Hello Ben
Figured i would ask you some questions since i have never really talked to you.I'll start off by saying your guitar work is really good,i dont play that style really but respect the style and would like to learn more on it.So with the questions, i was wondering do you play other styles or strictly dedicated to just jazz?Like do you listen or play any metal ever? How long have you been playing and what got you into playing Jazz?

Take Care
Shredmandan

Hello Shredmandan (Dan?)!

Thankyou for your kind words.

Well believe it or not, i was a metallica nut when i first started playing (8 years ago)!

I used to listen and prcatise 'Kill em all', Fade to Black and all that madness.

Along with that came Malmsteen, Paul Gilbert, Satraini and vai and Slash (massively!).

I got into jazz very recently-the last two years.

My favourite music to play is jazz-funk/fusion, i.e. Robben Ford, Scott Henderson.

I dont really know what got me into it, there came a point in my playing that i got sick and fed up of all the pentatonic and diatonic playing, and i yearned for something more.

I dont mean this at all to look down, it was just the way things went for me.

I wanted the sophistication hip note choices that made Robben Ford and Mike Stern etc appeal to me, but still with the technique and virtuosity of prog rock/metal.

That where bebop comes in!

Players such as John Coltrane (Giant Steps etc) and Mike Stern had such a big impact on me, as they could easily had the chops as well as any rock player i knew of, AND they had the hip note choice and intelligence behind it.

I guess learning jazz had alot for my obssession with theory!

I hated theory couldnt stand it when i was learning out, but couldnt get enough of it in the last few years. Its hard work, but it REALLY pays off!


the thing i love most i think about jazz and jazz-fusion is trying to make the 'wrong' notes sound musical.

It sounds corny, but it really is like balancing on a tightrop feeling for me-i love seeing how far i can go outside the tonality and then bringing it back in!

I hope this might have cleared things up a bit, perhaps i shouldve explained myself better when i came to GMC months ago!


-Ben

Dude
Those were some great answer's
I especially like the part were you said what you love about Jazz and Fusion is making the wrong notes sound musical .Thats a very good answer and shows the talent it takes to learn this style.I bet you can really rip on the guitar as you have played theMetallica style (which i learned on) and going from that to Jazz and getting theory down.Well thanks for your quick response and the only thing i forgot is when do you play on putting out your next lesson?And yes my name is Dan

Take Care
Shredmandan

Hello Dan!

No problem, i hope it cleared up a few things.

Im still very concious of keeping up my rock chops due to to the fact that its what alot of kids want to learn still.


With regards to my next lesson, it will probably be around the start of september and will be a straight ahead jazz one-sorry for the wait.

Im hoping to get a collaboration done before though, so keep those eyes peeled!

Thanks for your interest,

-Ben