Are you impressed with guitarists who are completely self taught? However, you doubt that you can succeed like them after hearing so many assumptions of teaching yourself to play guitar. Some of the common myths:It is impossible to learn guitar without a teacher.It is difficult to do so.It is not the proper way.It does not work.It will take a long time to teach yourself guitar.You will pick up bad .. more …
Just when you thought that it is not possible to teach yourself to play guitar, you have learned about the websites that offer the right resources for this venture. This is very much possible these days because you can either avail of DVD tutorials or opt for suitable software. Both these types can be used at home and these are designed to guide the user in reading notes and creating the right .. more …
Lots of people want to learn how to play guitar but the commonest question among those that are aspiring to start playing guitar is whether the can train their selves. It is true that you can actually teach yourself to play guitar but it could take longer time and hard work on your part before you can break through. It is best to have in mind that you are going into partnership while trying to .. more …
If you wish to teach yourself to play guitar it is very important to get the basics right from the very beginning. Here is a step-by-step outline of the process which will, hopefully, enable you to realize your ambition. However, it is important to accept from the beginning that playing any musical instrument requires a significant commitment in time, effort and dedication. Just because the good .. more …
Let me guess…you are a jazz guitar player and have met a talented jazz singer you’d like to start gigging with…or…you just heard Joe Pass and Ella Fitzgerald together and would like to start something similar with a singer…or…you realized you can make lots of cash teaming up with a jazz singer and playing in duo…
These are usual situations that, as a jazz guitar player you might have encountered or that will certainly appear as possibilities during your career.
If you have never accompanied a jazz singer and are seeking advice on how to do it effectively, read on…I’ve played with jazz singers for years and I am sure I can give you a few tips.
Firstly, before you pick your singer, ensure that she/he has her own charts, which doesn’t mean that she has photocopies of the real book. She must have charts transposed into her own key and, possibly, with clear arrangements.
This is SO critical!! especially if you are just starting and have no experience. Having Intros and outros for each tune, will give you a guideline to follow and make your rehearsals so much simpler!
Remember, there are tons of singers out there. Take your time to select the one whom it will be easier for you to work with on a regular basis.
Ok, with this out of the way, here are a few tips on how to accompany a jazz singer with taste:
1) Learn the melody of each tune in the repertoire. It sounds obvious, yet, you will be amazed to know that the charts that most musicians usually end up playing from show only chord changes. Not knowing the melody of the song will give you absolutely no idea on how to support your singer with both rhythmic and melodic ideas.
2) Learn to play in at least two different styles: swing and bossa nova. Most singers have both swing and Latin songs in their repertoire and will expect that you know how to accompany in these two syles. This will take you some time. Listen to Joe Pass, Martin Taylor and Tuck Andress and start getting a feel of how a solid and creative guitar accompaniment sounds like. Then, I suggest that you shop around for a finger style guitar method. There are quite a few out there. I personally would suggest to study transcriptions from Joe Pass to learn both Jazz guitar accompaniment and soloing. Martin Taylor has published a book on finger style that you can buy for a few dollars and that will keep you busy for years! You can study Brazilian guitar on a book by Nelson Farias. The book comes with a CD and is a step-by-step training on the topic (be patient!).
3) Keep things VERY simple when you accompany a jazz singer. I remember playing with a singer who kept asking me for more melody in my accompaniment. So I started playing more melody and things got even worse! Then I started experimenting with simple guide tones (3rd and 7th) and, all of a sudden, he was the happiest human being on earth…
4) Ensure that your timing is strong! You must be a reference for the singer and ALWAYS know where (in the song) you are. As I said, knowing the melody of the song will help your singer hear that you are both in the same place.
5) Take short solos! if you are playing a duet, playing long solos will pull attention from your singer, who is the one you are supposed to help spark. Use lots of chords in your solos, linking them with single lines. Play just one section of the song and cue your singer in when you are about to end your solo.
6) Be clear! play simple and extremely clear. If you have been playing with a pick all your life, start practicing fingerstyle and gradually combine bass lines, chords and melody.
Ok these are just a few guidelines that I hope will put you in the right direction. Again, be patient, and start building your fingerstyle skills one step at at a time.
Francesco Amico – jazz guitar
If you liked this article and would like to have more information on how to become a better guitarist start immediately with a completely FREE guitar lesson:
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Before you “go electric” and spend your money let me give you a couple of tips…
The first question you should ask yourself is:
1) “Why do I want to learn electric guitar?”
If the answer is because electric guitars are easier to learn than acoustic guitars, you might want to reconsider that. Why? Because playing electric guitar requires all the technique you need to play an acoustic guitar PLUS the ability to control all the different sounds that an electric instrument can produce.
So, if you are shopping around, my first tip is to buy a basic model.
2) Don’t spend a fortune!
These days you can purchase a nice electric guitar for just $200-400.
If you have absolutely no experience, ask a friend who has been playing for several years. Don’t have one? Go to gigs. Find a guitarist that you like and right after the gig, ask her if she could help you pick the perfect electric guitar for your needs. You can offer to buy her lunch in return! Doing so, you’ll also make a new friend whom you can always go back to when you need more advice…
3) Purchase a nice amplifier also
Guitar amps are available in many sizes. As beginner, you’ll want just a small amplifier (20-30 watts) that you can utilize for your daily practice sessions. Don’t buy those very small amps. They sound terrible. Invest in a good amplifier that you can use for years.
4) Don’t be in a hurry to buy!
Spend some time trying both guitars and amps before making your choice. You might want to go to a few shops before making a decision. Most stores allow their customers to test their gear. Bring a notebook with you and take note of what you liked and what you didn’t like in the instruments you tried. Once you have a few options under your eyes, go back to the shop where you found the instruments you liked the most and buy them. Also, remember to purchase an amplifier that already has a distortion box, especially if you are into rock or heavy metal.
And finally, when purchasing your guitar and amp, don’t be afraid to ask the shop assistant to give you a handful of picks for free. And, why not, ask for an additional set of strings too…
5) Make sure you know how you are going to learn to play your new guitar…
Sounds obvious right? wrong! I have seen way too many times people spending hundreds in a beautiful electric guitar and then getting frustrated for non making progress. What does this inevitably lead to? giving up! that means your new guitar is going to sit in a corner of your living room and accumulate dust for the next few years…
Bottom line is:
6) Find a good instructor
How about the guitarist who helped you choose your gear? Does he teach? Does he know how to teach?
Or else, if there is any music school in town, you can be sure they’ll have some guitar courses.
To begin with, you must decide what style interests you more. Who is your favorite guitarist/group?
This will help you immensely to select the right guitar teacher for you.
Careful though, guitar lessons can be very costly! An experienced teacher will ask you between 20 and $50/hour.
Alternatively, if you check the internet, you’ll find literally TONS of on line guitar instruction. Most online guitar schools offer free lessons that you can grab to get you started. Spend some time trying out different methods and, after you find the guitar teacher you want, make your final decision.
Anyway… I hope you found these tips helpful…Once more, start small and invest in your skills rather than spending a lot of money in a flashy guitar.
Start your journey with a completely FREE lesson: http://www.topguitarlessonsreviewed.comTweet
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