The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
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  1. #26

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    Quote Originally Posted by Michael Neverisky
    Learning styles and teaching styles differ so it sounds like a good approach to audition different teachers. It's remarkably inexpensive to do so.

    The best jump start into jazz style for me was a few months with Jimmy Bruno. He used to call it "no nonsense jazz guitar" and I think his approach is quite practical.
    I used to have his dvd called no nonesense jazz guitar but never made it through. But he does seem like a practical teacher which is why I was having a hard time choosing where to focus for a couple months to a year at least.

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    The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
     
  3. #27

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    Quote Originally Posted by d115
    I joined JB's workshop last week and am working on the positions. I like the way he is tying in the arpeggios into the scales. So far he is presenting things in an easy to grasp method. I used to absorb things easier a long time ago, now not so much, lol. But i am finding the website helpful so far.
    Maybe its too early for a teacher?
    I know basic theory but never was able to apply theory to any depth in my years of playing bass in a progressive rock band. I basically played what sounded good to me.
    Im finding the guitar quite different from bass as far as the possibilities and need to be able to make the connection between theory and application.
    Nice that you're making progress. You mind giving me an idea how his "syllabus" is structured? He doesn't show much as to what you'll get in there. I'm actually checking out Barry Greene's stuff and it looks solid. A bit fast but solid.

  4. #28

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    Quote Originally Posted by Joeontheguitar
    I've worked my way through roughly half of the Dave Stryker program, but I have a few gripes with it. First, Dave seems to repeat a few licks over and over again. Also, once I got used to the Truefire layout with notation that runs along with the music, the videos at Artistwork just seem so outdated. Plus, for the same amount of money you can choose between tens of different teachers at Truefire. I much, much prefer TF to AW now.

    I'm also halfway the Jens Larsen program and I must say that I really like it. It is focused on improv and arpeggios. The approach Jens uses is very natural and I made really a lot of progress. With the course comes a very friendly community where you can learn from each other. Also, Jens provides feedback on every video. Not in a video, like at TF, but in words. Even in a few words he makes a lot more sense than what I got out of the feedback videos at AW.

    Although it might sound a bit weird, but Jens' 'European approach' does appeal more to me than some American teachers do at TF.
    That's actually very helpful to know about the AW program with Stryker and the program from Jens. I follow his Youtube Channel and his Patreon stuff. I like his stuff. Jens I mean.

    I tried TrueFire before and it wasn't working for me for the exact reason you might like it. Too many options. I'm not that disciplined and found myself all over the place and was in a new thing almost everyday. I was there for acoustic fingerstyle so just imagine the options.

    I went back to TrueFire yesterday but only for Frank Vignola's Jazz Studio as someone here recommended I check out. It's focused and that's what I need. So that and I'm thinking Barry Greene's stuff and I won't be spread too thin.

  5. #29

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    Quote Originally Posted by Endaro
    Interesting. Could you elaborate on what you see as the distinction in approach between the two?
    It's the little things. A little less 'drama'. Not everything that is OK is 'great'. The fact that Jens is not a native English makes it easier to understand. He won't use any hard to understand words. His English is effective.

  6. #30

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    Quote Originally Posted by cris1xy
    That's actually very helpful to know about the AW program with Stryker and the program from Jens. I follow his Youtube Channel and his Patreon stuff. I like his stuff. Jens I mean.

    I tried TrueFire before and it wasn't working for me for the exact reason you might like it. Too many options. I'm not that disciplined and found myself all over the place and was in a new thing almost everyday. I was there for acoustic fingerstyle so just imagine the options.

    I went back to TrueFire yesterday but only for Frank Vignola's Jazz Studio as someone here recommended I check out. It's focused and that's what I need. So that and I'm thinking Barry Greene's stuff and I won't be spread too thin.
    I follow a number of courses simultaneously and that works for me. I also use TF if I need some ideas to comp or solo on a specific song. I have to admit it's sometimes hard to stick to a course, but if it really doesn't work out, there's a (maybe) better one around the corner.
    There's a huge difference between the teachers. For example, Frank Vignola usually goes slow and explain everything you need to know. Fareed Hacque is a great teacher and I love his comping course, but sometimes I have to rewind and play what he says at least a couple of times to get what he means.

