Jazz Festivals » Guitar Jazz

Bass Guitar – Jazz

admin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:39:37 +0000

This Bass Guitar Jazz was first discovered in 1960.This guitar was named as Bass Guitar Jazz because of designing in its neck and narrow and it is more rounded than that of other type of Bass, which appeal good to the musicians. Jazz bass has double coil pickups with two pole arrangement for each string, which gives bass a strong midway sound so that musician will get more melody music. This Jazz Bass neck was very much narrower at neck than that of other Precision Bass neck. The original Jazz Bass has two knobs with separate volume and tone controlling for each pick ups.These original instruments with its simple configuration is more valued in today’s guitar market. In 1961 a new Jazz Guitar comes into existence which has three knobs, two of them are used for controlling the volume and one for controlling the overall tone of the instrument.

There are lot of changes occurred when one of the company called CBS company purchased this Bass Jazz making companies. There is also push button control is also available in some of the American made Bass Jazz which occurred in the year middle of 2003 to 2008.This type of guitar are known as S1 switch and this type of configuration allow the pick ups to operate in standard type of wiring, in parallel type of wiring, in series type of wiring when the switch is depressed. In this type of Guitars both the pick ups are functioning as a single volume control that gives the Jazz guitar same sound as that of other type of Bass. Both the pick ups are located opposite from each other both in magnetic field and also in electric field so that when we are hearing the sound with clarity. In the year 2008 some of the American standard Guitar came which are much more differ from that of firstly produced guitar models which are produced in the year 1994.This type of American standard guitar which come into existence in 2008 are having the same type of the neck which is rolled with highly enlarged nut, it also has rounded shapes which has round body radius.

Some of the American standard guitars produced in the year between 1994 to 1999 have a single pole arrangement. This type of Guitars are designed by John Sohr.The standard Bass Guitar Jazz was sanded, painted and assembled in California along with other type of standard guitars.Some of the other characteristics of this type of Guitar is two bipolar single pick ups with an arrangement to black control knobs. The models produced before the 2003 came into existence for some period with black Stratocaster control knobs.

This Bass Guitar Jazz is giving the bright sound, with high ends than that of other type of Bass. This arrangement makes it ideal for slap playing and also for finger style players.

By: Or Kynan

Learning How to Play Jazz Guitar

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:13:11 +0000

Jazz guitar is an extremely popular guitar style and learning this style of music can pose quite a challenge. There’s no doubt that it can be very time-consuming with many hours of practice to put in if you are to master this rather difficult style. Determination is a deciding factor in those who eventually ‘get there’ and can call themselves ‘jazz guitarists’!

There are many unusual harmonies and chords associated with this style and, at first, this might seem unusual to your ear. However, practice is the key and over time, your ear will adapt and get used to these slightly more ‘exotic’ sounds. You will also need to be very familiar with your guitar and listen to as much jazz guitar music as possible. Get used to the different beats and rhythms, surround yourself with the style. Don’t forget to explore different eras as well. Modern pop often incorporates jazz guitar styles, but also listen to the ‘hot’ jazz of such luminaries as Django Reinhardt. Remember, Reinhardt had fingers missing and he was still a gifted guitarist. There’s hope for you yet!

Use a metronome. This is an invaluable tool that will help to keep you in time. Many musicians have a tendency to speed up as they play, especially if they are solo. This is a natural phenomenon, but one that need to be curbed. Many jazz styles need to be ‘laid back’ with a lazy style of playing that isn’t rushed. Keeping a steady metronome pulse will also allow you to feel the subtleties of ’syncopation’ (the notes falling ‘between’ the beats). Electronic or wind-up, it doesn’t matter, but get a metronome at once!

Open up your mind to the new sounds, harmonies and rhythms that you will experience over the coming months and years. Invest in some good jazz guitar CDs (do a quick search on Google or visit Amazon), find a reputable local guitarist/teacher who can demonstrate this style of playing. Make sure that whoever you decide on to teach you has good references (ask around, listen to him/her play, what qualifications have they got, etc).

Finally, don’t be afraid to have fun and experiment with jazz guitar. More than perhaps any other style, it is free and diverse with a variety of ’sub-styles’ or ’sub-genres’ to explore.

At the end of the day, just get out there and ‘play guitar’, don’t hang back.

I wish you well with your musical exploration!

By: Washington Stoker

Play Jazz Guitar

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:40:31 +0000

Jazz guitar music is based on various guitarists’ attempts to experiment with the form used to express musical ideas. Jazz began with the African slaves combining the song and dance forms they found in America with the musical traditions they carried with them from their homeland. Since then jazz musicians of every nationality have developed certain methods of taking a musical idiom and turning it into jazz by interpreting the music using jazz chord substitution and improvising techniques.

The trademark of the jazz guitar player is that he is inventing new music all the time. When people learn to play musical instruments it is usually with the aim of playing the songs or instrumentals of a famous musician. In jazz the aim is to build new music using other musical genres or the works of composers from outside jazz. A jazz guitarist with a number of years’ experience will have developed his own ways of improvising over a song or instrumental piece. Quite often his improvisation will be based on the techniques of using the notes in the chord he is playing to provide the material for his solo, or to simply use the notes he finds in the melody.

Whichever approach the jazz guitar player uses he will always depart from the melodic structure of the musical work he is improvising over and use melodic figures or “licks” which he has made up or learned from other guitarists. A lick is a combination of notes which can be used in improvising over music in any key. A lick is like a very short tune or fraction of a melody. Listen carefully to a jazz guitar solo. Try imitating some of the licks that you hear. You do not need to play them exactly, just imitate them and see how they fit with other licks to carry the solo to its ending.

