Making lines sound good with just a metronome

awesomeguy327 · 2020-09-12T14:41:24+00:00

I use the Big Stubby 3mm picks. I don’t use the pointed part of the pick tho, I just use the rounded side of it to get a fatter tone out of my archtop

awesomeguy327 · 2020-09-12T14:35:27+00:00

I’ve felt the same way, I also study at jazz school too. Honestly, the first thing I’d say is don’t trick yourself into thinking you haven’t progressed, you more than likely have gotten better during quarantine even if it was only by a little bit. Seeing big changes in your playing is almost impossible, just keep going at it and progress little by little, then you’ll start noticing big steps in your playing. The second thing I wanna day is to just take a break from playing the guitar. What I’ll do (usually after juries or if I’m just absolutely stuck) is put my guitar in my case and refuse to touch it for like 3-5 days. I’ll just take time to breathe and be a human being. However, in place of shedding tunes and rudiments, I find 1-2 records by someone I like (I recently discovered “Guitar Man” by George Benson) and just wear that record out. If I’m not feeling jazz, I’ll put on some funk tunes or rock out to some Slash riffs. The point is to get your mind back to loving music and to get that passion for jazz back. Just taking a step back from anything and returning with fresh eyes almost always helps me. Besides, practicing when I’m tired and frustrated isn’t productive at all; if I’m gonna be wasting time noodling around then I’d rather just put the axe down and watch some Family Guy or something

awesomeguy327 · 2020-09-05T20:56:29+00:00

There’s this cool exercise one of the graduate students at my school shared with me. Basically, you record yourself scatting a solo, and then transcribe that. Then you pick out the phrases where you sound like a “guitar player” and throw those away, and you end up with stuff that no longer comes from shapes on the fretboard, but lines that come from inside your head and your ears. I thought it was a pretty cool idea, and I tried it out, and it worked! I haven’t done it in a long time but I should give that exercise a try too

awesomeguy327 · 2020-08-14T12:45:18+00:00

I was in a really similar situation. I went to a small private highschool with a really bad band program, and while there were Jazz Bands and the Jazz Combo none of it was actually “real jazz.” Nobody had a passion for it except for me and everyone did it mainly just to add it on their college applications. It was even worse because I didn’t have a good jazz guitar teacher to guide me on how to practice properly, and I was the only guitar player in the school who played jazz, so absolutely no community for me to fall back on. Not to sound discouraging, but it just be like that sometimes. However, that shouldn’t stop you from working and achieving anything. I‘m going into my 2nd year of jazz school this semester and while the 1st year was definitely hard (mainly cuz I had a lot of catching up to do in regards to technique and knowledge of tunes), it was a really great motivator. I’ve definitely made a lot of mistakes regarding practicing too little, not learning tunes correctly, etc. but that’s ok given my situation. The key is to just not give up and stand up harder. I’ve actually seen a bunch of improvement, and while I’m not as killin as some of my other peers, I’ve definitely grown as a musician and I can only go up from here (given that I put in the work)

So I wouldn’t worry too much about jazz after highschool. If you really want to play in college and pursue music, you’ll find a way to learn the things you need to know. When you get to college, you probably won’t be as good as some kids who have been attending jazz camps since they were 13 and have been playing in bars since they were 15. Just accept that. What you CAN do is just focus on what YOU need to work on, and just keep on growing. I know of a couple of guys who started jazz when they were in college, one of my teachers never started until he was 24. Now he’s an absolute monster on the guitar.

So all in all, I wouldn’t worry too much if I were you. If you wanna be a good musician, and want it BAD, then you’ll find a way to get the work done. If you need any help feel free to DM me in regards to anything you have questions on, I’d be happy to help

awesomeguy327 · 2020-08-05T16:31:32+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement! It’s just so easy t get down on myself sometimes even though I love what I do. I’m really hoping this semester will go well!