  7. #31

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    Quote Originally Posted by cris1xy
    Nice that you're making progress. You mind giving me an idea how his "syllabus" is structured? He doesn't show much as to what you'll get in there. I'm actually checking out Barry Greene's stuff and it looks solid. A bit fast but solid.
    If I may jump in again regarding Bruno's "syllabus". I'd break it down like this:


    1. Woodshed the five fingerings (down from the 6 or 7 in the old DVD series). This, in my view, unlocks the fretboard.
    2. Jimmy assigns you a tune: Satin Doll, Blue Bossa are among his favorite first tunes. Lean the head, the chords and
      play a 100% diatonic solo based on a position. His thinking is, in my mind, you can make music with do-re-mi and you
      need to know how to work with this set of tools before venturing into "outside notes".
    3. Improvisation in different positions and connecting the positions. He has thoughts on how to do this.
    4. Guided ways to adding "outside notes", in Jimmy's language.


    What I find particularly useful is the non-verbal communication. Jimmy can make a jazz line with a diatonic scale which,
    to my ear, he makes sound more musical and relevant... and swing, than someone who might start hopping around an
    altered dominant scale. Not that he can't and doesn't do that! It's just not necessary to make a good sounding line in his
    pedagogy.

  8. #32

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    Jimmy Bruno also breaks down his "major scale as a starting point methodology" in his two Hot Licks DVDs. Great stuff.

  9. #33

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    Quote Originally Posted by JoeW
    I have studied with Jimmy Bruno, Robert Conti, and Richie Zellon. I also subscribed to Artist works for a year.

    I didn't like the Artist Works course. I'll just leave it at that.

    Robert Conti is very licks based. After you memorize a bunch of very long licks, they eventually start overlapping. It is a very quick way to get up and running with improvisation. It was a good starting point for me; I spent a lot of time with Conti's material about twenty years ago.

    I never had much success with Jimmy Bruno's course. He would ask you to film yourself then he would critique it. It's a great method for people who aren't shy about making video's of themselves, but for me it was a PITA and a deal killer. I didn't get far at all. Jimmy is a great guy, so I'm not knocking him at all. I love the guy. It just wasn't for me.

    Richie Zellon offers a college level course. It is completely organized and I have been just very impressed. Richie gets my highest recommendation. If you want to learn jazz from the ground up, Richie Zellon is your guy. He's also very accessible.
    I'll put Robert Conti on my list to check out. Thanks for that recommendation. I actually started with Barry Greene's site and its impressive how its structured. Richie Zellon bebop lessons though looks good and solid. I will give it another look since that's the structure I need

  10. #34

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    Quote Originally Posted by cris1xy
    Hey Guys and Gals

    So I've been playing guitar a little bit but lacked the direction. I recently started exploring jazz and been trying to learn but a lot of stuff out there has no structure and I don't know where to go next. I did my due diligence and narrowed a lot of the stuff online to just a few. I need recommendations if anyone has tried these and where I should start. I don't mind going through them all in a logical sequence. I don't mind starting simple to build a solid foundation. Ultimately I want to comp and play over changes. The cost is not really an issue once its worth it. The goal is to transition from self taught to getting a teacher when I have a little more under my belt.
    Here are my options and any other suggestions are more than welcome.

    Jazz Guitar Roadmap - Jens Larson

    The Jazz Guitar Roadmap

    Bebop Guitar - Richie Zellon
    Home | Bebop Guitar Improv Series

    Jimmy Bruno Guitar Workshop
    Learn Jazz Guitar | Jimmy Bruno Guitar Workshop

    Looking forward to every response!

  11. #35

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    Quote Originally Posted by JoeW
    I have studied with Jimmy Bruno, Robert Conti, and Richie Zellon. I also subscribed to Artist works for a year.

    I didn't like the Artist Works course. I'll just leave it at that.

    Robert Conti is very licks based. After you memorize a bunch of very long licks, they eventually start overlapping. It is a very quick way to get up and running with improvisation. It was a good starting point for me; I spent a lot of time with Conti's material about twenty years ago.

