An original American music style that originated in the early 20th century. Some of its distinctive elements include a "swung" or syncopated rhythmic feel, an emphasis on live improvization, and an adaptability that lends itself both to be influenced by and to influence other musical styles.
23
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8answers
6k views
How can a classical pianist learn jazz piano?
I'm a classically trained pianist. Took lessons all through my childhood. I've continued to play and read classical literature all my life. But I never learned anything about jazz piano. I also know a ...
16
votes
2answers
1k views
What are some common jazz chord progressions?
What are some common progressions for Jazz improvisation?
I have been playing with ii-V-I and variations -- what are some others? Is the answer here just to really dig through standards until I've ...
15
votes
5answers
600 views
What notes are optional in jazz chords?
I have a question on jazz chords, and what notes can be removed from the chord. My understanding is fairly superficial - mostly from what I've read in books. This is what I understand:
In some ...
13
votes
4answers
365 views
Where can I get started with my improvisation?
I have been playing the alto saxophone for a while now. I have also improvised from time to time and have some theoretical and practical background on the instrument, harmony, scales, etc.
I have ...
13
votes
3answers
154 views
Playing a Coltrane polychord and the limits of space
As I was the reading sheet music for John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, I noticed a chord I had never seen before. It looks like this:
I'm familiar with slash chords, but never had to practically ...
11
votes
2answers
366 views
Properly fingering jazz chords?
I've seen these come up in a few places (Crazy Train and a couple of Jimi Hendrix songs come to mind offhand), however I've never figured how to work them in fluidly;the fingerings always seem ...
10
votes
3answers
898 views
What is distinctive about the Hammond B3 organ?
Reading the credits of a jazz or blues album you might come across a musician who played using a Hammond organ (not just any organ, but a Hammond). I know that the Hammond has a long and storied ...
10
votes
3answers
404 views
Most common jazz theory method book
What is the most common text book for learning jazz music theory?
I have a strong background in classical music theory and would like to supplement it. I particularly am looking for something for ...
9
votes
4answers
375 views
Theory of improvisation
I am looking for improvisation theory ressources. I mainly focus on free jazz and improvised music but I am also interested in dance, drama and pictural improvisation.
I want to know if a ...
8
votes
6answers
829 views
Importance of sight reading for non-professional jazz guitarists?
As a non-professional, intermediate-level guitarist interested in playing jazz, I wonder how important it is for me to be able to sight read music (and I mean standard music notation, not guitar ...
8
votes
2answers
3k views
How to turn any (pop) song into a jazz song?
Quite often there are pop songs wich get covered in a jazz style. These covers are seen from youtube to tv.
Now I tried doing something like this, with for example Bad Day by Daniel Powter. It's ...
8
votes
6answers
195 views
How to close the gap between ideas and capabilities when improvising?
I'm a drumset player. I just finished a B.A. in Percussion Performance, marched 4 years of DCI drum & bugle corps, and am now working on a degree in jazz studies. As I've begun to play more and ...
7
votes
1answer
807 views
Where can I find jazz piano scales to practice?
I played the piano for years classically when I was younger, but eventually left it alone in my late teens and twenties. I probably wouldn't have if I'd been allowed to do more Jazz as I always wanted ...
6
votes
5answers
415 views
What are the Five Most Important Things to Learn?
I'm reading "Practice Perfect" and the author recommends using the 80/20 approach in planning one's practice. For example, if 20% of "techniques" yield 80% of the results, what would be the 20% of ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
Jazz piano versus classical piano
What are the main differences between a jazz Pianist and a classical Pianist, If there are any. If I play mainly songs of pop artists (e.g: The Beatles, David Bowie, Elton John, etc.) does this count ...
6
votes
3answers
246 views
Incorporating modes in solos
I have been playing and improvising quite happily for many years on a few different instruments but can't seem to get my head around incorporating modes into my day-to-day playing. I am from a blues ...
6
votes
1answer
542 views
How can I learn Cuban/AfroCuban and Latin Jazz piano?
I'm wondering if some people can point me towards some learning material that they may have enjoyed for learning Cuban style Latin Jazz.
Ideally I'd like something I can learn on my own time -- ...
5
votes
1answer
237 views
How to reproduce the sound of Dizzy's muted trumpet in early bebop jazz recordings?
How can I reproduce the muted trumpet sound of Dizzy Gillespie's that can be heard in many of the early bebop recordings together with Charlie Parker?
I believe he was using a cup mute, but is the ...
