The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
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  1. #1

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    Good morning, I just joined this forum as way to guide me through Jazz guitar and of course get some questions answered through the forum. I have been building guitars for 20 years and have been playing classical and flamenco guitar for many decades. Decided to add some jazz to my studies and find it pretty difficult. Hope to get some help through this forum.

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    The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
     
  3. #2

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    Hey there. Welcome!
    Lots of advice here in this community. My own experience/advice is listen to a lot of music, with so many resources at your fingertips. Because playing jazz is so much about hearing and listening, learning to hear yourself and your playing in relation to others, the sharper and more informed your ears are, the better they'll guide your hands and ideas as you grow as a player.
    Personally I listen to the jazz programs on the streaming NY station WKCR where some of the most informative disc jockeys bring the broadest range of thoughtfully presented recordings. It's an education in itself.
    Schedule | WKCR 89.9FM NY
    Learn patiently, create a good inventory of the skillset needed (it's unique) and if possible find a mentor to keep these elements in balance as you advance as a player and lover of the music.
    Get to know your voice, get to hear yourself and your own singing voice as you learn the craft of making melody and your relationship to harmony. Learn to make a metronome your friend so you can think in, with and against the beat. Be patient and let your love for the music guide you. Listen to horn players as much as if not more than guitarists.
    Good luck and welcome.

  4. #3

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    To play jazz, you have to be able to navigate chords. So the very first exercise I am going to recommend for you is 1-6-2-5. Practice this chord pattern 1 chord per bar and 2 chords per bar. Practice chordally with different inversions, and practice melodically with arpeggios or scales. Practice with a metronome in different tempos. Practice in every key, major or minor. The goal is to get all this under your fingers, in your ear and brain, and in good time. Cuz if you can't do that, there's no way to can do a tune! This is level 1. Something my teacher showed me and I've determined it's probably the most elementary exercise for jazz. There used to be a Joe Pass video about this up on youtube, but it's been down for a while.
    Last edited by Bobby Timmons; 01-15-2024 at 01:11 AM.

  5. #4

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    Hello Jocko. There are some very good players and teachers in this forum. It's a good group and I think you'll enjoy your interactions.

    One thing I would note is that it's not only what many think of as traditional jazz. There are many kinds of jazz like bossa nova and gypsy jazz and others. And so many good things to listen to. Lots to explore. And yes. It's kinda hard. But rewarding and fun.

  6. #5

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    I hope this helps you
    It sure helped me !

    the main thing to concentrate on
    is making the changes happen
    in your lines …

    say you’re playing over
    ||Dm7. | G7. |C6. | A7. ||

    I was just meandering around
    without really making the changes

    then a very wise teacher Dave Cliff showed me ….
    play these notes

    up D F A C down B A G F E

    this means you’re landing on the E note …. over the C6 chord

    now you’re making the changes
    and your line has a destination
    (the 3rd of C)

    this one simple line changed it all for me years ago
    thanks again Dave !
    Last edited by pingu; 01-15-2024 at 11:07 AM.

  7. #6

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    It's easy to overlook this in the beginning but when people say jazz is a language and you need vocabulary to play it (both chordally and melodically), they mean it. Everything you learn, be it guide tones, chord tones, a rhythmic figure, tritone sub or new chord voicings etc should be seen as another piece of vocabulary in the language.

    There is a minimum critical mass of vocabulary that needs to be mastered in order to start playing jazz convincingly. After that it's a lifetime of working on the fundamentals to chase the genius of the masters.

  8. #7

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    You can't learn to speak a language without hearing it spoken. I think the most productive way of learning jazz is to listen to lots and lots of it.

  9. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by sgosnell
    You can't learn to speak a language without hearing it spoken. I think the most productive way of learning jazz is to listen to lots and lots of it.
    Amen
    Listen to a lot, come to really love it and feel it
    Go to live music (of any quality) and see it as a process. Don't confuse the process with the product. You'll know what this means as you begin your immersion.

  10. #9

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    Hear the upbeats.

  11. #10

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    Next Exit: Autumn Leaves

  12. #11

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    Enjoy the journey!