    I never had much success with Jimmy Bruno's course. He would ask you to film yourself then he would critique it. It's a great method for people who aren't shy about making video's of themselves, but for me it was a PITA and a deal killer. I didn't get far at all. Jimmy is a great guy, so I'm not knocking him at all. I love the guy. It just wasn't for me.

    Richie Zellon offers a college level course. It is completely organized and I have been just very impressed. Richie gets my highest recommendation. If you want to learn jazz from the ground up, Richie Zellon is your guy. He's also very accessible.

  12. #36

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    Quote Originally Posted by Endaro
    Interesting. Could you elaborate on what you see as the distinction in approach between the two?

  13. #37
    Although I haven't started as of yet, I just joined Jens Larsen's "The Jazz Guitar Roadmap" course. I've followed him for quite a while now on YT and I like his teaching style and the content quality of his videos.

    If you join and find it's not for you, he offers a 30-Day money back guarantee.

    Jens is also a member here.


    Good luck and

  14. #38

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    Quote Originally Posted by marcwhy
    Hey Cris -- welcome!

    Some good programs ... Why "wait," though, to get a teacher?? Find a good one in your area; if none, I recommend Pete Sklaroff (a member here) -- he teaches online, and he's excellent for students of any level!

    And have fun!

    Marc
    Thanks Marc! :-)

  15. #39

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    After many half-finished TF courses, a couple of improvisation workshops, YT videos, books etc - I also decided to sign up for Jens Larsen's "The Jazz Guitar Roadmap" course earlier this week. I've only looked at the 2 first 2 chapters and find them instructive, well organised and useful. Being able to play a beginner level improvised solo with only a few notes after a few weeks will be great achievement, and I am planning to apply the same song/melody/soloing principles to other standards as well.

    It was either Jens Larsen or Richie Zellon, and I also felt that after having looked at Jens's YT channel and videos for a long time now, it was time to give something back to him for all his efforts.

  16. #40

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    +1 for Richie Zellon. If I may add, Dana Rasch has several comprehensive courses to chose from at visualguidetones

  17. #41

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    I've been on the "The Jazz Guitar Roadmap" program for 2 weeks now and it's been great. I probably played more guitar in the last 2 weeks than ever before, and it motivated me to pick up other courses as well. What I like about the course (and I assume that would be the same for other courses as well) is the small steps to 'learn' soloing and improvising. It starts with 2 notes, then the arpeggio followed by the scale, and later on color notes etc. I've spent a lot of time soloing with just 2 notes and/or arpeggio on a ii-V, and I'll probably spend another 2 weeks just doing that before moving on.

    The main frustration - if may call it that - is that I seem to spend a whole week just playing 4 notes and still not being happy with the results. There's no rush though, and I am more than happy to use the next couple of weeks if not months to internalise these exercises and them apply them to many other jazz standards.

    This discussion topic finally motivated me to start a course, and I am extremely happy I did that. Thanks to everybody who contributed. 2 other benefits so far - I am getting better at identifying chords changes in the backing track and find my way back into the track when I get lost, and learning from recording myself and listening back. Plus I play much more guitar, even getting up at 6am to spend 1hr praticising before work.

  18. #42

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    Quote Originally Posted by bloos66
    I've been on the "The Jazz Guitar Roadmap" program for 2 weeks now and it's been great. I probably played more guitar in the last 2 weeks than ever before, and it motivated me to pick up other courses as well. What I like about the course (and I assume that would be the same for other courses as well) is the small steps to 'learn' soloing and improvising. It starts with 2 notes, then the arpeggio followed by the scale, and later on color notes etc. I've spent a lot of time soloing with just 2 notes and/or arpeggio on a ii-V, and I'll probably spend another 2 weeks just doing that before moving on.

    The main frustration - if may call it that - is that I seem to spend a whole week just playing 4 notes and still not being happy with the results. There's no rush though, and I am more than happy to use the next couple of weeks if not months to internalise these exercises and them apply them to many other jazz standards.

    This discussion topic finally motivated me to start a course, and I am extremely happy I did that. Thanks to everybody who contributed. 2 other benefits so far - I am getting better at identifying chords changes in the backing track and find my way back into the track when I get lost, and learning from recording myself and listening back. Plus I play much more guitar, even getting up at 6am to spend 1hr praticising before work.
    One thing that you can do while going through a step-by-step improv course is to run a parallel course of study where you learn jazz solo etudes or even better - transcribed solos.

