I wat to play jazz!!! give me some advise

[vene-nemesis]

Originally Posted by janekbass

I'm going to be taking quesitons specifically about harmony, improvisation, time, sound, and all things that make up different kinds of musicians in my new "ask a pro" section when it gets up and running. The cats who run talkbass contacted me about doing it and it's under construction right now.

If you like the way I play and think you have any questions for me, please head over there when it's up and running and I'll be happy to answer anything that comes my way.

If you're not into what I do, then that's also totally cool of course. I'm not saying I'm the be all and end all of improvisation for one second, but I do have a lot to say about coming from the very basics to making it your life's work.

Easy,

Janek

I like helpful ppl like you, i also dig your songs at myspace. But what i liked best was your fod imperial could you tell me whats its tunning and scale???

[janekbass]

well, not exactly what I had in mind. Being known for my bass.

but as you ask, it's a short scale. 33inch. E-A-D-G-C with a hip shot on the E string to go down to a B. I've also tuned the E string to an A and it worked great. Amazing basses.

[Phunky]

I'd like to transcribe some jazz records too, which ones would you consider vital? Please name some records that you think I would get the most out of from transcribing.

Thankfully //Phunky

[jzucker]

Originally Posted by Phunky

I'd like to transcribe some jazz records too, which ones would you consider vital? Please name some records that you think I would get the most out of from transcribing.

Thankfully //Phunky

For bass, transcribe some Ray Brown, Ron Carter to start with.

You might also try transcribing some Wes Montgomery guitar solos.

There's so much out there. You might consider checking out the usenet jazz guitar newsgroup.

[Phunky]

Originally Posted by jzucker

For bass, transcribe some Ray Brown, Ron Carter to start with.

Records?

[SundanceChile]

[quote=ryco]A chat forum is a pointer, not an answer. A journey begins with a first step - learning to play starts with the first note.
/QUOTE]

Correction, a journey begins with a decesion; what is that first note you're going to play?

[jzucker]

Originally Posted by Phunky

Records?

For Ron Carter,

Anything he's on with Miles Davis.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=glance&n=5174

Another good source would be the duo albums he recorded with Jim Hall:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=glance&n=5174

For Ray Brown, there's so much from what he did with Bird to recordings he did with Joe Pass. This isn't necessarily his best work but the Joe Pass stuff is very easy to hear the bass lines:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=glance&n=5174

Do some investigation of your own. It's like geneology. You need to develop a family tree of the music that moves you.

[iplaybassguitar]

Originally Posted by jzucker

Sorry - I've been teaching jazz guitar and bass for over 25 years and there's just too much BS that you see in the forums. When you ask a technical question, you will get 360 degrees worth of answers, mostly from people who don't even have a mastery of what they are giving advise about. The best way to learn to play jazz is to transcribe as much jazz as you can and find some local players who play great and either study with them or find out what they did to become great. I can guarantee you that nobody has ever learned to play jazz based on advise from a chat forum.

easy easy...im not saying you should use these forums as your sole learning device, but they are certainly a great resource when you want something cleared up or when you need some quick advice

[iplaybassguitar]

try and figure out what the hell miles davis is playing...if you can play davis, you can play jazz...but if you can UNDERSTAND davis, then youve really got something going for you

[Alan Vorse]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned getting a good teacher.

[janekbass]

you are you best teacher if you really have the will to learn. There's nothing a teacher can teach you that you can't learn from a record. The more you do on your own, the better off you're going to be. It'll be more ingrained in your mind and more personal.

[Pacman]

I could not disagree more, janek. You might be able to get to San Antonio from New York without a map. And you might be able to remember it if you do. But it wont necessarily be the best way....

[jzucker]

Originally Posted by Pacman

I could not disagree more, janek. You might be able to get to San Antonio from New York without a map. And you might be able to remember it if you do. But it wont necessarily be the best way....

There is no best way. Music is not a science.

There are certain things a teacher can help you with related to technique. On the other hand, the electric bass is in it's infancy. It'd be a different story if you were talking about the proper way to bow but with fingerstyle electric bass, who's right and who's wrong? Matt Garrison or Gary Willis? Victor Wooten or Jaco? All unique technical approaches to the instrument and masters in one way or another.

I think Janek's point is a good one. You really can divide musicians into 2 camps.

• True students of the instrument
• Everyone else

A true student of the instrument will seek out knowledge and music on their own. They will not wait for someone to show them because they are too busy transcribing, writing, practicing or working towards a goal.

However, the other 99% (everyone else) of the population isn't necessarily destined for mediocrity (which Dennis Sandole once warned me against). However, it's a matter of self motivation and dedication. A teacher can only open the door. The student's the one who has to walk through it.

The answer is right in front of you. If you want to play jazz, then do it. There are no shortcuts and there are no tricks. You must master your instrument and dedicate your life to the pursuit.

[mohamby]

Jazz is a small four letter word that means alot of different things to alot different poeple.

[nonohmic]

What do Jazz musicians use for birth control?








Their personalities! bwaaa haaa haaa ha ha ha ha ha ha!!

(its not actually funny but there you go..)

[ToR-Tu-Ra]

Quarter notes, accent on beat 2 & 4