Jazz guitar is an extremely popular guitar style and learning this style of music can pose quite a challenge. There’s no doubt that it can be very time-consuming with many hours of practice to put in if you are to master this rather difficult style. Determination is a deciding factor in those who eventually ‘get there’ and can call themselves ‘jazz guitarists’!
There are many unusual harmonies and chords associated with this style and, at first, this might seem unusual to your ear. However, practice is the key and over time, your ear will adapt and get used to these slightly more ‘exotic’ sounds. You will also need to be very familiar with your guitar and listen to as much jazz guitar music as possible. Get used to the different beats and rhythms, surround yourself with the style. Don’t forget to explore different eras as well. Modern pop often incorporates jazz guitar styles, but also listen to the ‘hot’ jazz of such luminaries as Django Reinhardt. Remember, Reinhardt had fingers missing and he was still a gifted guitarist. There’s hope for you yet!
Use a metronome. This is an invaluable tool that will help to keep you in time. Many musicians have a tendency to speed up as they play, especially if they are solo. This is a natural phenomenon, but one that need to be curbed. Many jazz styles need to be ‘laid back’ with a lazy style of playing that isn’t rushed. Keeping a steady metronome pulse will also allow you to feel the subtleties of ’syncopation’ (the notes falling ‘between’ the beats). Electronic or wind-up, it doesn’t matter, but get a metronome at once!
Open up your mind to the new sounds, harmonies and rhythms that you will experience over the coming months and years. Invest in some good jazz guitar CDs (do a quick search on Google or visit Amazon), find a reputable local guitarist/teacher who can demonstrate this style of playing. Make sure that whoever you decide on to teach you has good references (ask around, listen to him/her play, what qualifications have they got, etc).
Finally, don’t be afraid to have fun and experiment with jazz guitar. More than perhaps any other style, it is free and diverse with a variety of ’sub-styles’ or ’sub-genres’ to explore.
At the end of the day, just get out there and ‘play guitar’, don’t hang back.
I wish you well with your musical exploration!
By: Washington Stoker
If you love to read Jazz sheet music then you will be pleased to know that now more than ever there is a wider variety of jazz sheet music for you to enjoy reading while you are relaxing in your favorite chair. This is because more jazz styles have been developed over the years since jazz music was first invented.
What started out as a regional sound in areas of the Deep South has spread around the world and now it seems that everyone is listening to jazz music and reading jazz sheet music. You can procure just about any style of jazz sheet music online now as there are several sources to select from that carry a vast repertoire of jazz styles to select from.
Many of the newer styles of music have their roots in jazz and if you are interested in researching music styles then jazz sheet music can be a great help in doing that. If you are collector of jazz sheet music and are interested in locating rare and difficult to find selections then you may find what you are looking for at one of the many sources for antique jazz sheet music that you will find online. Another great place to search for jazz sheet music is at one of the many jazz festivals that are held around the country every year.
These are also great places where lovers of jazz music can meet and share each others company as they share their love of jazz music together. If you play an instrument and you are interested in exploring jazz music then your first step should be to obtain some jazz sheet music so you can begin to practice it. Trying to play jazz music with out having any jazz sheet music to guide you along will usually turn out to be an exercise in futility.
By: Alexis Masterson