Playing Tips
Starting to Play Jazz
Playing Jazz is not as hard as it looks!
If you can play the Blues you're already half way there. The blues and "Rhythm Changes", ( a sequence of chords based on the Gershwin song "I Got Rhythm"), are two of the most common chord progressions in jazz.
In jazz the blues progression tends to be extended, - so it may have a few additional chords, - but it is basically the same thing that you are most probably already playing.
Other things that are common in jazz are:-
I-VI-II-V progressions (e.g. “Blue Moon”);
IIm7-V7-I progressions (the minor chord based on the second note of a major scale, followed by the dominant 7th based on the 5th note of the major scale, resolving to the tonic or first note of the scale – e.g. Amin7, D7 then Gmaj7);
IIm7-V7-I sequences progressing through key centers a whole tone lower than the previous key. (For example, after Amin7, D7, Gmaj7 you might play Gmin7, C7, Fmaj7 – so you have been in G major and then you have moved to F major. These can also incorporate half step changes and minor key IIm7-V7-I sequences);
The cycle of fifths of dominant 7 chords (e.g. E7, A7, D7, G7). This sequence is very common in jazz. A typical example is the bridge of Gershwin's I Got Rhythm
Song Structures
Apart from these things it is helpful to understand how jazz players talk about the structure of songs. For example, they might say that a song is an AABA etc. For example, they might construct the A section (verse) from a IIm7-V7-I sequence and then have a B Section based on a cycle of fifths of dominant 7 chords. So AABA would mean play the first sequence twice, then the B section, then the A section again once. You then go back to the top and repeat the sequence AABA (this is actually one of the most common song forms).
Playing with Others
It is really hard trying to get any where by playing on your own. Although playing along with records and backing tracks helps. But playing with others really helps - and the Tees Hot club is not a bad place to learn. Some of the Hot Club regulars started sitting on the side trying to play along and now gig with the full line up.
Sharing Your Knowledge
There are no secret tricks at the Tees Hot Club. If you see any of us play something that you can't - ask use what we are doing. We can't guarantee an entirely sober response, but we will be pleased to help (consistent with it not interfering with beer break too much !). We can also suggest tutor books and the like that we find helpful.
Also, remember the Tees Hot Club members are also learning too (this may be painfully apparent at times). We would appreciate any tips you can offer us.
Sources for Fake Books, Tutorials, Play-Alongs etc.
Frets Only is a good UK based web site that can supply loads of jazz guitar books.
Jazzwise is another supplier of instructional materials for all instruments.
It's a good idea to get yourself some backing track play-a-longs to practice to. The Jamey Aebersold series are the most popular and are available from the Jazzwise, or just on Amazon, but the American stocktist is Jazzbooks.com. You can download a good index of Aebersold play-alongs from that site.
Another good series of jazz play-a-longs is available from Hal Leonard and, again, often available on Amazon.
Learning Gypsy Jazz
The Robin Nolan books provide a good repertoire and introduction to the style.
For Gypsy jazz cd's and assorted tutor books etc you can go to Steve Royal's Hot Club site.
You can join an online Gypsy Jazz Community from the Gypsy Jazz Guitar web site.
There are now some fantastic instructional videos available from HyperHip Media. There are some nice sample lessons on Denis Chang's YouTube site.
There is also a playlist of Gypsy Jazz Instruction videos on the Hot Club YouTube Channel.
A favourite source of cheap and extremely good guitar lessons is 99 Cent Guitar Lessons which features downloadable jazz guitar lessons from Rich Severson. Highly recommended!
Visiting French Web Sites
There are quite a few French web sites that have useful information on jazz guitar. You need to understand a bit of French to make use of them.
(Tip: - if you are not very good at French you can always cut and paste the text into the Babel Fish translator at babelfish)
For free chord sheets of Django material there is quite a good French language site at Manoucheries
Here are a few French words that will assist in navigating these sites:-
Jazz Manouche - gypsy jazz
Swing Manouche - gypsy jazz
Jazz Gitan - gypsy jazz
Grilles - these are chord charts for songs. (NB the French lay them out slightly differently from the way we usually see them in the UK)
Accords - chords
Fichiers midi - midi files
Jouer - to play
Mediator - guitar pick
Visiting Brazilian Web Sites
Brazilian web sites are good for obtaining chord sheets (particularly of Jobim etc). If you want chord sheets in Portugese they area called "partituras". Put that in your search engine.
Photograph courtesy of Denis Dunning