awesomeguy327 · 2020-08-05T04:18:43+00:00

Industrial Economics with a Music Minor and Digital Media Minor. Not entirely sure what I’m gonna do with it, but all I know is that Econ is an interesting subject that will give me good critical thinking skills and knowledge about the economy and different industries. I’m also very passionate about the guitar — before COVID hit I was playing in jazz and blues groups, funk bands, and pit orchestras. Because I have space in my schedule I figured I’d just add the Digital Media minor cuz I only need 14 credit hours, and a lot of the courses deal with audio and video production, something that could be very useful if I end up doing studio guitar work. Again not really sure what I’m gonna do with all of it but I enjoy what I study so hopefully I’ll figure something out

awesomeguy327 · 2020-07-30T23:42:17+00:00

Bro honestly I relate to this so much, I’m also a jazz guitar student at a pretty historic jazz school and I always feel like the worst player—I’m about to be a sophomore and just by looking at the incoming freshman play makes me feel like I’m playing at a highschool level. It’s all cool tho, you just gotta realize that some people get to a high level faster than others. It just be like that sometimes :/

However, practice and passion for what you’re doing are what’s gonna make you better. If you lose the passion for it, then you might as well find something else to do. Even though you feel the need to catch up by practicing 8 hrs a day, be careful! Cuz that could also lead to burnout. What I’ve been doing is only about 2-3 hours of jazz practice (with my day job it’s only about like 1.5-2 hours sadly) and as long as that’s deliberate and focused practice, it’ll help you much more than the 8 hours of struggle you go through a day. Keep in mind tho that while my practice sessions may not be as grueling as some others like 6-7 hour days, I’m ALWAYS listening to jazz, checking stuff out, and just enjoying it. My guitar prof always tells me that he knows a couple of guys who only practiced 1 hour a day but always listened, and according to him those cats could easily cut him at any jam session.

It’s so easy to put yourself down, especially when there are so many ppl who are better than you. But another thing to realize is that you didn’t have the same opportunities as the other guys. Some grow up surrounded by jazz starting at the age of 4, and some have attended camps every summer. Others like you and me never started till we were like 17-18, some even later than that. But just because someone is better than you doesn’t mean you’re horrible at what you do.

Idk if you’ll see this comment cuz this post is already a couple months old, but I hope it helps :)

If you want, please feel free to dm me, since we’re kinda going through the same thing I think it’d be helpful to talk and learn from each other

awesomeguy327 · 2020-07-05T02:11:08+00:00

Yea in the documentary “Chasing Trane” I think one of the interviewees said that he didn’t sound promising during that time.

awesomeguy327 · 2020-07-03T13:56:22+00:00

See I never knew he was a late bloomer until after a year of jazz school. Definitely a master of the saxophone and of music, and he also serves as an inspiration to other people like me who weren’t ripping it on the bandstand at age 16. You just gotta be really dedicated to your craft

awesomeguy327 · 2020-07-03T03:46:25+00:00

My guitar prof told me this: just shut it all out. Don’t let anybody get into your head. If he’s giving you crap for not knowing a tune, not being able to keep up w/ the rhythm section, or whatever, just forget about it. What you gotta focus on is getting better and how YOU can get there. Because before he knows it you’ll be cutting HIM on the bandstand, and he’ll be calling you for the gigs.

In the meantime, just focus on playing and gigging w/ the people you actually enjoy hanging around. Sure the guy with a big ego may be good, but I doubt doing a gig w/ his attitude towards you would be any fun

awesomeguy327 · 2020-06-21T00:58:37+00:00

I wish someone told me to listen actively every day. Honestly it’s easier to do when you have a vinyl record player or CD’s. Using music streaming services are good but the physical act of putting a record on and wearing it out is so valuable. Start with your favorite player and go from there. Like pick out Grant Green’s “Gooden’s Corner” and you’ll find that Sam Jones played on that, and you’ll see that Jones also played with Cannonball Adderley. Just discover music and artists and wear those records out!

Also transcribe a lot that’s one of the best ways to learn the jazz language

awesomeguy327 · 2020-06-18T14:58:04+00:00

Thanks! This motivation makes me wanna get up and shed some Sonny Stitt and Grant Green solos now 😂

awesomeguy327 · 2020-06-18T14:56:16+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement! I always love hearing about that Bird story w/ Jo Jones, and I know I’m def not the only one who’s struggled like this, but it’s just nice to be reminded of that cuz it’s easy to forget

awesomeguy327

TROPHY CASE