The Harsh Truth - 12 Things Not To Do Learning Jazz Guitar

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  • čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
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Komentáře • 119

  • @JensLarsen
    @JensLarsen  Před 5 měsíci +5

    What are mistakes to watch out for when starting Jazz? Did I miss something?
    How I failed at Learning a Jazz Standard: czcams.com/video/MXz5RW55rjE/video.html

    • @juliovazquez3320
      @juliovazquez3320 Před 5 měsíci +2

      Some of these are also a great guide for non-jazz players too. Nice video!

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 5 měsíci

      @@juliovazquez3320 Thank you!

  • @robbertr1558
    @robbertr1558 Před 5 měsíci +14

    Thanks for the interesting video again, you're like a jazz-mentor but also a music-comedian with your delivery. Your videos on your practice-philosophies have helped me a ton!

  • @jasonmudgarde286
    @jasonmudgarde286 Před 5 měsíci +7

    I was amazed to hear that George Benson as a teenager had been gigging with jazz bands for a while before he was shown some theory from a pianist, just shows that a good ear often comes first. Great advice Jens thanks

  • @kjv-public-domain
    @kjv-public-domain Před 5 měsíci +4

    I bought a cheap tape recorder and play chords to a metronome. I love playing along to my own playing. It might not work for some people, but it certainly works for me. Songs, songs, and more songs. Always to an audible metronome. Plus, I had a great teacher. It took me a while to get 'that jazz sound' while improving. But once it clicked, it clicked. Learning songs is where I learn the most. I love watching Jens Larsen videos because I always hear something that I can immediately incorporate. Jens doesn't hold anything back. Listen carefully to what he says.

    • @mikebutler6659
      @mikebutler6659 Před 5 měsíci +1

      Reminds me of the good ol days of cassette and chords😊

  • @victotronics
    @victotronics Před 5 měsíci +4

    Your first point is so spot on. People seem to think that theory is a magical key to the kingdom. It's not. I didn't have a theory lesson until I'd been playing for years, and so learning theory was a constant "Oh, this thing I've seen a thousand times has a name!". Of course after that, theory is a help in all sorts of way. But it's silly to start there and to focus too much on it in the beginning.

  • @jayumble8390
    @jayumble8390 Před 5 měsíci +14

    Once you get serious with playing jazz, the guitar is not the point...it's just a tool. There was a period in my jazz career where I was playing a $100.00 solid body guitar because it felt like a dream. Change the pickups to your liking and you're good to go. Music is within you, it's not about a $300 guitar, a $1,000 guitar a $5,000 --forget about that, just learn how to play the instrument, everything else will take care of itself.

  • @joeraidu3480
    @joeraidu3480 Před 5 měsíci +3

    Thank you Jens for all the kindness and wisdom of your advice. you remind us that music passes through our ears to touch our hearts and then let our fingers translate our feelings as best we can. 😌😊

  • @Adetunji168
    @Adetunji168 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Thank you for your advice. I've covered most mistakes you mentioned. 😂 Trial and error has brought me to same conclusion as yourself (and that's after 30yrs ). Your video covered it less than 20 minutes. I salute your teaching style🎉🎉 as a Philosophical Jazz Educational Practioner. You deliver process on how its done.

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 4 měsíci

      Thank you! Yes, a lot of things takes a few mistakes to learn 😁

  • @markrollinger5366
    @markrollinger5366 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Such good advice!! Looking at jazz as a "language" is a good place to start.
    Jens, you are more brutally honest with every new post! I love it.
    Trying to teach yourself what you don't know? is a terrible idea. At least get a check-up (lesson) regularly to keep moving in the right direction.

  • @thijs199
    @thijs199 Před 5 měsíci +1

    It's that time again of the season, a non-trolling comment: I'm actually really happy with my current playing. I don't really feel the need of more information anymore, I feel like if I just keep on playing the guitar a lot now, it's gonna work out. Probably not as fast as with a systematic practicing schedule approach, but good enough for me. And this is in the end my goal. It's for me, I gotta like doing it. Your content has been helpful to achieve this level I'm now at. So whether I'm doing jazz or whatever you want to call it. I really don't care

  • @xraydelta7
    @xraydelta7 Před 5 měsíci +3

    Saving this video for inspiration.

  • @scramblethis3224
    @scramblethis3224 Před 5 měsíci +2

    In case of emergency, listen! Great advice, maestro.

  • @ricklaino6385
    @ricklaino6385 Před 5 měsíci +3

    Always great advice.....
    Thanks Jens......!!!

