So, you bought the $800 guitar that you really needed, and you have the chord book out – you might even be thumbing through Guitar Magazine, looking for the newest songs and finger techniques. But you still feel you haven’t made it to that next level. Why?

This post describes some of the best approaches to improving your jazz guitar skills, promoting it as enjoyable experience. Yes, in order to “get better” with jazz guitar, you do need to put in time and practice; this doesn’t, however, mean that it has to be a monotonous and mechanical process though. Here are some good tips for those of you who are looking to learn a little more than just chords and riffs.

Being In The Right Mind Set:

Just like any other instrument or style, mastery of the guitar or of jazz guitar playing should not be your end goal. It is great to be able to play the instrument and be familiar with the structures that are used in jazz; however you need to begin with an approach that is going to fuel you over the long run. What I am referring to is the motivation to enjoy the music. We all have bad days – sometimes bad weeks or months – but what is it that is going to allow you to overcome the speed bumps in the road?

Any great jazz guitarist – and any great musician for that matter – will tell you that their success is not built truly on the instrument or the style. Yes musicians have focused on certain instruments (and even fallen in love with them), but their motivation for playing derives from a passion for the music. It is was what drew them in to begin with, and it is also why they are still playing today.

Simple, Practical Goals Toward Playing For Enjoyment:

What you should do is set some goals for yourself. You can begin on a daily basis, and then work up to a weekly or even monthly level. But the key is to set some goals for yourself that are not simply based on technique and mastery of the instrument. Pick something that is going to motivate you, even on those day when you look down at the instrument and say, “I really don’t feel like playing today.” An example: “In the next two days, I will look at how chords sound when I play them and see how they work in real jazz charts.”

You have the chord book, but do you really understand the usage for them? Do you know what a 7th or 9th chord should sound like, and realize its role in the music? Take a listen to some music and try to pick out some of the “jazz” chords, like the 7ths and 9ths. Compare the sounds to the chords you are playing out of your chord books. You are learning the chords and the structures, but you are also getting to the root of jazz – listening to the sounds and developing the ability to apply them in real situations. YOU ARE BEGINNING TO FEEL JAZZ!

This can bring you to a whole other level of playing, where you realize that the sounds you hear and play are inside you – not in a book. I’ve looked at many guitar chord books. Most of ok, at least for what they promise you – guitar chords. But to move beyond the book and utilize these in songs, you’ll have to get to the bottom of the sound of jazz.

Learning To Play Jazz Is Not The End – It Is A Process, So Enjoy It!

Professional Jazz Guitarists are constantly in a state of progression and transition. Very rarely will you look at a guitarist and see that they are playing the same things over a 5 year period – or even month to month in some artists. The truth is they are still developing as musicians, and they are not concerned with how their efforts add up to their dreams – because they are in it for the moment. They are there for the enjoyment.

Jazz Guitarist Jody Fisher
continues to improve and
amaze audiences.

I have talked with many musicians, amateur and professional alike, and they all have one thing in common – they approach JAZZ AS A PROCESS. They like the music, and they are always attempting to better themselves through the music. Jazz guides them just as much as they guide the jazz that comes out of their voices or instruments. This motivation to play for yourself and for the enjoyment is important not only because of the benefits it can bring you after a powerful practice or session. More importantly, this state of mind will help on those “not-so-good” days.

Jazz is not a difficult thing – I know you think I’m crazy for saying that, but it’s true. The truth is jazz is what you make of it. I, myself will probably not be a great jazz musician, but I am ok with that. I play at my level and enjoy it. Basic chords, basic melodies. I am trying to improve, but only at my own pace and regarding what I would like to get out of it. That is why I am still playing. I thought about giving up a long time ago because I didn’t add up to the competition around me. Well, who says you have to prove yourself to anyone.

Think of jazz as a means of your own personal growth. Since your playing is an extension of who you are and what messages you are trying to convey, make it your own. Personalizing jazz, and your outlook on it, will help you progress in ways you wouldn’t imagine. You’ll probably end up making improvements on some of the things you are already trying to do today – but you will also be enjoying what you’re doing.

Quote compliments of http://www.tourdates.co.uk

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