• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

JAZZ IS FREAKING HARD!!!!

aaronious

aaronious

May 23, 2011
1,697
2,532
Denver CO
#1
Jazz is hard. I'm one month into my jazz studies. Jazz is hard.

Rock, Blues, R&B, all that made me think I was a fast learner. Jazz is hard. I'm a turtle when it comes to learning Jazz. Learning to walk a bass line PROPERLY is hard. It sounds easy, but Jazz is hard.

I can read a chart now, that's good, but Jazz is hard. So, I have trouble following it in time.

I'm getting better day by day, I just got done with an intense hour long practice session, but Jazz is hard, I wanted to smash my bass. I didn't, I just kept going. And I'll continue, but Jazz is hard and I needed to rant about it, because Jazz is hard.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bass nitro, BBQisgood, NickRich and 31 others
#3
it's funny but it is different. The tunes have way more complicated road maps, first and second endings, codas.

and there are way more complex chords and a whole lot more changes than popular music.

then there's the active listener part, where you are expected to pick up on the piano player dropping half steps down with his left had, and then they turn around and nod at you to take a solo.

I was ready for anything until my first couple of jazz gigs. it is hard. the guys i started out with were old timers and they have been playing these tunes for 40-50 years, kinda like many of the TBers here playing Classic Rock. they knew the tunes forward and backward and would help me along with a wink and a wince.

yeah its hard but it gets easier. keep playing. after you get comfortable try playing a DB.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Amplified, NickRich, BassGreaser and 4 others
#5
StyleOverShow said:
it's funny but it is different. The tunes have way more complicated road maps, first and second endings, codas.

and there are way more complex chords and a whole lot more changes than popular music.

then there's the active listener part, where you are expected to pick up on the piano player dropping half steps down with his left had, and then they turn around and nod at you to take a solo.

I was ready for anything until my first couple of jazz gigs. it is hard. the guys i started out with were old timers and they have been playing these tunes for 40-50 years, kinda like many of the TBers here playing Classic Rock. they knew the tunes forward and backward and would help me along with a wink and a wince.

yeah its hard but it gets easier. keep playing. after you get comfortable try playing a DB.
Click to expand...
That's the goal to get on a DB. But I have to walk before I can walk. It's fun and nerve racking at the same time. Jazz is hard.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Arion, Matthew_84, r10 and 2 others
#7
Orion1985 said:
Keep us posted on your progress. I'm taking some of my first steps into learning jazz and just figuring out where to start is tough.
Click to expand...

It all starts with a song you like. For me it was Coltrane's version of My Favorite Things. I just said to myself "I... Must... Learn... that" So I got a copy of The Real Book and learned it.

From there it was just a matter of playing other songs I discovered and liked. It was so much fun to learn about chords other than Major and minor and how to apply them. Even if you don't play jazz, adding a 7th or a 9th to a chord can really bring out emotions you never expected to come out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: alltomorrowsparties, Bunk McNulty, Robert Strickland and 6 others
#8
StyleOverShow said:
the guys i started out with were old timers and they have been playing these tunes for 40-50 years, kinda like many of the TBers here playing Classic Rock.
Click to expand...


I'm not sure if it was a subtle intent by you but that made me laugh out loud!

Now the question is "which crowd has more attitude and which crowd has nothing on which to base their attitude?" Rhetorical.

Yes, jazz is hard, OP. Smart you, studying itnthe right way!
 
  • Like
Reactions: tbz
#11
Jloch86 said:
It all starts with a song you like. For me it was Coltrane's version of My Favorite Things. I just said to myself "I... Must... Learn... that" So I got a copy of The Real Book and learned it.

From there it was just a matter of playing other songs I discovered and liked. It was so much fun to learn about chords other than Major and minor and how to apply them. Even if you don't play jazz, adding a 7th or a 9th to a chord can really bring out emotions you never expected to come out.
Click to expand...
I agree 100% with everything you just said. For me, It's Miles' Version of Autumn Leaves.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shortie, HolmeBass and tbz
#14
Jazz is well worth the work, study, and experience it takes to get there. Traditional straight ahead is all I do these days. Most songs written decades before I was born. Don't have to worry about aging out. minimal amplification, blah blah blah. I am surrounded by wonderful schooled musicians and can turn on a dime if someone raises an eyebrow. Stay with it. Listen to the greats. Hang and play with other jazz musicians often as you can. Digest the Real Books. Have fun. Get satisfaction.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Jason Hollar, bass81800, TexasRed1974 and 5 others
#15
Jazz isn't that hard, just more complex than R&R, blues, etc.

Pick a standard, say Autumn Leaves, LISTEN to it over and over, get the chord chart (Real Book)and a backing track (plenty on YouTube), memorize the chord changes. Start by just playing roots and 5ths, throw in a couple of passing chord tones and you will be playing a walking line in no time.

Best rendition of Autumn Leaves is Chet Baker's with Bob James, Paul Desmond and Ron Carter on bass. >IMHO
 
  • Like
Reactions: climber, HolmeBass, fritzk9 and 1 other person
#17
Hey, if it was easy, then everyone would be doing it…

So in the early '60's, Gene Quill is playing alto sax in an NJ club, and some heckler calls him out for simply playing Charlie Parker licks. Quill walks up to the guy, offers him his alto, and says "here, if it's so easy, YOU do it…"

Jazz is a language - maybe many languages - and a whole other way of perceiving, thinking about and playing music. Well worth the work!
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassbrad
#18
aaronious said:
Jazz is hard. I'm one month into my jazz studies. Jazz is hard.

Rock, Blues, R&B, all that made me think I was a fast learner. Jazz is hard. I'm a turtle when it comes to learning Jazz. Learning to walk a bass line PROPERLY is hard. It sounds easy, but Jazz is hard.

I can read a chart now, that's good, but Jazz is hard. So, I have trouble following it in time.

I'm getting better day by day, I just got done with an intense hour long practice session, but Jazz is hard, I wanted to smash my bass. I didn't, I just kept going. And I'll continue, but Jazz is hard and I needed to rant about it, because Jazz is hard.
Click to expand...
everything is difficult at the beginning. keep at it and good luck, pretty soon you won't notice right away but you'll get pretty good if you're diligent.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ellery
#19
Nev375 said:
Be careful. Once you learn jazz you can never play anything else again because it's too easy. Then where will you be?

You know the saying... A classic rock bass player plays 4 notes to 100 people, a jazz bassist plays 100 notes to 4 people.

...Food for thought.
Click to expand...

I do not agree, imho, if you learn a bit of jazz, you will look at rock tunes from another perspective. You will create more effective lines and enjoy the performance.
A lot of great rock players have also a strong jazz background (see for example TOTO).
 
  • Like
Reactions: bass nitro, Shortie, tsheldon and 4 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back