Other jazz guitar techniques are the substitution of chords using other chords with more interest or color, the use of walking bass to add interest or changing the rhythm of a song. You can find examples of all these jazz guitar techniques by listening to the music of jazz guitar players like Charlie Christian, one of the pioneers of jazz guitar, Charlie Byrd, an exponent of latin jazz guitar who developed a genre of his own using classical guitar techniques to play jazz, or Wes Montgomery, a guitar player who ventured into many fields of music.

Anybody wanting to learn to play jazz guitar will be wondering what guitars give you that distinctive jazz sound. Of course you can play jazz on any guitar but when musicians think of a “jazz guitar” they usually have in mind a guitar with “f” holes in the body, an arched top and a piezoelectric pickup. This gives that warm, expressive jazz feel that people associate with jazz guitar and is expressed so well in the work of Wes Montgomery. Epiphone is the brand name most jazz fans associate with this kind of guitar but they are also made by D’Angelico, Gibson and others.

To learn to play jazz guitar, even in a comparatively superficial sense entails listening to alot of jazz guitar music. As you listen you need to analyze what jazz guitarists do and what you, as a musician, WANT to do. Maybe you do not want to learn jazz as a genre but just to play in the style of a certain jazz guitar player. This will cut your work load considerably as you can find tabs for the work of many jazz guitar players on the internet.

By: Ricky Sharples

The Wonderful World Of Jazz Guitar

admin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:26:52 +0000

In many places in the world the jazz guitar is not normally heard of and even more rarely seen however that is not an indication that there are no resources available to learn jazz guitar. Jazz music and guitarists are becoming less and less known because of new music influences as well as the grasp of young people wanting to play electric guitars and drums. The people are not standing in line to learn jazz guitar but if they knew some and heard some of what a jazz guitar can do, surely there would be more people learning to play it.

The media plays a huge role in the declination of jazz guitarists because it is rarely portrayed. In fact, it is almost too easy to go out to the streets and ask a few young adults if they know what a jazz guitar is because the proof is right there on the streets. Jazz guitar is unique and wonderful and if you are reading this article because you wish to learn the guitar then that is fabulous because the world needs a whole bunch more like you! We don’t want to go forward without the history and roots in which jazz guitarists bring to the musical world as well as the fabulous sounds.

Jazz Guitar History

The jazz style of guitar is likely one of the oldest types of guitar and in fact, it was through jazz music that electric guitars were invented. In order to make jazz guitars louder back in the day, they used to modify the guitar in order to amplify it’s sound without the use of power. If you wanted to learn jazz guitar in those days there was no plugging anything in to any outlets and no television or computer to instruct you on it.

Another amazing technique that is generally only used in blues and jazz is a technique called “bottle necking” and this was done with the old jazz guitarists breaking off the tops of wine bottles, places them on their ring fingers and proceeding to make fabulous sounds. If this kind of guitar playing sounds exciting to you, please go out and try to find a way to learn the jazz style of guitar as it is both rewarding and very pleasing to the ears. Similar to any near-extinct animal, jazz guitarists are a rare and everything should be done to protect this fine musical ability before there are no great jazz players left on earth to learn the jazz style of guitar from.

By: Roland Jefferson III

Finding A Good Amp For Playing Jazz Guitar

admin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:15:58 +0000

Jazz guitar talk is generally focused around one thing – sound. The tone of your instrument will play a huge role in the sound that you achieve. If you are engaging in live performances, and jam sessions, no doubt you will be using an amplifier too. Finding a good amp for playing jazz guitar is just as important as finding a good guitar. Let us avoid discussing which amps are “better” than others, and get down to the important issues you need to focus on when you are looking for a good amp for playing jazz guitar.

Traditional Jazz

Players who are concentrating on developing a traditional jazz sound are going to be looking for just one thing in a guitar amp – a clean sound. If you want a traditional, clean jazz sound, then you will commonly gravitate toward a solid state amp or a tube amp. Solid state amps are easier to care for than tube amps, they are less prone to damage and most importantly they deliver clean, distortion free sounds on a regular basis. This is what makes them extremely popular among jazz guitarists. The biggest complaint about solid state amps is that they tend to sound “flat” and elicit little life from the tone of the instrument. Tube amps, on the other hand, are believed to deliver a much warmer tone, and some players insist that their sound is more alive when they use a tube amp. Unfortunately, tube amps are prone to distortion, typically something traditional jazz guitarists want to avoid at all costs. Despite their expensive maintenance bills and extreme weight on the move, tube amps are exceptionally popular, for those who favor the clean, traditional sounds of jazz as well.

Contemporary & Modern Jazz

For the more modern and contemporary jazz guitarist, a good amp may come in many shapes, sizes and forms. Players who are looking for a more mixed up and funky modern vibe in their sound will regularly employ effects and alterations. They might be more inclined to own and perform on a solid body electric, and may gravitate toward amps with more bells and whistles. Digital amps are increasingly popular for modern jazz. Modern jazz guitarists may also be dabbling in other genres, and digital amps are extremely effective in other arenas of music as well, thus it is a very practical choice. These players are going to want a lot of on-board effects at their fingertips, and a digital amp provides just that.

Industry Standards

Within the world of jazz, there are several amps that have emerged as industry standards. This includes the Fender Pro, often heralded as a good amp for playing jazz guitar due to its extremely clean sounds and lack of distortion.

It is unfortunate that manufacturers do not produce amps that are labeled “jazz guitar amps”. This means you will need to spend a lot of time listening to others, and trying out amps in order to find your own signature sound.

By: David Smithe