  13. #12

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    When I was teaching guitar [way in the rear view mirror now] I'd get calls from
    people saying they wanted to learn to play "a bit of jazz guitar" [or words to that effect]

    After many years of experience I learned to say "you can't learn a bit of jazz guitar, you either do it or leave it alone'

    I found this saved me a lot of trouble and stress and perhaps gave the caller to understand what would be entailed.

    Hard ball eh! Just like in the real world...whatever that may mean.

  14. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by Moonray
    When I was teaching guitar [way in the rear view mirror now] I'd get calls from
    people saying they wanted to learn to play "a bit of jazz guitar" [or words to that effect]

    After many years of experience I learned to say "you can't learn a bit of jazz guitar, you either do it or leave it alone'

    I found this saved me a lot of trouble and stress and perhaps gave the caller to understand what would be entailed.

    Hard ball eh! Just like in the real world...whatever that may mean.
    I remember listening to an interview woth… I think, the hired gun in Smashing Pumpkins. He said one day he heard Johnny Smith and was floored, found a teacher and the guy said something like “I’ll give you lessons, but you won’t play jazz for at least five years.”

    Two things struck me, the professional musician got a teacher and said he was right, it took about 5 years for him to sound like a jazz player.

    OP, you can have a lot of fun. Get a teacher, or get a book, I like the Mickey Baker one, set a routine and stick with it. Everything is hard, but it all gets easier with practice.

  15. #14

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    Do not forget that the OP says he has been playing classical and flamenco for years so he is not coming out of nowhere. There is a certain amount of technique already and an ear.

  16. #15

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    Five years? Hell, I've been trying to play jazz guitar for over 60 years, and still can't do it very well.

  17. #16

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    Quote Originally Posted by sgosnell
    Five years? Hell, I've been trying to play jazz guitar for over 60 years, and still can't do it very well.
    Do you have a teacher? Are you on a tour bus 8 hours a day with nothing better to do than read the Parker omnibook before you play the enormodome with the Smashing Pumpkins.

  18. #17

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    Quote Originally Posted by sgosnell
    Five years? Hell, I've been trying to play jazz guitar for over 60 years, and still can't do it very well.
    I'll be sure to carve out 60 years in the diary

    Or maybe I'll just stick to blues
    Last edited by fleaaaaaa; 01-30-2024 at 06:35 PM.

  19. #18

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    Quote Originally Posted by fleaaaaaa
    I'll be sure to carve our 60 years in the diary

    Or maybe I'll just stick to blues
    Come now, once you get a taste, the blues just aren't as sweet.

  20. #19

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    Quote Originally Posted by AllanAllen
    Come now, once you get a taste, the blues just aren't as sweet.
    It's my first love, what can I say

  21. #20

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    De gustibus non est disputandum

  22. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by sgosnell
    De gustibus non est disputandum
    Above says
    "There's no disputing for tastes"
    I translated it

    That's true I like indie, pop punk, new rock, old rock, blues, funk, soul, some pop and yes jazz which apparently if you're into you should place higher than anything else for some reason, but really it's all just music.

  23. #22

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    Quote Originally Posted by AllanAllen
    Come now, once you get a taste, the blues just aren't as sweet.
    I really love jazz blues….

  24. #23

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    Quote Originally Posted by Kirk Garrett
    I really love jazz blues….
    Me too. Kenny Burell and Howard Roberts bluesier side are my favourite recordings. Adding those elements to my regular blues playing helped me evolve.

    Wonderful stuff

  25. #24

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jocko
    Good morning, I just joined this forum as way to guide me through Jazz guitar and of course get some questions answered through the forum. I have been building guitars for 20 years and have been playing classical and flamenco guitar for many decades. Decided to add some jazz to my studies and find it pretty difficult. Hope to get some help through this forum.

    Hey Jocko... if your interested in jazz guitar, you need jazz guitar technique. Your classical and flamenco skills will help....and speed up the process, but playing jazz is very different. I have some handouts that I've posted before
    but do so again if your interested.

  26. #25

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    Quote Originally Posted by Kirk Garrett
    I really love jazz blues….
    Jazz without blues is like carne asada marinade without fish sauce.

    (Really.)