Learn Jazz Guitar

I just created a section called “Jam Tracks”. See the link at the top of the page. Here, I will periodically post backing tracks of popular jazz standards. I may also post some of my own jam tracks there.

I have already posted one jazz standard. Check it out.

Leon

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The first video in this lesson demonstrates how to play a 2-5-1 phrase in the key of F. Gm7-C7-FMaj7. The concept that I used to create this phrase is the same as with the phrase that we learned last time. I’m basically using a Gm7 arpeggio and then transitioning to a diminished substitution to the C7 and then resolving to chord tones in the FMaj7. I like using diminished because it’s a great way to start using some tones outside of the harmony without sounding too outside.

Video 1 - 2-5-1 Lick in the Key of F

You can download a pdf chart for this phrase at the end of this lesson.

In the second video, I’m improvising over a 2-5-1-6 chord progression also in the key of F….

Now, I pretty much played this solo off the top of my head. But my goal here was to give you and idea of how I inserted the lick from the first video into an improvisation. Also, instead of using a swing groove, I’m using a R&B Smooth jazz backing track that I created. (By the way, this backing track will be included with my upcoming DVD).

Video 2 - 2-5-1-6 Solo - Key of F

I’d like to make 2 important points:

1. Don’t get stuck on Swing.

The reason I’m playing this solo over a funk groove is first because…well, I like it. That’s obvious. But also because to become an effective jazz player you have to be able to play various styles effectively. Even bebop players like Dizzy Gillespie were masters at playing other styles like Latin, Afro-Cuban, etc.. And modern jazz players play all kinds of rhythmic grooves… even grooves with unusual time signatures like 5/4 or 7/8. If all you practice is swing, you’ll never be prepared when your friends say for example, “Hey let’s play a funk version of Take Five”.

2. Always Playing a Lick the Way you Learned it, is a Recipe for Disaster

If you watch the second video carefully, you’ll see me play this lick maybe 2 or 3 times. See if you can find where I play it. It’s recognizable. But you’ll also notice I did NOT play it like I showed it to you in the first video. In fact, the ways that I played it during the solo varied from each other. Why? The simple answer is, I felt like doing that way. And that’s exactly how it should be when you learn and play phrases and licks. It’s not enough to simply regurgitate what learn during a solo. To be a true improviser, you have to be able to manipulate phrases when you want to for any number of reasons…..For example… You’re girlfriend left you or… you dropped your pick and you still want to play the lick but now you have to use your thumb…..the drummer ate his Wheaties this morning and decides to play the song 50bpm faster than you anticipated….you break your high E string during a song where you really liked to use that lick.

These are all situations where you either might want to or have to change the lick somehow while playing it. Don’t be a one trick pony. Don’t be the guitarist who can only play that lick when the moon and 2 other stars have formed a perfect right angle. Believe me, perfect times like that will rarely if ever happen.

I see a number of guitarists out there that can play 1,000 licks all over the fretboard with amazing precision. And looking at them is impressive. But the players that truly impress me are players like Wes Montgomery who could just take a few simple licks or ideas and just work and rework those ideas throughout the course of a solo while at the same time telling an amazing story.

What type of player would you want to be? I don’t know about you but I’d take the latter any day.

Until next time,

Leon

Click the link below to gain free access to a downloadable PDF chart for this lick:

In the following video, I show how to play a nice 2-5-1 phrase in the key of C. Dm7-G7-Cmaj7. The ii-V-I progression is the most popular chord progression in all of jazz. It’s critical that you learn how to play over this progression. Take you time with this lick. Rhythmically, it might be a little challenging.

Click the link below to gain free access to a downloadable PDF chart for this lick:

Leon

Below is a short video clip of me playing the song, “Just Friends” when I was testing my video setup.

I decided to create a video presentation giving more of a detailed overview of the structure of the Norman Brown lesson series. It will give you more of an idea of what to expect.

Let me know if you have any questions. Part 1 of the series should hopefully be posted this weekend if I can finish it up in time. But my goal is quality. And I don’t want to rush through this. So, I may stretch it out to one part per week or so.

Besides, this will give you some time to learn the material.

To view the presentation, see below:

In one of my previous posts, I made an important point that jazz is in fact a language and it’s important to learn that language from master jazz musicians by listening to them regularly.  So, going forward I’m going to be focusing on some of the language of these musicians.  We’ll take some of their licks and phrases and analyze them so that you can better understand what they’re doing. We’re going to start with a lesson focusing on the style of Norman Brown. 

The Focus of this Study

Norman is one of my favorite guitarists. I’ve followed him for over 10 years, seen him live on numerous occasions and own all of his records.  He plays smooth jazz with a funky, R&B style similar to George Benson. For more information on Norman see my previous post. No, it’s not straight-ahead, traditional jazz. But you should be able to incorporate the concepts and phrases we will be learning into any style of jazz. Don’t be short-sighted and say “Well, I don’t play smooth jazz, so I’m not going to learn this”.  Why don’t you just take the phrases and fit them to a straight-ahead jazz rhythm?