    In that way you are doing "Imitate" (etudes/transcribed solos) and "Assimilate" (step-by-step improv course) at the same time.

    After all, it's going to take some time before your improvisation capability reaches a high level (years) but you can/should be playing pro-level solos much sooner, as long as you're patient and steady with that study as well. Just make sure that the etudes/solos that you select are prioritized in a level-appropriate manner as well.

    The goal is for the two paths to cross and become like one, someday.

  19. #43

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    Quote Originally Posted by Donplaysguitar
    One thing that you can do while going through a step-by-step improv course is to run a parallel course of study where you learn jazz solo etudes or even better - transcribed solos.
    Thanks for your feedback and suggestion, and that's what I already do. Frank Vignola has some great jazz standard soloing courses on Truefire, and I also purchased a number of Matt's MWG courses with lots of solos in them. Lars's course also has a solo for each exercise to play along with.

    For a jazz beginner like me, learning to play a 'good sounding' and swinging solo with just 2 notes, the arpeggio and/or scale will take quite a bit of time, but this time around I determined to go all the way :-)

    I am also using a book series called 'Essential Elements Jazz-Play Along' by Michael Sweeney. The first book is an introduction to basic jazz blues soloing, the other books have jazz standards in them with suggested solos. They are mainly for jazz ensembles, and I used the way back when I played tenor sax and bass in a jazz big band. One day, I'll take over the guitar chair <g>

  20. #44

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    I’m impressed with Barry Greene’s site but I wonder if the learning curve might be a bit steep for someone starting out.

    I certainly appreciate being able to go back over a lesson, several times if necessary.

  21. #45

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bach5G
    I’m impressed with Barry Greene’s site but I wonder if the learning curve might be a bit steep for someone starting out.

    I certainly appreciate being able to go back over a lesson, several times if necessary.
    I started rotating a few of them so yeah the curve is a quite steep for someone just starting out. He has a new stepping stones series which is for just that though. He also teaches well so for me I get what he was saying in his lessons. I'm not a total beginner but kind of new to jazz so I'm doing the 5 position study which is quite an eye opener and a workout.

  22. #46

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    Quote Originally Posted by cris1xy
    I started rotating a few of them so yeah the curve is a quite steep for someone just starting out. He has a new stepping stones series which is for just that though. He also teaches well so for me I get what he was saying in his lessons. I'm not a total beginner but kind of new to jazz so I'm doing the 5 position study which is quite an eye opener and a workout.
    I have a few Barry lessons and they are great. Though they are densely packed with info and require repeated viewings. I like his tuned based videos as they are generally a deep dive. Each time you watch new stuff will be revealed. Barry is always careful to tell why he is doing certain things so you can apply to elsewhere. Also his Vimeo platform make sit very easy to watch your purchases.

  23. #47

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    Quote Originally Posted by alltunes
    I have a few Barry lessons and they are great. Though they are densely packed with info and require repeated viewings. I like his tuned based videos as they are generally a deep dive. Each time you watch new stuff will be revealed. Barry is always careful to tell why he is doing certain things so you can apply to elsewhere. Also his Vimeo platform make sit very easy to watch your purchases.
    My thoughts exactly. The more I re watch a video the more I get something else out of it.

  24. #48

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    This thread motivated me to give Trufire a shot and I am glad I did. Thanks again.

  25. #49

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    Quote Originally Posted by skypeace
    This thread motivated me to give Trufire a shot and I am glad I did. Thanks again.
    That’s great! Curious to know what you are working on with Truefire? I’m working on another course so while I don’t have TrueFire at the moment I bought a few courses on there so I’m also working on Modern Jazz Improvisation.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  26. #50

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    looking for new material...i just bought the jazz saxophonist from pg music 10 compelling solos from jack stafford tenor sax.. all laid out in concert key..nice interplay with jack..jazz guitar can be an island..my eye caught franks truefire course at $10 month and access to all his vids...will be signing up..franks human approach too...another reason...moneys tight...read on...Berklee Online ($1300/4 mo course), 3 years of weekly in person lessons ($75/hr) FRANKS A GIFT