Such wise advice that gives detailed technical instruction while encouraging personal creativity. Wonderful teacher. I have a story that might be relevant. A friend of mine got a jazz gig by "accident" as he was not really familiar with the genre at all. (They were desperate I think!) He genuinely panicked when confronted with the charts, the extended chords and the rapidity of changes ("At least two every bar!" he lamented. ) As a survival mechanism he decided to play only one chord per bar and only play extensions he was absolutely sure about. To his surprise he survived and actually got praise from other band members for "leaving space" and the original quality of his comping!
I started with a Big band, playing basic shells was a matter survival and getting through the part. I’m only really just starting to explore extensions, it hasn’t held me back and I have the fun of exploring a whole new pallet of sounds.
Many thanks for this! Chord melody has always been an intimidating challenge. Your approach to simplifying things is very helpful. Your lessons are always top-notch!
So far for me, the most rewarding activity for working on chord melody was just reading a few charts; I liked charts a lot better than transcriptions or video lessons, because they allow you to see the bare bones; chord type with the melody above or below it. Anyway I don't know what your current knowledge is, but if you can read charts even very slowly, you can take the time to work out the relationship between each chord and the melody note, and if you just know a couple of options for each chord, you just have to find a place on the neck for the basic chord that allows you to put the melody note on top. I find Monk tunes the best for that, especially Round Midnight; using basic chords as long as you find the melody note, the way the tune is written is so beautiful, you don't have to have any talent to make an incredible chord Melody out of it; I tested that theory for myself! 🙄
Best 11 minutes I spent today. Thanks Jens. This seems like a better way to think of it. I do get overwhelmed with the sheer number of jazz chords. So much so that I play chords that I can't remember what they are called. And trying to figure them out from their notes is not that easy for me.
Had dinner today with my brother and sister-in-law. She's from Grand Rapids like my Mom's family, my brother also lived there for many years, so we were rooting for the Lions, even though I personally live equidistant from Detroit, Chicago and Indianapolis so am more ambivalent. Quite a game though...Bears gave them a scare there toward the end. Best Lions team in as long as I can remember.
That first half was solid, but you don’t let teams like the Bears stick around. That’s why. Either way, it’s been a long time since one of these fell Detroit’s way. This is the best Lions team I’ve seen in my lifetime.
Thanks for sharing how to play Jazz chord by playing simple basic chord first [ R 3 5 ]and then play the improvisations over it. Whether we are playing chord tones, root or rootless bass voicing and chord melody concepts. Comping the chords to learn the rhythm and then add the melody at the bottom stings. I hope I got this right for someone starting to play jazz chord improvisations guitar lesson. I think I might have to learn jazz to further improve my next level of guitar playing and will be looking more of your video lessons.
Dude you are so fun an helpful thank you for the knowledge! Making such a difference for me! Wow showing this day of Thanksgiving I wanted to let you know how thankful I am for you
Hi Jens, I'm an intermediate guitar player and have wanted to play Jazz for the last 20 years but as a family man with a full time job, going to music college for a few years isn't on the cards, but I could maybe take lessons. What fundamentals would you want a student to know before he tool jazz lessons. In other words what is a good starting point. And do you think it's possible to learn jazz somewhat without knowing all the theory. Thank you for your time
I would not worry too much about theory. It is difficult to give too specific advice because everybody is different and at different levels, but maybe check out this post: jenslarsen.nl/how-to-learn-jazz-guitar-suggestions-to-begin-studying/
Great advice. Back in my college days I thought it was too basic to simplify chords. (Oh, how wrong that idea was.) Your choice of Someday My Prince Will Come immediately brought to mind Ted Greene and the lesson one of his students videotaped of him teaching that. It’s kind of mind-boggling and inspiring at the same time (link is here. th-cam.com/video/ag6RRqiF7Hc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=eeiY6rfU4AbdUJRk) but the basic advice starts with figuring out where to put the melody-and also what key.
What is important for Jazz chords? 🙂
Joe Pass was right: Play Simple chords and learn how to use them:
th-cam.com/video/P-P-gM7VJx4/w-d-xo.html
Such wise advice that gives detailed technical instruction while encouraging personal creativity. Wonderful teacher.
I have a story that might be relevant. A friend of mine got a jazz gig by "accident" as he was not really familiar with the genre at all. (They were desperate I think!) He genuinely panicked when confronted with the charts, the extended chords and the rapidity of changes ("At least two every bar!" he lamented. ) As a survival mechanism he decided to play only one chord per bar and only play extensions he was absolutely sure about.
To his surprise he survived and actually got praise from other band members for "leaving space" and the original quality of his comping!
I started with a Big band, playing basic shells was a matter survival and getting through the part. I’m only really just starting to explore extensions, it hasn’t held me back and I have the fun of exploring a whole new pallet of sounds.
Many thanks for this! Chord melody has always been an intimidating challenge. Your approach to simplifying things is very helpful. Your lessons are always top-notch!