  • @rudysalcedo9395
    @rudysalcedo9395 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Your tips are awesome and always useful especially for people that have played for a long time and understand what you're saying keep it up and thank you! 👍😎✌️

  • @DexterTheater
    @DexterTheater Před 5 měsíci +1

    Damn the intro of The Borgia Stick... I'm going to be stuck in this forever. Did not know the song, thanks Jens.

  • @WorldPeace-pi1uq
    @WorldPeace-pi1uq Před 4 měsíci

    I started by learning some easier George Benson solos on Brezzin', but one thing to watch out for is getting too locked into those memorized lines. I believe there is NO single right way to learn who to solo, but you're correct IMHO that just reading and practicing scales etc. without any context leads to sterile and mechanical playing. As a professional and champion whistler, I can use my mouth to come up with ideas that challenge my guitar-playing abilities. It's sometime hard reproduce what came out of my mouth so easily. I have know where the notes are on the fretboard. So if I know several ways to play a scale in different positions on the neck, this is handy.
    One teacher said to learn ALL the standard Jazz & Blues riffs or licks I can, and stitch them together for a solo. This is great to start with as I sounded decent quickly, but I couldn't play more advanced pieces this way. So I now restrict those licks to chord changes I feel benefit from them.
    If you want to solo like 'Trane you need to know all your scales, modes and more. It has to come instantaneously, not from thinking about it and deciding, when there's no time for that.
    I've heard of levels of soloing based on complexities, but I just don't want to be thinking what level should I use now for this tune.
    What I've done that really helps me is to record many common chord changes in my DAW - such as a II-V-I etc. and copy it several times. Then practice soloing over it until you can come up with nice and fluid phrases that aren't just licks. Then I change the keys in some larger progression and try to play over all those modulation sections. Finally, I try to connect the keys with phrases that sound like good transitions. Once I can do this and not repeat my lines, I know I can do this in a tune where it's used.
    In Jazz you have to develop a vocabulary of your own that you've mastered. It's like creating your own dialect of English, but everyone who speaks English can understand you.

  • @throckmortensnivel2850
    @throckmortensnivel2850 Před 5 měsíci

    Another great video. Music theory is necessary if you want other people to play your music. It is not necessary to learn music, but it sure helps when you get into making charts for other musicians, or for yourself. It also helps if someone hands you a chart for a song you've never heard before. I would say the music is the first priority, but it doesn't hurt to learn theory. It definitely helps you grow as a musician.

  • @conradgittins4476
    @conradgittins4476 Před 5 měsíci +1

    It seems that I am doing it the right way then. I've played violin all my life and recently started jazz guitar so I'm already used to playing melody lines. Learning songs I find easy and improvising once I've internalised the songs is going fairly well. However, learning harmony and therefore chords etc. is taking quite some time. I've taken to figuring out the cords without using chord charts because I think more is learned that way.

  • @25dbz-ot9br
    @25dbz-ot9br Před 5 měsíci

    THANK YOU on the chord melody thing. For some reason I get a bunch of adults who don’t like just playing chords, or melodies. They want to do both before they can say something on a basic blues.

  • @markslist1542
    @markslist1542 Před 5 měsíci +1

    I'd add, don't confuse being fluent at playing solos with playing fast. Playing fast for it's own sake can introduce tension, turn your picking hand into a machine, erase your musicality, and put you at a loss when playing standard themes.

  • @velvele13
    @velvele13 Před 5 měsíci

    Great advice. I'm currently taking Jen's Jazz Guitar Roadmap course. It's been a few years since I practiced exercises and that's what the course starts off with. I forgot how useful exercises are. I am taking it very slow and using a metronome. I'm not proceeding through the course until I have the exercises down and in time. I read somewhere that BB King thought that practicing exercises are more beneficial than practicing scales. But he did practice scales also.

  • @JPMGuitarPicker
    @JPMGuitarPicker Před 5 měsíci +1

    Yes to all of this!

  • @michaelstevens8
    @michaelstevens8 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Outstanding video as always Jens. Here are 3 more mistakes that beginning Jazz Guitarists might make. Being present, Meditating, and Getting plenty of Sunlight. This is in reference to another Jazz Guitar Teacher CZcamsr. Although these things are good in their own right, None of these things will make a Beginning Jazz Guitarist better. Jens, I know its not the topic of this Video, but I'm curious anyway. What are your Top 10 favorite Jazz Guitar Solos? Thanks.

