know some younger players begrudge schooling or being taught habits of discipline, but I wish I had the opportunity. Studying now as an older and experienced player with poor habits, is still very rewarding and stimulating, but it is always going to be filtered through lifes busy distractions or interests.
I do appreciate this thread, I have gotten a couple new books on the way.
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The problem with Jazz books is that you use your eyes with a book not your ears.
So, get lessons from a good Jazz teacher, it doesn't have to be guitar teacher, but it can be.
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You're still using your ears when you read, in the same way you still use your ears if you look at your hands while playing, except if you're reading you're connecting sound to sight and vice versa in a particular way that is valuable. Originally Posted by GuyBoden
The problem with Jazz books is that you use your eyes with a book not your ears.
So, get lessons from a good Jazz teacher, it doesn't have to be guitar teacher, but it can be.
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Its an outstanding book. Originally Posted by GBRow
Just remember that jazz is kind of tough. So an introduction might not mean it’s a walk in the park. There’s years worth of material in that book.
And ditto everyone who recommends Randy Vincent in general.
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Randy Vincent was Julian Lage's guitar instructor, would be hard to get a better endorsement than that.
P.S. - I understand that Vincent has released two albums, but I've never heard them. I only know of his work with Mel Martin, they're both San Francisco North Bay residents - as was Julian.
Here are two of his recordings with Mel:
Plays Thelonious Monk - Bebop & Beyond | Album | AllMusic
Plays Dizzy Gillespie - Bebop & Beyond | Album | AllMusicLast edited by Mick-7; 02-19-2026 at 07:31 PM.
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The Vincent book is good
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Great info thanks. Just placed an order for the RV's book.
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Yes that is the second book by the same author. The first one “melodic” is my favorite. Originally Posted by GBRow
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Do you own both copy? If yes, how are they different? Originally Posted by alltunes
Why is the "melodic" version more favored than the "harmonic" version?
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Yes, Mickey's book is a 'do this, do that' sort of thing. That's a strength. If you learn to play well, get the feel of a style (jazz, country, blues, whatever), it is far easier to understand WHY the lines work than it is to start with explanations and the suggestion that you come up with great lines on your own. Originally Posted by CliffR
As for Mickey Baker in particular, a lot of contemporary blues players learned their chord moves and substitutions from that book. It's good stuff, despite using some chord voicings few of us play anymore. (They're still worth learning though. A lot of great lines are built around augmented and diminished chord shapes.)
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This is great advice. Originally Posted by GuyBoden
The problem with Jazz books is that you use your eyes with a book not your ears.
So, get lessons from a good Jazz teacher, it doesn't have to be guitar teacher, but it can be.
Books may contain a goldmine of solid information, but books cannot hear you play. The book can't tell you when you're rushing or where your articulation falters or that your pocket has a hole in it. Or sequence material to match your current skill level and goals. Or tell you, after hours of frustration to hang in there, you'll get it.
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Jazz Rhythm Guitar by Roger Edison is one of my favorites.
The way it progresses just resonates with the way I learn, and the voicings, a little different to some other books, just sound great to me.
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This - 100% - find a teacher who is a good player but perhaps more importantly is invested in clearly communicating what you need to work on and why. Originally Posted by Jimmy blue note
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I had the “harmonic” book but sold it in one of my many jazz book sales Originally Posted by GBRow
Still own “melodic” as a matter of fact bought it twice so I could get the audio download codes.
”harmonic” got into more advanced and outside playing if I remember correctly….also “melodic” has plenty of stuff to keep me busy and as mentioned covers a lot of bases
it is so easy to get distracted these days…too many books videos youtube’s facebook posts about “learning jazz guitar”
my advice take one tidbit from any book and work with guitar in hand to assimilate into what you already do
I still own the Mickey Baker book but can’t say I learned anything from it…can’t say I tried that hard either though…it’s a bit dated…the Randy Vincent intro book is a good start
i think that no TAB in a jazz instruction book is a good thing…that said Garrison’s books do have TAB
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I'm not much of a book guy. Over the years I've had a bunch and have tended to grab a little of this and a little of that from each rather than go through them systematically. I studied briefly with a player named Alan DeMause, and he had a couple of books published by Mel Bay that had good exercises in them for relative noobs. And if no one else will say it, I will -- Chord Chemistry by Ted Greene. The pages and pages of unplayable voicings are not all that useful, but his explanation of harmony is very helpful.
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I was able to download this book in PDF for FREE. It looks excellent book indeed. Thank you for the post. Originally Posted by digger
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Originally Posted by alltunes
I had the “harmonic” book but sold it in one of my many jazz book sales Still own “melodic” as a matter of fact bought it twice so I could get the audio download codes.
”harmonic” got into more advanced and outside playing if I remember correctly….also “melodic” has plenty of stuff to keep me busy and as mentioned covers a lot of bases
it is so easy to get distracted these days…too many books videos youtube’s facebook posts about “learning jazz guitar”
my advice take one tidbit from any book and work with guitar in hand to assimilate into what you already do
I still own the Mickey Baker book but can’t say I learned anything from it…can’t say I tried that hard either though…it’s a bit dated…the Randy Vincent intro book is a good start
i think that no TAB in a jazz instruction book is a good thing…that said Garrison’s books do have TAB
Thank you for the information and advice. I see your points.
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