Comments on: How Best to Learn Guitar

By: Jazz Guitar Chord System cont… | Jazz Guitar Chord System

Jazz Guitar Chord System cont… | Jazz Guitar Chord System — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:15:12 +0000

[...] how best to learn guitar – as a former engineer, i constantly ask myself: “what is the best way to learn guitar?” (or for me currently it’s “what is the best or most efficient way learn jazz?”. this is especially true since i went back to college at age 36 to … [...]

By: Pete

Pete — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:42:06 +0000

I thank you for your effort. I have been only playing now seriously for the past16 months and thats in my spatre time since I have a job and am busy. Also when you have a family it can be really tough to get time for yourself.
I just wanted to thank you for the teaching vids and I just got a hold of the “slowdowner” and Ill see how that works, thanx much!

By: admin

admin — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:29:45 +0000

You’re right about jazz/country. Lots of similarities. Jazz is pretty much the toughest. I find I can do some country stuff because of my rock/blues background, whereas jazz is much tougher for me due to the chord progressions.
Right now I’m still heavily rock influenced, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, etc.
For jazz, I find I like sax/trumpet more than guitar players. Martino is incredible but I think way too many notes for me (although I’m a shredder). I like Ed Bickert from Toronto for comping. Joe Pass is great.

By: Ed again

Ed again — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:09:56 +0000

Yeah, gotta learn to read notes better before I can do those etudes …I think I should’ve started with Jazz not rock/metal, then I’d already be able to play anything! One thing I’ve noticed though, all the great Nashville players are also Jazz guys. I’ve also discovered that chord melody style jazz seems like the way to go to learn the foundation of CHORDAL playing. Why is it all the great Fusion players are from either Europe or Australia? Weird. So who are you more influenced to play in the style of, improv-wise, say, for example, Martino or Holdsworth? Or just like yourself ? Those are probably my two faves right now. I can’t decide which one is more impressive…but I’d probly have to go with Allan. That dude practically self-invented, or so it would appear…

By: admin

admin — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 23:11:04 +0000

Thanks for your comments Ed!I’m also into rhythm playing but I’m able to get thru a tune now rhythmically for the most part. I practised chords in every inversion up the neck and then worked on voice leading to minimize movement between chords. I also learned about shells (the 3rd and 7th of the chord) then adding color notes to the shell. Much more to learn with rhythm playing, but the biggest challenge to me is solo improv. Transcribing is good to do but you could get some transcription books too. My latest theory is to focus mostly on songs and transcriptions (the sax etudes I mentioned are great). I understand all the theory but putting it into practice at insane speeds is difficult. The etudes provide lots of great ideas. If you agree that jazz and music in general is a language, then mimicing the greats is probably the best way to learn with a little grammar (theory) thrown in as well.
When I figure out what worked for me, I will share with all of you!
Good luck Ed!