I have more coming on chord melody 🙂 Thank you!
So far for me, the most rewarding activity for working on chord melody was just reading a few charts; I liked charts a lot better than transcriptions or video lessons, because they allow you to see the bare bones; chord type with the melody above or below it.
Anyway I don't know what your current knowledge is, but if you can read charts even very slowly, you can take the time to work out the relationship between each chord and the melody note, and if you just know a couple of options for each chord, you just have to find a place on the neck for the basic chord that allows you to put the melody note on top.
I find Monk tunes the best for that, especially Round Midnight; using basic chords as long as you find the melody note, the way the tune is written is so beautiful, you don't have to have any talent to make an incredible chord Melody out of it; I tested that theory for myself! 🙄
This is how the sausage gets made! I love the added backstage access/analysis to "someday my prince will come".
Glad that was useful 🙂
Best 11 minutes I spent today. Thanks Jens. This seems like a better way to think of it. I do get overwhelmed with the sheer number of jazz chords. So much so that I play chords that I can't remember what they are called. And trying to figure them out from their notes is not that easy for me.
Been there! 😁
Absolutely superb information as always Jens
Thank you chris!
Thank you for putting out great content! Your teaching style is one of the best!
Glad it is useful!
thx. beeing in a rut for some time, this is the next step I find interesting.
Go for it 🙂
Thanks!
Thank you for the support Tom!
Thanks! what a great lesson :)
Thank you for the support Nick!
@@JensLarsen You're welcome, Jens :)
Thanks, Jens. Great vid.
Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends here, and GO LIONS!!
Thanks Rob! Good luck with the Lions
Had dinner today with my brother and sister-in-law. She's from Grand Rapids like my Mom's family, my brother also lived there for many years, so we were rooting for the Lions, even though I personally live equidistant from Detroit, Chicago and Indianapolis so am more ambivalent. Quite a game though...Bears gave them a scare there toward the end. Best Lions team in as long as I can remember.
That first half was solid, but you don’t let teams like the Bears stick around. That’s why. Either way, it’s been a long time since one of these fell Detroit’s way.
This is the best Lions team I’ve seen in my lifetime.
Thanks for the lesson Jens. Very interesting is your approach .
My pleasure!
Hi Jens, great Lesson. Thank you !
Glad you liked it!
Pure gold
Thank you! 🙂
Excellent lesson. Been doing this for years. Just using my ears.
Glad it was helpful!
Just subscribed for the Roadmap. Very excited
Awesome! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing how to play Jazz chord by playing simple basic chord first [ R 3 5 ]and then play the improvisations over it. Whether we are playing chord tones, root or rootless bass voicing and chord melody concepts. Comping the chords to learn the rhythm and then add the melody at the bottom stings. I hope I got this right for someone starting to play jazz chord improvisations guitar lesson. I think I might have to learn jazz to further improve my next level of guitar playing and will be looking more of your video lessons.
Dude you are so fun an helpful thank you for the knowledge! Making such a difference for me! Wow showing this day of Thanksgiving I wanted to let you know how thankful I am for you
Thank you very much Jerry! Happy thanksgiving!
You're the best Jens......!!!
Thanks Rick! 🙂
Great video.
I took Music Theory classes in college.
This is a great introduction to composing.
Glad it was helpful!
Jens knows. 🤙🏻
Hit right to the core🎉
🙏
Great lesson, thanks.
Glad you liked it!
Thank you Jens!
Glad you like it Dario!
Wow, that´s interesting. Thanks!
Glad you liked it!
wat een prachtige site Jens, dank
🥰
Good stuff.. Tak!
Glad it was helpful!
Great point …
🙏
Hi Jens, I'm an intermediate guitar player and have wanted to play Jazz for the last 20 years but as a family man with a full time job, going to music college for a few years isn't on the cards, but I could maybe take lessons. What fundamentals would you want a student to know before he tool jazz lessons. In other words what is a good starting point. And do you think it's possible to learn jazz somewhat without knowing all the theory. Thank you for your time
I would not worry too much about theory. It is difficult to give too specific advice because everybody is different and at different levels, but maybe check out this post: jenslarsen.nl/how-to-learn-jazz-guitar-suggestions-to-begin-studying/
Sounds nice, but I don’t recognize it. What is it?
Great advice. Back in my college days I thought it was too basic to simplify chords. (Oh, how wrong that idea was.) Your choice of Someday My Prince Will Come immediately brought to mind Ted Greene and the lesson one of his students videotaped of him teaching that. It’s kind of mind-boggling and inspiring at the same time (link is here. th-cam.com/video/ag6RRqiF7Hc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=eeiY6rfU4AbdUJRk) but the basic advice starts with figuring out where to put the melody-and also what key.
Pure gold
Hi Debbie. Fancy seeing you here. 😎
@ another Jens fan!
Thank you Debbie!