Learning jazz chords online can be confusing and frustrating to say the least. Just when the budding jazz guitarist thinks they've stumbled onto something along comes another version of the same song with a completely different set of chords.
For our present discussion, we'll limit our observations and suggestions to learning jazz chords online, however a quick browse through any well stocked sheet music store will reveal the same issues that any aspiring jazz guitarist must learn to overcome.
The choice of chords the guitarists selects has a significant effect on the soloist's choice of notes in their solos and presentation of the melody.
There's an endless list of possible chords, chord inversions, chord substitutions etc. that can totally blind side the newbie jazz player. In fact, the task is often so overwhelming that the avalanche of information swamps the guitarist with an enormous amount of stuff they do not have to learn.
So,before trotting off to another jazz guitar website in search of the lost chord, here's a few things to think about to pin your ear on straight!
Focus your jazz studies on specific objectives: a great idea is to learn the chord changes to "jazz standards".
Jazz standards are tunes that working musicians are likely to encounter at any time. Too often, guitarists with a rock or country background wishing to move into jazz don't know the tunes that are the common currency of players in all styles of jazz.
Here's a sample list of 20 jazz standards:
1. Autumn Leaves
2. All The Things You are
3. All Of Me
4. Ain't Misbehavin'
5. C Jam Blues
6. I Got Rhythm
7. Have You Met Miss Jones
8. Out Of Nowhere
9. I Cover The Waterfront
10.Satin Doll
11.Misty
12.Summertime
13.St.Louis Blues
14.Watch What Happens
15.Lullaby Of Birdland
16.Sweet Georgia Brown
17.Georgis
18.Take The 'A' Train
19.Stormy Weather
20.There Will Never Be Another You
There are many books that show how to use chord substitutions, but if the basic chord changes are not known, substitutions and embellishments often confuse the improviser and the listener.
When the musician is learning jazz guitar chords online, it's essential to learn the basic set of chords for the jazz standards.
Chord substitutions to basic chords are usually determined by the melody notes and the style of music being played.
The point is that guitar players can become totally absorbed in jazz chord manuals that teach chord substitution etc., without firstly learning the basic set of chords.
Keep in mind that while the melody of a jazz tune is usually presented in an accurate manner in standard sheet music, the harmonic changes are rarely suitable for a jazz performance.
Once the guitarist learns the skills of being able to uncover the basic chord changes to jazz standards, they can then re harmonize the harmonic background many different ways to reflect the way they wish to present a particular piece of music.
Understanding how to strip back the chords also helps the guitarist see many similarities in the small number of chord templates that thousands of jazz tunes are composed over, which helps us remember tunes.
I repeat, The essential skill to learn is to be able to 'see' (de-code), and 'hear' the basic set of chords.
The purpose of learning the basic set of chords when you are learning jazz chords online is to help the jazz player learn the basic changes and allow the player to add embellishments and substitutions on a solid framework.
Mike Hayes is a teacher, author, speaker and consultant. Get his tips and tested strategies proven to boost your guitar playing his membership site at
http://www.guitarcoaching.com today.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_P_Hayes
Post a Comment