Jazz Improvisation, How do i learn it? Options

[Matt23]

Well i've done all the theory lessons and they've been very useful, and i want to learn how to do jazz improvisation. I'm goin to do some of the jazz lessons here on gmc, but id like to know if i know enough theory to learn it, and what other theory might be useful. I hope to find out what makes jazz jazz and how to improvise jazz melodies in lessons but any help here would be very useful, as i know nothing at the moment about jazz. Also what lessons do people suggest i do?

Thanks for any help in this.

Matt

[Vinod Saranga]

Hello Matt,
I am not a Jazz expert.But remember these points.
Jazz is very different style from the all the other styles.
Knowing the theory lessons is not enough for Jazz improvisation as theory are based for other styles too.
You need to know the special theory behind the Jazz.
chord progressions,common Scales,Jazzy licks,and all that.

Here are two lessons by Nick that give you some Idea about Jazz

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guit...isation-lesson/
http
://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guit...ie-jazz-licks/

I think Nick will help you in this case
ask for help in the Nick's board.

Vinod

This post has been edited by Vinod Saranga: Aug 10 2008, 03:49 AM

[Matt23]

Thanks Vinod, i'll check out those lessons. Also are there any books that might teach me the theory i need to know?

[Vinod Saranga]

Yes there  are some great books to learn jazz theory and improvisation.
I have tried this book and it's great
Beginning-Jazz-Guitar-Book and Dvd

you can seach more books in  amazon.com.
Before buying any book I suggest you again to ask from Nick for detailed help
which I am not currently capable  of

[Andrew Cockburn]

Also, it is worth checking out Jerry's Jazz Notes series - he is working through some of the essential building blocks of Jazz from the beginning - well worth a look!

[Ivan Milenkovic]

You may check out my Little Jazz WOrkshop lessons 1 2 and 3. In it you will find simple concepts how to achieve jazzy sound, and also in the text you will find some interesting ideas on how to approach jazz practically. I'm certainly no jazzman, but I'm aware what makes one jazz player, and that is something that is achieved with a lot of hard work, because jazz is (with classical music) the highest form of music.

[Andrew Cockburn]

because jazz is (with classical music) the highest form of music.

Amen! It is one of the most complex forms out there and you need to live an breathe theory to get the most out of it!

[Ivan Milenkovic]

I agree with Andrew. In order to become good at jazz playing heavy theory knowledge is required. One must be able to keep the whole diatonic theory in his little finger in order to go further. Fortunately this is not so hard as it sounds - with enough hard work and if you really love jazz it is definitely possible for anyone.

This post has been edited by Ivan Milenkovic: Aug 12 2008, 01:04 AM

[Gerardo Siere]

Must know functional tonal harmony, intervalic and melodic analisis, and most important playing and transcribing a lot of tunes in a lot of styles to get you into the style (artivulation, sequencing and citation is very tricky)

[Ramiro Delforte]

I agree with all the post but I want to add the most important thing, Hearing.
A lot of great jazz players they didn't lean theory just the listen to the melody inside their heads. In order to do that well you can listen and transcribe jazz solos, also buy some official transcriptions from CDs that you like and always sing what you play.

[Emir Hot]

For a good jazz improvisation you need to master the modes of Melodic minor scale and all chords with alterations that come from this scale. I am not sure if anybody covered this topic on GMC. I am not jazz master but I will try to talk about this scale in one of my next lessons.

[Vasilije Vukmiro...]

My advice would be to learn few jazz standards for beginning, like blue bosa, or summertime, or whatever, which isn't technically hard, just melodies you know. If you have good technique you can even learn solos.
You have lots of tabs for this, even specialized books for jazz standards(tabs).
By learning this, you get direct insight in jazz music, you get it under your fingers, and it's way easier to start with that.
Listening jazz music is also useful(even mandatory) for learning jazz improvisation.

If you want I can open a topic with selected jazz standards for your level, and further advice!

[Pedja Simovic]

Jazz is a language and like any language it can be more or less difficult for individual to grasp it.

If you don't have a strong foundation in theory and harmony , Jazz music will come very hard to understand.
If you don't have strong Ear training and you can hear intervals (relative even perfect pitch) then Jazz will be very hard to understand.
Other then that , you need to have strong vocabulary of scales, modes, pentatonics, arpeggios, melodies, riffs, motives and basically learn how to improvise well with all these devices.
Jazz has many different areas so basic jazz improvising might be using chord tones but then there is modern style with pentatonics, hexatonics, polyrhythm, reharmonization, chromaticism, bebop scales etc

I will do my best to talk about Jazz harmony when I get my own board - I plan to make theory topic and update it frequently with cool things.

If you have questions don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks