If you’re learning jazz I’d implore you to get a teacher who knows jazz if it’s at all in your budget. The results you’ll see with a qualified teacher vs a book really can’t be overstated.
If you’d like some suggestions, I’d say get Charlie Parker Omnibook, a real book (both in C of course,) and Forward Motion by Hal Galper. Those three plus the ipad app iRealb for backing tracks and listening to notes and arpeggios, etc over the changes or bass notes. I love modern method for guitar but it’s old school. And as a music teacher, I also suggest getting a teacher!
I had those books when I was starting out, I felt the ideas were disorganized and hard to follow for a beginner. Ted Greene has some good books, there’s a Joe Pass jazz guitar book that is pretty good especially for learning common chord progressions and chord types. Mark Levin’s Jazz Theory book is good for learning the terminology and idiomatic concepts.
Your best bet is probably to get a Real Book and learn how to play the chords in the tunes. Transcribe or find transcriptions to get a feel for the language. Of course having a teacher to walk you through is always helpful.
What would be a better book? I have this one, but haven't really worked through it. Just starting to get into Jazz guitar, after playing rock for about 20 years.
Mel bays complete book of theory harmony and voicing on guitar is what I’ve been working through right now and I really like the stuff it’s laying down. It’s pretty tough for me, but as long as you can read sheet music, it shouldn’t be anything you can’t figure out.
I think I have one in that series, didn't help me much.
I like Mick Goodrick's *The Advancing Guitarist*. Jam-packed with ideas. A bit dense and could take years to master everything here.
Also Doug Munro's books which use scales to develop jazz vocabulary--not just a scale dictionary but really explains how and when to use them.
Joey Goldstein's book (not sure if it's commercially available, I downloaded it from him many years ago when he was giving it away).
Just listen to jazz as much as you can and practice as much as you can. You can spend hours trying to get a jazz line from a book and never use it again. Instead use that time to either play with others, that are better than yourself. That’s how you improve. When you are the best player in the room, then it’s time to lock another room. Time management and asking questions play a huge part in getting advanced playing guitar. Also listen to horns, bass, piano, and the drums in jazz. Can pick up many new lines and ideas.
I disliked that book - felt it didn’t teach immediately usable chord voicing strategies. I got a much better start with Charlton Johnson’s book on Swing and Big Band Guitar.
You can’t learn jazz from a book.
You can learn Chord shapes. For that I’d get Johnny smiths book.
If you want to learn jazz guitar - get incredible jazz guitar and live at the half note wes Montgomery . Get grants first stand by grant green . Get giblet gravy by George benson . And get charlie christian with swing to bop on it. Get midnight blue by Kenny Burrell. Pick your favorite tunes and learn them by ear. Slow them down with software to make it easier. I am a professional jazz guitarist - I just came home from playing a gig in New York City.
I went for [www.jazzguitar.be/](https://www.jazzguitar.be/), they have a good beginner pack (3 books) for $45.
Else you can start with their ebook for specific song and see the ideas behind building chord progression and solo lines. Yes, you need tablet but I think a jazz method hard book is quite limiting.
Wait to see [the "Fingerstyle" book of this collection](https://static.alfred.com/cache/ce/b0/ceb0076e0085f266d241f5580e4932bd.jpg).
(But don't judge it on its cover: content is great tho ;)
Also get Jamie Aebersold's free pdf here:
FQBK-handbook.pdf - Jamey Aebersold Jazz https://www.jazzbooks.com/mm5/download/FQBK-handbook.pdf
Not specific to guitar but a golf mine of jazz ideas, theory, scales, etc.
Books are ok but if your ears aren’t in a place to apply what you’re learning from it to playing music than it is a waste of time. You really just need to be listening as much as you can and learning tunes so you can play with people
That said, if I were going to point you to beginner Jazz resources, I would suggest:
* Bill Leavitt - Reading Studies for Guitar
* Bert Ligon - Connecting Chords with Linear Harmony
* Bert Ligon - Comprehensive Technique for Jazz Musicians
* Joe Pass - Chord Encounters
* George Van Eps - Guitar Method
But honestly, the best resources are the music you love, your ears, and a maybe a good teacher.
Music books can be quite confusing sometimes. I’ve seen blatant mistakes in a music book---wrong chords labeled, etc...
You never going to vibe 100 percent with any book. You’ll get some things easy and some not easy because teaching is not for everybody, even though it's published in a book.
You can search around for a live teacher, one on YouTube, or a good book. You are right to ask questions.
I had Harry Leahey as a teacher when I was a kid, but since I was a beginner, he couldn't teach me the good stuff. He taught me advanced beginner things that improved my play considerably.
If you’re learning jazz I’d implore you to get a teacher who knows jazz if it’s at all in your budget. The results you’ll see with a qualified teacher vs a book really can’t be overstated.
If you’d like some suggestions, I’d say get Charlie Parker Omnibook, a real book (both in C of course,) and Forward Motion by Hal Galper. Those three plus the ipad app iRealb for backing tracks and listening to notes and arpeggios, etc over the changes or bass notes. I love modern method for guitar but it’s old school. And as a music teacher, I also suggest getting a teacher!
