How much music theory do I need before getting into jazz?

[mr. beaumont]

There's always exceptions, but generally, if you're playing melody, you want to put it on the treble strings. Just comes through clearer.

[AlexMalmis]

If I was up to make a song and I have chosen a chord progression, the notes of the melody does not have to be in the chords right?

[Jonah]

chord symbols are not fingerings.

by Watching them in the real book and playing. But when I watch tutoorials

Do not watch... it's not painting.
Listen to it. if it sounds similar or not, if different - what is different and what sounds better to your taste.


Pick up a record you like and try to work with it by ear.

I would get some one beginners stuff - something like Mickey Baker - or beginners lesson on this site... and use it as a start point to get familiar with typical fingereings and turnaroud... as a first step.


PS
I would tune a guitar a bit better...

[AlexMalmis]

chord symbols are not fingerings.




Do not watch... it's not painting.
Listen to it. if it sounds similar or not, if different - what is different and what sounds better to your taste.


Pick up a record you like and try to work with it by ear.

I would get some one beginners stuff - something like Mickey Baker - or beginners lesson on this site... and use it as a start point to get familiar with typical fingereings and turnaroud... as a first step.


PS
I would tune a guitar a bit better...

If you mean the acoustic I knew it wasnt in tune but I didnt care for the moment.

[Jonah]

There's always exceptions, but generally, if you're playing melody, you want to put it on the treble strings. Just comes through clearer.

True... but on the other hand guitar's range is quite big and mostly it is around baritone range.

When I began to play against another comping instrument I had tendency to play melody in higher register as I was used to the idea that I had to comp myself with chords in the middle and bass... but I quickly felt that in such contect the middle range sounds much better usualy (especially with piano)...

[mr. beaumont]

Agreed...and I'm talking more specifically from lead sheets, which are usually simplified to keep things "clean,'--meaning, not too many note above or below the staff.

[dot75]

the whole song? isnt it the exact same chords again?

I actually know a bit of the melody. b578 e8 g7 b57 e 7 but that is pretty much it lol.

There's a bridge or middle section as well - Christian gave you the shells in an earlier post (for bonus points I think).

Play what you just played twice (A section), play the bridge (B Section) & then repeat the first (A) part. AABA's a common song form.

+1 for Drum Genius

[AlexMalmis]

Does the % mean I should plat the last chord again or all the chords in the row?

[christianm77]

Does the % mean I should plat the last chord again or all the chords in the row?

Just the last chord

[AlexMalmis]

Just the last chord

okay.
so this

Cm7 | F7 | Bbmaj7 | Ebmaj7 |
Am7b5 | D7 | Gm7 | % |

Cm7 | F7 | Bbmaj7 | Ebmaj7 |
Am7b5 | D7 | Gm7 | % |

is really this

Cm7 | F7 | Bbmaj7 | Ebmaj7 |
Am7b5 | D7 | Gm7 | Gm7 |

Cm7 | F7 | Bbmaj7 | Ebmaj7 |
Am7b5 | D7 | Gm7 | Gm7 |

[christianm77]

Correct!

Second Half

| Am7b5 | D7 | Gm7 | % |
| Cm7 | F7 | Bbmaj7 | % |
| Am7b5 | D7 | Gm7 | Em7b5 |
| Am7b5 | D7 | Gm7 | % |

Or you could do


| Am7b5 | D7 | Gm7 | % |
| Cm7 | F7 | Bbmaj7 | % |
| Am7b5 | D7 | Gm7 | Fm7 Bb7 |
| Am7b5 | D7 | Gm7 | % |

For a bit of fun

[AlexMalmis]

I have a question.
What do you think I should practice to be the mos efficient or learn the most? Should I learn new scales, (I only know minor pentatonic and major scales in one position...) ear training (I want to get a good relative pitch (I know it takes time)) or what should I learn/practice on? Thanks for any ideas.

[christianm77]

I have a question.
What do you think I should practice to be the mos efficient or learn the most? Should I learn new scales, (I only know minor pentatonic and major scales in one position...) ear training (I want to get a good relative pitch (I know it takes time)) or what should I learn/practice on? Thanks for any ideas.

Practice learning melodies by ear.

Practicing scales is a good idea for technique, but don't link them to improvisation at this stage.

I like one octave scales.

[AlexMalmis]

Practice learning melodies by ear.

Practicing scales is a good idea for technique, but don't link them to improvisation at this stage.

I like one octave scales.

why should I not link them to improvisation at this stage? sorry if I ask to much dumb questions.

[christianm77]

why should I not link them to improvisation at this stage? sorry if I ask to much dumb questions.

Not a dumb question at all

You need to do three main things - get good at hearing things and playing them by ear, learning where the notes are and finally, being able to express chords in your playing.

This takes a little while.

You’ll hear a lot of stuff about scales when you research jazz improvisation. Please ignore this for now, it won’t help. It’s appropriate once you have developed the basic skills.

[AlexMalmis]

Not a dumb question at all

You need to do three main things - get good at hearing things and playing them by ear, learning where the notes are and finally, being able to express chords in your playing.

This takes a little while.

You’ll hear a lot of stuff about scales when you research jazz improvisation. Please ignore this for now, it won’t help. It’s appropriate once you have developed the basic skills.

okay. So what I should practice on is training my hear so that I can listen then play after. If I know a melody in my head and play every note a half step up it is still correct right?

[AlexMalmis]

If I listen to a song I can hear if a note is higher or lower than the one before but I have no clue which note it is or how many steps up or down it is.

[christianm77]

okay. So what I should practice on is training my hear so that I can listen then play after. If I know a melody in my head and play every note a half step up it is still correct right?

Sing, then play. Sing the tune and then try to play it.

Even if you think your singing is bad.

[AlexMalmis]

Sing, then play. Sing the tune and then try to play it.

Even if you think your singing is bad.

I think my singing is ok... not good not very bad. Actually I am in the choir in my school for fun. I wanna improve my singing tho..

[AlexMalmis]

this is where i would introduce you to the main functions I IV and V, using rock and blues tunes. could you figure out the chords of this tune and play along?

hint in white below:

the tune is in Bb

can you sing mary had a little lamb starting on the note e and play the appropriate chords?

I don't think I have ever heard Mary had a little lamb.

[AlexMalmis]

try jingle bells or happy birthday. can you find the melody and chords?

Gonna try right now.

[AlexMalmis]

I can find the melody but I can’t find the chords.

[christianm77]

Here's a tune for you Alex

[AlexMalmis]

Here's a tune for you Alex

I liked it.

[AlexMalmis]

I read a bit from The Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine. I read that a diminished chord is minor 3rd + minor 3rd and a augmented chord is major 3rd + major 3rd. Is this a A diminished 531xxx? Is this a A augmented 543xxx?