Jazz...learnt or talent?
- Thread starter teochm
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DoubleBlade
New member
hmmm...Scott Joplin's The Entertainer?
Pseudo-Jazzman
New member
I'd say most rockers are terrified of jazz cause it requires a greater, or actual musical theory knowledge.
Most guitarists are self taught (very much like myself), so anything theory is totally against the grain.
I guess i was just more bored to bother to buy books and take jazz piano lessons~~
Most guitarists are self taught (very much like myself), so anything theory is totally against the grain.
I guess i was just more bored to bother to buy books and take jazz piano lessons~~
Hmmm... I'll say this, theory is a good thing.
Until you use theory to compose or the sole method of expressing yourself; like in solos.
It might be scary but hell, its WORTH every effort. Unless you don't mean to be very serious in your musical career.
Of course, you can argue that some guitar greats out there don't know theory but well, how many are there?!
Again, theory is good. Never hurts.
Until you use theory to compose or the sole method of expressing yourself; like in solos.
It might be scary but hell, its WORTH every effort. Unless you don't mean to be very serious in your musical career.
Of course, you can argue that some guitar greats out there don't know theory but well, how many are there?!
Again, theory is good. Never hurts.
its always encouraging to learn new styles of music. but jazz is not for the faint hearted. the jazz spectrum is so large that most jazz newbies dont know where to begin
i would suggest first listening to loads of jazz and attune your ear to the music. heres some recommendations to start off thats not too heavy:
wes montgomery (the incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery)
pat methany (any album)
joe pass (virtuoso)
john mclaughlin, al dimeola, paco de lucia (FRIDAY NIGHT IN SAN FRAN IS AMAZING.. makes your wanna give up electric and pick up the acoustic haha)
of coz, dont limit yourself to just guitar players...
miles, coltrane, parker, monk..
anyway.. heres a rough breakdown of the types of jazz around:
SWING
BEBOP, HARD BOP
MODAL JAZZ
FREE JAZZ
FUSION
i suggest listen to any of the above except for FREE JAZZ as it can be tiring at times.... i am no super hotshot jazz guitar player.. also still learning and it can be daunting and tiring at times.. but stick to it and you will find it a rewarding experience..
i would suggest first listening to loads of jazz and attune your ear to the music. heres some recommendations to start off thats not too heavy:
wes montgomery (the incredible jazz guitar of wes montgomery)
pat methany (any album)
joe pass (virtuoso)
john mclaughlin, al dimeola, paco de lucia (FRIDAY NIGHT IN SAN FRAN IS AMAZING.. makes your wanna give up electric and pick up the acoustic haha)
of coz, dont limit yourself to just guitar players...
miles, coltrane, parker, monk..
anyway.. heres a rough breakdown of the types of jazz around:
SWING
BEBOP, HARD BOP
MODAL JAZZ
FREE JAZZ
FUSION
i suggest listen to any of the above except for FREE JAZZ as it can be tiring at times.... i am no super hotshot jazz guitar player.. also still learning and it can be daunting and tiring at times.. but stick to it and you will find it a rewarding experience..
Pseudo-Jazzman
New member
if you're into mood music~~
I'd suggest oscar peterson.
O.P has this really aggresive piano style and his band members are never short of jaw dropping~~
I'd suggest oscar peterson.
O.P has this really aggresive piano style and his band members are never short of jaw dropping~~
skidzophonics
New member
Jazz itself has a wide range of genres within itself. Best way is to explore listening to different types of jazz music. Then probably take up some music lessons to experience the feel of jazz music. :wink:
Pseudo-Jazzman
New member
he plays REALLY hard~~~
U just have to listen to understand~~
the english language has a stifling amt of adjectives for ANYTHING~~
U just have to listen to understand~~
the english language has a stifling amt of adjectives for ANYTHING~~
Re: teaching
This isn't feasible... the scope of jazz is huge... the scope of theory is huge!!! Imagine posting on chord substitution and you WILL get a 101 replies.. how to continue?
Best way to learn jazz... is to start from scratch esp if you don't know theory. Go listen, go read, go play. From jazz chords to jazz licks to jazz solos. Of course, with a healthy focus on theory.
mekz said:
This isn't feasible... the scope of jazz is huge... the scope of theory is huge!!! Imagine posting on chord substitution and you WILL get a 101 replies.. how to continue?
Best way to learn jazz... is to start from scratch esp if you don't know theory. Go listen, go read, go play. From jazz chords to jazz licks to jazz solos. Of course, with a healthy focus on theory.
iansoh
Moderator
what IS with the emphasis on theory??? many of the blues and jazz greats are un-schooled. it is a misconception that u must have some theory of music to play jazz.
IMO EVERYONE starts from scratch when it comes to learning jazz. whether u know theory or not. theory gives u a small advantage in that perhaps u'll understand better what the instructional books and clinicians are talking about, but ultimately it's your own feel and creativity that establishes you as a jazz player.
relying largely on theoretical knowledge and overemphasis on the technical aspect is the highway to frustration and disaster.
IMO EVERYONE starts from scratch when it comes to learning jazz. whether u know theory or not. theory gives u a small advantage in that perhaps u'll understand better what the instructional books and clinicians are talking about, but ultimately it's your own feel and creativity that establishes you as a jazz player.
relying largely on theoretical knowledge and overemphasis on the technical aspect is the highway to frustration and disaster.
Finally someone has mentioned the painful truth. Improv is not about knowing fancy sounding scales and chord substitutions. Theory is only useful when you can hear what is written. There's no point talking about chord substitutions when you have difficulty hearing chord tones. Most theory talk is coffee shop banter and many who talk about modes, diminished lines, altered dominant etc are basically geeks who will never survive a jam session with a bunch of 'un-schooled' pros.
What is unschooled anyway? If you can groove, play tasteful chords and have development in your solo, who cares if there's theory or not. Similarly, when you write or speak, you don't have to justify yourself grammatically. Knowledge of grammer is not essential in beautiful writing the same way music theory is to jazz or other styles of contemporary music.
What is unschooled anyway? If you can groove, play tasteful chords and have development in your solo, who cares if there's theory or not. Similarly, when you write or speak, you don't have to justify yourself grammatically. Knowledge of grammer is not essential in beautiful writing the same way music theory is to jazz or other styles of contemporary music.