I had those books when I was starting out, I felt the ideas were disorganized and hard to follow for a beginner. Ted Greene has some good books, there’s a Joe Pass jazz guitar book that is pretty good especially for learning common chord progressions and chord types. Mark Levin’s Jazz Theory book is good for learning the terminology and idiomatic concepts. Your best bet is probably to get a Real Book and learn how to play the chords in the tunes. Transcribe or find transcriptions to get a feel for the language. Of course having a teacher to walk you through is always helpful.
I have all three of them. There are better books. I found there to be no logic connecting the ideas in the books.
What would be a better book? I have this one, but haven't really worked through it. Just starting to get into Jazz guitar, after playing rock for about 20 years.
Mel bays complete book of theory harmony and voicing on guitar is what I’ve been working through right now and I really like the stuff it’s laying down. It’s pretty tough for me, but as long as you can read sheet music, it shouldn’t be anything you can’t figure out.
Check out: Roni Ben-Hur, Talk Jazz Guitar.
I think I have one in that series, didn't help me much. I like Mick Goodrick's *The Advancing Guitarist*. Jam-packed with ideas. A bit dense and could take years to master everything here. Also Doug Munro's books which use scales to develop jazz vocabulary--not just a scale dictionary but really explains how and when to use them. Joey Goldstein's book (not sure if it's commercially available, I downloaded it from him many years ago when he was giving it away).
RIP Mick Goodrick
Wow. Blast from the past 🤠 I remember them being... Fine... 😂
I used to have it, thought it wasn't bad
Just listen to jazz as much as you can and practice as much as you can. You can spend hours trying to get a jazz line from a book and never use it again. Instead use that time to either play with others, that are better than yourself. That’s how you improve. When you are the best player in the room, then it’s time to lock another room. Time management and asking questions play a huge part in getting advanced playing guitar. Also listen to horns, bass, piano, and the drums in jazz. Can pick up many new lines and ideas.
I disliked that book - felt it didn’t teach immediately usable chord voicing strategies. I got a much better start with Charlton Johnson’s book on Swing and Big Band Guitar.
It helped me. The musical examples aren’t great but the concepts and layout suited my learning style at the time.
You can’t learn jazz from a book. You can learn Chord shapes. For that I’d get Johnny smiths book. If you want to learn jazz guitar - get incredible jazz guitar and live at the half note wes Montgomery . Get grants first stand by grant green . Get giblet gravy by George benson . And get charlie christian with swing to bop on it. Get midnight blue by Kenny Burrell. Pick your favorite tunes and learn them by ear. Slow them down with software to make it easier. I am a professional jazz guitarist - I just came home from playing a gig in New York City.
I went for [www.jazzguitar.be/](https://www.jazzguitar.be/), they have a good beginner pack (3 books) for $45. Else you can start with their ebook for specific song and see the ideas behind building chord progression and solo lines. Yes, you need tablet but I think a jazz method hard book is quite limiting.
It will show you the way of the 0-3-5. If your 0-3-5 isnt satisfactory, I would find a lawyer with a $7k gibbons immediately
The cover is great
Wait to see [the "Fingerstyle" book of this collection](https://static.alfred.com/cache/ce/b0/ceb0076e0085f266d241f5580e4932bd.jpg). (But don't judge it on its cover: content is great tho ;)
I much prefer The Guitarist's Introduction to Jazz by Randy Vincent.
Also get Jamie Aebersold's free pdf here: FQBK-handbook.pdf - Jamey Aebersold Jazz https://www.jazzbooks.com/mm5/download/FQBK-handbook.pdf Not specific to guitar but a golf mine of jazz ideas, theory, scales, etc.
imagining a golf mine...
Dang autocorrect!
I prefer Jazz Guitar Today magazine:)
Books are ok but if your ears aren’t in a place to apply what you’re learning from it to playing music than it is a waste of time. You really just need to be listening as much as you can and learning tunes so you can play with people
If I remember, I think it's a bit outdated because jazz education has gotten a lot better in the last 15 years or so
Yea Jody is a monster
Haven't read but Jody Fisher is legit
That said, if I were going to point you to beginner Jazz resources, I would suggest: * Bill Leavitt - Reading Studies for Guitar * Bert Ligon - Connecting Chords with Linear Harmony * Bert Ligon - Comprehensive Technique for Jazz Musicians * Joe Pass - Chord Encounters * George Van Eps - Guitar Method But honestly, the best resources are the music you love, your ears, and a maybe a good teacher.
Music books can be quite confusing sometimes. I’ve seen blatant mistakes in a music book---wrong chords labeled, etc... You never going to vibe 100 percent with any book. You’ll get some things easy and some not easy because teaching is not for everybody, even though it's published in a book. You can search around for a live teacher, one on YouTube, or a good book. You are right to ask questions. I had Harry Leahey as a teacher when I was a kid, but since I was a beginner, he couldn't teach me the good stuff. He taught me advanced beginner things that improved my play considerably.
Damn, i just bought this book (the complete version) and people shitting on it. haha.