Jazz Festivals » No Doubt

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

Tips To Use Jazz Accompaniment Tracks

admin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:21:15 +0000

Jazz music originated and later popularized by Americans of African origin are still a rage because of two main reasons: it’s ‘rhythm’ and its ‘individualistic style’. Two jazz music compositions will never be the same. One can therefore improvise jazz. But, how do you learn jazz on your own? Learn from jazz accompaniment tracks online. Thanks to the modern age of digitization now you can be independent, stay at home and take lessons online. The biggest advantage of learning online is that you could be young or old, you could be a total beginner or higher up on the learning curve, you can learn from jazz midi files. Further, this applies to wind instruments, percussion instruments and string instruments equally.

Say you would like to learn jazz on the guitar. Get online and select a suitable set of jazz accompaniment tracks. The video will show the hands on the guitar and the exact positions of your fingers even as you listen to the strumming of the guitar to the tune of the particular jazz composition. You can stop the music when you like by hitting the pause button and start again when you are comfortable. You can replay any number of times without the fear of annoying your teacher! Yes, there is a teacher who gives you the instructions as you follow the lesson on video. These are professional musicians who have been in this game for years and they know how pupils can be different.

Let’s say you wish to play jazz on the piano or any other similar reed instrument. Select a set of jazz accompaniment tracks as mentioned for the guitar. In this case the teacher will mention if it’s C minor or major 7. At the same time visually the positions of your left and right hands will be clearly indicated. Not only that, clear indications will be provided indicating LH: C and RH: B G B D (2) so that there is no doubt in your mind how the left hand and the right hand move on the keyboard. Playing jazz is child’s play now!

By: Akhila Choudhary

Jazz Piano Chords Make a Night Come Alive

admin — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 04:08:39 +0000

Everyone has their favorite style of music that really makes them come alive and no matter what genre is the one that you choose, there is no doubt that jazz music has the ability to delight and infuriate people the world over. Some people are unable to take to this form of music but many people truly adore jazz and would rate it as their favorite genre of all the option available today.

There are many great artists making jazz today but for many people, the old jazz standards are what truly appeals to them and many budding jazz musicians are looking to learn the styles of the original artists who made the classic jazz records that have inspired thousands of musicians and fans throughout the years and generations. Jazz is one of the most exciting and inspirational styles of music around and being able to play in the style can be a great bonus for the musician, their friends and family and countless people they may encounter through the music. Jazz is a type of music that allows people to get together and share their passion and love for this exciting and much loved genre.

Learn Jazz Piano Chords with ease

Jazz may at times seem to be a puzzling and confusing style of music but this can create an ever bigger challenge and increase the desire for a great number of people to learn how to play this innovative and exciting style of music. Yes, jazz music can be more challenging than a great number of musical styles but this does not mean that it is impossible to learn. Anyone who is capable of mastering the music of jazz can take an immense pride at being able to bring together many of the intricate styles that make up jazz standards.

A great way to learn about jazz is to study the styles of some of the great musicians and try to learn some of their styles and techniques. Over time you can develop your own musical style but it can speed up the process of learning if you attempt to bring some skills from respected musicians as a basis for your own development.

There is a fine history and tradition related to jazz and a list of musicians who would make up a jazz hall of fame would be ranked as some of the finest musicians of all time. Whether its their startling innovation skills or the way they manage to conjure up new sounds and push the boundaries of music, jazz has the ability to bewilder and bewitch people all across the land. Having the ability to join in with other jazz musicians is a great talent in itself and having the talent to make music with others is something that many musicians crave.

Develop Jazz Piano Chords as part of your repertoire

Being able to meet like minded individuals and sharing a hobby with them can be a great benefit to people who may find it hard to meet other people and developing a range of skills in an instrument can be a fantastic way to break the ice and make friends. This makes jazz music an ideal hobby to take up regardless of your situation and background as jazz is a musical genre that manages to transcend genres.

So whether you want to play the best type of music you can think or just get an understanding of the jazz standards that have delighted people throughout the years, there is not a better style of music to learn.