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 5 měsíci

      Thank you! I don't know if I have top 10 favorite Jazz Guitar Solos, I would have to think about that.
      I do have recommendations for people to check out though:
      czcams.com/video/zbnOA30CPtg/video.html
      czcams.com/video/rewhHzkr8K4/video.html

    • @michaelstevens8
      @michaelstevens8 Před 5 měsíci +1

      ​@JensLarsen Thank you Jens. I just watched your 5 Great Jazz Guitar Albums video. Wes Montgomery's Smokin At The Half Note is often called the greatest Jazz Guitar Album. It's certainly one of the greatest. Also, based on some of your previous videos, it looks like one mistake you made early on was not learning from Grant Green. Grant Green playing a Jazz Blues is perfect Jazz Guitar 101. Thanks.

  • @gtrgeorge348
    @gtrgeorge348 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Absolutely right on every point...

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 5 měsíci

      😎

    • @gtrgeorge348
      @gtrgeorge348 Před 5 měsíci +1

      @@JensLarsen I've never been a monstrously good jazz guitarist, but as far back as I can remember, '63-'64, I've always approached playing guitar the way you suggest in these points, especially about learning SONGS, by EAR, rather than scales & exercises. There was also a guitar teacher at Jamie Aebersold camp in 1995 (Fred Hamilton, I believe) who really stood up for that approach...

  • @cbolt4492
    @cbolt4492 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Loving the videos Jens 😎

  • @JeffSmith-di5rk
    @JeffSmith-di5rk Před 5 měsíci +1

    Great suggestions, here!

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 5 měsíci +1

      Glad you think so! Here are the Holdsworth videos: czcams.com/video/MnqxkA5AFmU/video.html

    • @JeffSmith-di5rk
      @JeffSmith-di5rk Před 5 měsíci +1

      Thanks, Jens. I appreciate it and look forward to going through these! Allan is a personal favorite and was a huge influence, but I did have to realize at some point I couldn't be and wasn't him and had to treat that deep influence in a special way.

  • @rogerbergkvist1837
    @rogerbergkvist1837 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Ur the best! Tnxs for your brilliant advises👍

  • @liontone
    @liontone Před 4 měsíci

    Spinal Tap went for being the greatest rock band, to the greatest fusion band, back to the greatest rock band….marvelous.😊

  • @guitarhans
    @guitarhans Před 5 měsíci +1

    Good advices. We have to humble ourselves up to use the metronome more often. I have iReal Pro, but I dislike it.

  • @crazygirlfun1
    @crazygirlfun1 Před 5 měsíci +1

    You hit me with the ireal pro😄because I use the app to practice all the time😅

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 5 měsíci

      Haha! I think that is very common. Maybe try to only use it some of the time 🙂

  • @davidpatrick1813
    @davidpatrick1813 Před 5 měsíci +1

    great tips

  • @trombonemunroe
    @trombonemunroe Před 5 měsíci

    Metronomes are really terrific. At first, it really is better having the metronome assigned to the downbeat of each beat. Later on, when you have some experience just playing to a beat, then you can focus on putting the metronome on the offbeats (2 and 4 or the offbeat of each beat_, or just on the 4th 16th beat of each bar. It comes later.
    P. S. The notion of playing "All of Me" in an Allan Holdsworth style gave me a chuckle!

  • @tomcripps7229
    @tomcripps7229 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Thanks!

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 5 měsíci

      Glad you enjoyed it, Tom 🙂

  • @belindadrake5487
    @belindadrake5487 Před 4 měsíci

    SOMETIMES, l think to REALLY LOVE & UNDERSTAND JAZZ , you need to be brought up on it or surrounded by it. . l was an embryo when l first heard this AMAZING MUSIC. THROUGH MY JAZZ NUT DAD💔 24/7, all my life, a west coaster… & more ( no trad no 3rd stream) 👊🏾DAD💔l miss you SOOO MUCH. I am a jazz musician thanks to you. And l remember you taking me to my first gig; DAVE BRUBECK, in SYDNEY. I was 3 years old! . And BEETHOVEN; every SUNDAY NIGHT until 5am… 😰 I could go on. I’ve done my classical music exams. BEETHOVEN IS GOD! 🎹 DAD💔 left me 20thousand records, DVDs, videos, and a massive sound system. You gotta have bass! You’re just so right. JAZZ RULES. I’m NO WAY being a smart a..*res. I smile when Joe Pass is always mentioned . The HUNDREDS of guitarists, l like. Shooda seen the look on his face when l had the audacity to say ‘Barney Kessle’ overshoots frets. 😲🙄. JOKING!!! Thank you so much 🙏🏾✨🎸💫🌟