Anyway, we will focusing on a song from Norman’s latest album, “Stay with me”. In particular, we will study a chord progression that I wrote out that is similar to first song on his album. I’ve entitled my chord progression, “Normanesque” (pronounced, “nor-man-esk”, it means “like Norman”). After studying the lesson, you should be able to play the chords along with the record.  Next, we will study some licks and phrases that I’ve composed that will work over the bridge section the Normanesque.

The first lesson will be posted tomorrow. I would encourage you to purchase the record entitled, “Stay with Me” so you can listen to it at your leisure. Unfortunately, the song is not on SpiralFrog.com or any other online music service that I’m aware of. So, you’ll have to buy the actual cd.  Actually, you really won’t get the full benefit of the lesson unless you have the record.  It’ll be like trying to learn how to drive by watching people drive on TV. It just doesn’t work. You need to go to the source. Order the CD in the Recommended Resources section.

You can also just buy the mp3 of the song if you don’t want the full album. Again check the Recommended Resources section.

So here’s a summary of what we are going to work on over this multi-part series:

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A while back, I sent out an email to my newsletter readers asking if they had any questions that they would like answered on my site.  Some people had questions, some people didn’t . I stated in the email that those asking good questions would receive a free “gift” from me. 

Unfortunately, I haven’t really got around to actually answering the questions that people asked in the detail that I’d like to.  I promise I will do that in one form or another. Please bear with me.

I would, however, like to make good on my promise to provide the gifts.  And hopefully, they will help you improve your jazz guitar playing.

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Just a quick note to let all of you jazz guitar fans know that a new music service just launched called SpiralFrog. It’s a music service like Napster, Rhapsody, and iTunes but with one BIG difference…you can download songs for FREE! and it’s legal.

It looks like they’re initially offering about 800,000 tracks and 3,500 music videos for download. Most of that content comes by way of a licensing deal with Universal Music Group. The audio and video files carry copy protection like tracks for sale at iTunes and you can’t burn directly to CD but you can download directly to dozens of digital music players.

I don’t think the service is compatible with Mac or Ipods, however. It uses the latest version of Windows Media Player. To deter piracy, the service also requires you to log on to the site at least once a month, otherwise the content locks up and can’t be played.

I just signed up and they seem to have a pretty extensive selection of jazz music and a fairly decent selection of music by jazz guitarists like:

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Here’s a technique that I came across that has really helped me to learn jazz guitar a lot faster and more efficiently.  It’s called the “5 Penny Method”. I just made up that name. You can use pennies or licorice sticks. It doesn’t really matter. The idea here is to use a goal/reward system to help you learn.

First, get five pennies and put them on one side of your music stand while you are practicing.  (By the way, you DO have a good music stand, don’t you? If you don’t you’re making your practice time way more frustrating than it needs to be. If you’re serious about improving, you’ll make this inexpensive investment. Take a look at the one I use: ProLine Conductor Sheet Music Stand . I highly recommend it.)

Ok, back to the penny method. Let’s say that you are trying to learn a two bar jazz phrase on the guitar.

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Playing jazz guitar is a fun and rewarding pursuit. But there’s no question, it’s one of the most difficult instruments to play jazz on.  This can certainly increase your frustration level. Sometimes, I just feel like throwing my guitar out the window.  But I always come back to it. Here’s a few tips to help you gain maximum enjoyment from playing jazz guitar:

1. Understand your Motivation

First, it’s always a good idea to think about what motivated you to play the guitar in the first place. Did you get inspired by listening to a popular jazz guitarist? Did a friend turn you on to the instrument? Are you playing to impress the opposite sex? (Don’t laugh, this is actually a reason why some start playing guitar!) Whatever the reason, understanding your motivation can actually keep you motivated from day to day.

I was motivated to learn jazz and blues guitar by listening to one of my favorite guitar players, Norman Brown. When I first heard him play about 10 years ago, I said to myself “I have to learn this instrument!” It was so inspiring to hear someone with such a command of the guitar. Then, I started listening to many other jazz guitarists. Trying to get to that level and making improvements everyday has kept me motivated.

2. Manage your time

It can be really tough to manage your time with jazz guitar . You have to juggle your work, social life, family, etc… Often it’s tough to get any time to play. Of course, if you are serious you’ll just have to make time. Set a specific time of the day and just commit to playing for 20 minutes. I know this doesn’t sound like a lot but if you do this every day, that practice time really adds up. 20 minutes a day is 20 x 365 = 7300 minutes a year or about 122 hours. That’s some serious practice time! So don’t think that it won’t help. Just get started and stick to a simple plan.

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