By: James Hanna

Jazz Dancewear Gets You in the Groove

admin — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:41:34 +0000

There are so many different types of dancing available today that it can be difficult to find the right sort of clothing or accessories. Depending on how serious the dancing is taken, it may be okay to get away with comfortable and casual clothing but if there is a need to be serious or to dress to an expected manner, there will be a requirement to follow a particular dress code. One of the increasingly popular styles of dance at this moment in time is jazz and young and old are flocking to the dance floor to shake their stuff to some of the all time classic hits of jazz. If you are part of a show and you want to wow the audience, making sure you are wearing the right sort of jazz dancewear is absolutely crucial to have the best form of impact.

It can be easy to overlook the benefits of creating an overall image and impression but if you are looking to make as positive an impression as possible, ensuring your outfit says exactly what you want it to say is very important. Even if you are only dancing for fun, you may feel a lot better and a lot more confident about yourself if you are wearing proper jazz dancewear. This is not to say that wearing the proper form of jazz clothing will make you a better dancer than you really are, but some people will develop a greater level of confidence in themselves if they wear the recognised fashion.

As there are many different moves and shifting of positions involved in jazz dancing, it is imperative that jazz dancewear is able to provide the support and assistance to ensure the dancer is able to perform to their maximum level. Whether it be the footwear providing the support for the dancer to move effortlessly and gracefully or the clothing range to allow them to be as comfortable as possible in their activity. There is no doubt that being able to move freely and confidently is the most important thing for a dancer of any level and jazz dancing is no different.

If you are unfamiliar with jazz dancing then all of the talk about the products available to make a jazz dancer look great and feel good about themselves may sound very strange, but they can make a huge difference. Whether it is the psychological benefits from wearing the sort of clothing that looks good and feels great or the physical benefits of jazz dancewear that was specifically created for that type of dancing, there is something for everyone who likes to dance to jazz music.

There are so many different styles of dance clothing and footwear available that it can be difficult to find the right product. But if jazz is your thing then jazz dancewear will be enough to get you looking great on the dance floor. So if you want to you want to be the talk of the town, you know what to wear.

By: Treak Eric

Jazz Clubs for Baby Boomers

admin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:09:04 +0000

As the aging population enjoys better health and a longer life expectancy, we are looking for new hobbies and interests to expand our horizons.

For those who have always enjoyed live music, jazz clubs are becoming hugely popular venues for the Over55s age group. You can get out of the house, meet with friends, have dinner or drinks, and do something a little out of the ordinary.

Jazz takes many forms, from Dixieland to modern. Its history is rich and, unlike other types of music, is wholly American in origin. There is bound to be a style that will appeal to everyone. Some clubs specialize in a particular kind of music, while others run the gamut. Try several different places to see which you like best.

One of the great things about seeing live jazz is that it is energetic and exciting without being too loud! If you were a denizen of rock concerts in your youth – and many Baby Boomers were – you may worry that live music will leave you exhausted, with ringing ears! While some bands are louder than others, many play at a level that allows for conversation during performances. As we get older, protecting our hearing is important, and we have a lot more fun if we can hear what our friends are saying to us!

Jazz clubs tend to be run by music lovers – and you will find that many of them are Over55s as well. The owners are often at the performances, and love to get to know their customers. Don’t be surprised if he or she stops by your table to see how you like the music. If you return to the same place repeatedly, you will likely be recognized as a regular and will form relationships with the owners and managers. This can really improve your experience, as you are given preference in seating.

Whether you are just stopping by for a drink, or looking for dinner, there is no doubt a club near you which will fit your evening plans. Many clubs advertise specifically to encourage customers in the Over55 age group. If you’ve never tried a jazz club, put it on your list! Enjoying your favorite music, or learning about a style you’ve never encountered before, is a great retirement activity. Whether you want to have a date with your spouse or have an exciting girls’ or boys’ night out, jazz is the perfect balance of fun and relaxing.

By: Kerry Finch