  • @chetanhandique5824
    @chetanhandique5824 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Very true❤

  • @jerrymcdrake
    @jerrymcdrake Před 5 měsíci +1

    Sir thanks for the advices. Could you make a video about how to put licks in a context, which way we should practice it. How is your approach to using licks in different progression. How to disguise them, how to tag on them? There are million channels on youtube offering zillion licks from billion guitarist but I didn't come across sigle one explaining how to practice and how to put it in a context. Only book Which I found about that Introducing Jazz Guitar Soloing by Sam Elliot fom MIT. Thanks in advance.

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 5 měsíci

      It is not about using licks in your solos, it is about making your own. I have many videos where I say that, and I am sure you have heard me say that too 🙂

  • @falsenotefest
    @falsenotefest Před 5 měsíci +1

    7:16 Very good advice

  • @noobsomething8884
    @noobsomething8884 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Question, how are you supposed to identify where a song is supposed to be played on the fretboard if you don’t have a good ear? Should I just experiment until it works out?

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 5 měsíci

      Find the key and stat in a position your are really familar with

  • @RobKandell
    @RobKandell Před 5 měsíci +1

    Metronome? My background is as a folk player.
    What’s a metronome? 😊

  • @thierrythierry1013
    @thierrythierry1013 Před 5 měsíci

    What you might have miss is that learning improvising tools doesn't necessarly make a good improviser, but just someone applying receipes. Real improvisation is...improvising out of the toolbox. I'm currently struggling with this.

  • @aminahmed2220
    @aminahmed2220 Před 5 měsíci

    What a fantastic video have a wonderful day also Monday was my friends birthday also my birthday ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊

  • @damonshanabarger2604
    @damonshanabarger2604 Před 5 měsíci

    3:05 Been at this a long time I have. There is something really cool about playing the lower notes over the chords on the same instrument. Don't know what the name of this piece is. I think the lyrics go, "Everybody needs somebody some time." Something like that. Tony Bennett possibly did that, or at least he performed it. I still have a long way to go. Maybe I should research it. The progressions I've been writing myself seem to occupy all of my time. Hopefully, someday, I can share them and earn money. I don't know. Sorry about the Yoda pun.

    • @RobKandell
      @RobKandell Před 5 měsíci

      “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime” is a song by Dean Martin.

  • @joeknipes9567
    @joeknipes9567 Před 5 měsíci

    #15: teach others what you know (helps codify your own approach and enhances your own understanding)

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 5 měsíci

      It is actually a list of what not to do 😁 But I guess we follow what you mean

    • @joeknipes9567
      @joeknipes9567 Před 5 měsíci

      Whoops I got carried away😅. Maybe it could be rephrased as, "Don't keep what you've learned to yourself. Sharing with others will help you to…"

  • @RobKandell
    @RobKandell Před 5 měsíci

    For theory, early lessons would do better to be honest about what they’re teaching. For some reason, university courses start you out with 18th Century voice leading. While the concepts are sound, the principles are not used today - whether pop, rock, jazz, or whatever.
    You proposed method is clearly sound, and flexible enough to work for any style.
    I hope people realize what a valuable resource these videos are.

  • @matt_greene
    @matt_greene Před 5 měsíci +2

    But how am i supposed to hear that Georgia on my mind and NOT want to play chord melody!

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 5 měsíci

      Nobody says you can't play chord melody, just don't insist on ignoring everything else! 😁

  • @jeremyversusjazz
    @jeremyversusjazz Před 5 měsíci

    Great list jens. Btw its freddie not freddy.

  • @andrewwesley4282
    @andrewwesley4282 Před 4 měsíci +1

    What was the name of the standard played during the chord melody section?

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 4 měsíci +1

      It's "Georgia On My Mind" I posted it on Instagram a few months ago 🙂

    • @andrewwesley4282
      @andrewwesley4282 Před 4 měsíci +1

      @@JensLarsen Awesome, can't wait to check it out!

  • @trombonemunroe
    @trombonemunroe Před 5 měsíci

    Don't Forget About The Blues 100%! In fact, don't learn blues just by listening to jazz musicians - probably one of the worst ways to learn the blues. Listen to blues musicians, and take a huge detour into it to really get a sense of that genre to better inform your jazz playing when you come back to it!