4
votes
1answer
126 views
What is a standard order for learning/practicing scales when learning how to play the electric bass (esp. for jazz/blues music)?
I'd like to bring my theoretical knowledge and practical skill for playing jazz/blues scales on the electric bass up to snuff. What is the standard order for learning/practicing jazz/blues scales on ...
4
votes
2answers
217 views
Software for practicing the reading of jazz chord changes?
There are now a lot of good programs out for sight-reading, simple chord progression recognition, and for jazz, even some backing track creators. But is there a program that generates chord changes ...
3
votes
1answer
116 views
3
votes
2answers
207 views
Recommended book for learning Jazz Music in the piano
I have been playing classic music in the piano since I am a teenager and now I want to switch to Jazz music and learn it by myself. Which book would you recommend me? I know there are is this one Jazz ...
3
votes
2answers
530 views
Guitar Fingerings for susb9 chords?
This chord goes well with Phrygian Mode and second mode of Melodic Minor.
From Mark Levin's Jazz Theory Book: "The Notes most often played on a susb9 chord, .. , are root, b9, 4th, 5th, and 7th. This ...
3
votes
1answer
368 views
Bass Trombone Sound
I have been playing bass trombone for about a year, and my problem is not positions or intonation, or air, but how to get a good big band (jazz band) bass trombone sound? I mean I listen to jazz bass ...
3
votes
1answer
235 views
How can I improve my fingering on the saxophone in the high notes and overtones?
I have a couple of months working on my improvisation and I'm having some issues with fast passages on the saxophone's higher notes and overtones (starting from D with the left hand palm).
I'm ...
3
votes
2answers
771 views
Playing Piano in a Big Band / Chordal Accompaniments
I play piano in a jazz band and I've been learning piano for about 8/10 years now. The type of music I'm talking about here is mainly swing music.
What are some good techniques/practices for ...
2
votes
4answers
206 views
Introduction to jazz theory
I have developed an appreciation of jazz (Coltrane, Ayler, Sanders, etc.). I have no musical education though. I am therefore looking for some sort of lectures or texts for a better (or any at all) ...
2
votes
3answers
145 views
website with jazz guitar chords and photos of hands?
I'm getting so frustrated with the terrible signal to noise ratio searching for guitar chord websites so thought I'd ask here. I'm looking for something with:
lots of different voicings for chords, ...
2
votes
3answers
342 views
How to understand layering of multiple elements in composition (pop/jazz)
I'm trying to understand more about how to compose music and most importantly combine multiple instruments at the same time.
I'm quite capable of composing a bass-line, chord progression, or main ...
2
votes
1answer
251 views
How can I learn to play vibraphone like Gary Burton?
I play jazz vibraphone. I'm fan of Gary Burton's playing.
I'm looking for books or online ressources (solo transcriptions, technical analysis of his style, etc...) on Gary Burton or which could help ...
1
vote
4answers
151 views
Self learning and tips for a middle aged parent
I have played guitar as a hobby on-and-off for 18 years now. I am not an accomplished player. I took lessons when I started out. I have bought books, and early-on I learned a lot from Fretboard ...
1
vote
2answers
223 views
Latin jazz: anticipated chord change on last beat
I'm in the process of using a midi sequencer to provide me with simple background (drums, bass line, bare minimum piano harmony) to practice improvising on Spain (Chick Corea). From listening to a ...
1
vote
2answers
128 views
1
vote
1answer
113 views
How do you start a regular jamming session? [closed]
I am currently a member of a very lively student jazz society, with some kind of a jamming session at least every two weeks, and a full jamming night every month. In some time I will be moving to a ...
0
votes
1answer
13 views
tips for initiating a music (jazz) festival
I want to take the initiative to start a jazz festival in my town.
I'm aware of the fact that it's a huge thing and it's easier said than done, but right now I'm in the research phase.
So, I was ...
0
votes
2answers
63 views
Roman numeral analysis for a minor song switching to a Major sound
I have a song that I am using Roman numeral analysis for a song I have written. The first part based on D minor.
The minor progression looks like this:
I__ Isus __ VII
Dm ...
0
votes
0answers
147 views
How to get into jazz/funk trumpet? [closed]
I've just started playing trumpet. I've been self-teaching for about 3 months, using the original "A Tune A Day" book one, and I'm about half way through. My range is something like 2 octaves (I can ...
-2
votes
0answers
33 views
How is this type of music called [closed]
In what genre does the song Dinah by Fats Waller fall?
I would like to know the name of the genre as this would enable me to search for on-line lessons containing this type of music (would be great if ...