  • @andersestes
    @andersestes Před 5 měsíci +1

    I see you agree with Tommy Emanuel: “Songs are our teachers. They show us the depth of the human race and its unrelenting desire to create.” - Tommy Emmanuel

  • @Earthstein
    @Earthstein Před 5 měsíci +1

    Is ear training the key; or is it visual memory?

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 5 měsíci +2

      Anything that works is good if you use it right. Don't spend 4 hours a day practicing intervals and expect to magically play amazing solos, just like you can't memorize tons of licks out of a book and get that to sound great 🙂

    • @Earthstein
      @Earthstein Před 5 měsíci +1

      @@JensLarsen Jens you are very generous with your time. To answer me here shows that. Thank you so very much. I will take what you say and use it.

  • @lancerigby3662
    @lancerigby3662 Před 5 měsíci

    Excellent advice! There should be more of this and not the three easy steps to become the next "guitar god."

  • @CrispySonOfA
    @CrispySonOfA Před 5 měsíci +1

    Is that an FM3 behind you??

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 5 měsíci +1

      Yes

    • @CrispySonOfA
      @CrispySonOfA Před 5 měsíci +1

      @@JensLarsen Awesome! I recently moved away from gigging with a tube amp, fractal makes awesome stuff!!!

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 5 měsíci +1

      @@CrispySonOfA Yes, I have been using Fractal since 2010, they are fantastic 🙂🙂

  • @harimathur2191
    @harimathur2191 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Dear Jens. I am now very confused... why do u make tutorials then tell us not to learn from CZcams? 😮

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 5 měsíci +1

      I didn't say "never" I said "not only" 😁

  • @WildChild
    @WildChild Před 5 měsíci +2

    Tell me about it, man

  • @steellemonstudios
    @steellemonstudios Před 5 měsíci +1

    Shots fired at Kirk Hammett! 🤣

    • @kevindonnelly761
      @kevindonnelly761 Před 5 měsíci +1

      Someone told me once that he played something that was not in E minor Pentatonic - and he TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE WAH PEDAL FOR THREE SECONDS !!!! Aaaaarrrggghhhh !!!! But I don't believe it. 🤥

    • @steellemonstudios
      @steellemonstudios Před 5 měsíci +1

      To be fair, there was a time he’d incorporate some jazz ideas into his playing (like when he mixed an Em triad and a Bb triad into a run, I think in “Shortest Straw”). But in the early 90s he would reference all of these jazz influences like Coltrane and Monk, and it just… well, how could literally NONE of that seep into his playing? It strikes me as what Jens was saying here which is just saying how influential it is just to be cool or sound sophisticated.

    • @kevindonnelly761
      @kevindonnelly761 Před 5 měsíci +1

      @@steellemonstudios Yep, I agree with you and Jens on this. Also, I'm tired of hearing about his famous guitar (not Jens, but you know who). So he has an expensive guitar with an interesting history of its prior owners. So what ? It's likely a great guitar but guitars are hunks of wood. They need someone to play them. 😕

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 5 měsíci +2

      Well, I am sure he can take a joke 😁

  • @jamescopeland5358
    @jamescopeland5358 Před 5 měsíci +1

    You told it like it is Jens

  • @davidrinaldi77
    @davidrinaldi77 Před 4 měsíci +1

    I am the number 8 😅

  • @rsavage42
    @rsavage42 Před 5 měsíci +1

    What you? Mistakes? Jen.

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 5 měsíci +3

      Yes, well it was a loooong time ago 😂

  • @DaveVedder
    @DaveVedder Před 5 měsíci +1

    I see you've watched me try to learn jazz.

  • @massimuss88
    @massimuss88 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Дружище, привет из России!!

  • @andrejtih7373
    @andrejtih7373 Před 5 měsíci +1

    класссс)))

  • @adamrivers4481
    @adamrivers4481 Před 5 měsíci

    Someone, somehow needs to make the metronome sexy. Far more important than amps and pedals!

  • @wizardito7741
    @wizardito7741 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Number one: Bending.

  • @markfreemantle7608
    @markfreemantle7608 Před 5 měsíci

    "...and you might be making one of them right now..." Did you mean Watching Jazz guitar videos instead of Playing jazz guitar? ;-)

    • @JensLarsen
      @JensLarsen  Před 5 měsíci

      I guess if you watched the video a bit further you would know?

  • @kabirkachroo8229
    @kabirkachroo8229 Před 5 měsíci

    Oh no😥