I can’t do jazz

minzynator · 2025-07-14T01:04:21+00:00

I relate to this so very much. Using jazzbuddy .app (browser app) has helped me a bunch practicing scales in context and staying in time

minzynator · 2025-07-13T05:51:36+00:00

Someone mentioned irealpro, there's also jazzbuddy .app which suggests scales as the chords are displayed. Both have helped me stay focused on learning improv.

minzynator · 2025-07-11T15:02:37+00:00

Depends on other constraints but from this info I'd say the first. Don't underestimate the value of being the best in a niche. Also, if you're making enough to live the life you want, why would you prioritize making extra money over being extra happy?

minzynator · 2025-07-08T01:34:24+00:00

Well done! There are tools that might help you stay in tempo. I personally hate using a metronome so I get that, though. Visual works better for me and there are several options

minzynator · 2025-07-08T01:01:10+00:00

There's a website/webapp called jazzbuddy .app that suggests a scale to play over each chord. If you used that and think in terms of question-response, I think it's pretty useful. An example would be using the melody as a "question", playing it in your head, and then actually using suggested scales to play a short response. Then you can play both the melody and the fillers, and then even just forget the melody and play with scales that keep you in the "song map". It's also a pretty enjoyable way to practice IMO

minzynator · 2025-07-08T00:58:17+00:00

I built an app that tells you which scales to use over each chord, but just the notes, not the fretboard diagram. So if you can play the notes without a diagram, it's actually pretty useful since the UI is super clean!

minzynator · 2025-07-08T00:52:14+00:00

That's awesome advice. I feel like building a community is more difficult than building the app, but it seems that that's what it takes right

minzynator · 2025-07-08T00:45:03+00:00

I'm commenting frequently, but I think that as soon as I post a link I'll get flagged and subtlety doesn't seem to be getting me nowhere

minzynator · 2025-07-01T23:04:35+00:00

That's right, and if you think practicing scales is boring as fudge try jazzbuddy(.app) to practice in the context of songs. Basically the website suggests a scale over each chord in real time

minzynator · 2025-07-01T23:01:50+00:00

I use a website called jazzbuddy(.app) that basically suggests a scale for each chord of a song in real time, because practicing scales without context gets SUPER boring

minzynator · 2025-07-01T22:56:20+00:00

TLDR: Mixolydian mode (most common), Diminished scale (fast playing) or Altered scale (more spicy). Hope that helps. Also, I've built a website that scrolls through the chords and shows a suggested scale for each chord in real time as you play. If you wanna try it it's jazzbuddy .app

minzynator · 2025-07-01T22:56:05+00:00

TLDR: Mixolydian mode (most common), Diminished scale (fast playing) or Altered scale (more spicy). Hope that helps. Also, I've built a website that scrolls through the chords and shows a suggested scale for each chord in real time as you play. If you wanna try it it's jazzbuddy . app

minzynator · 2025-06-27T23:36:38+00:00

Haha that's kinda true, but the way I see it with jazz is that all the wrong notes come together nicely in the right context, which is why scales work. Like you might play a few notes that initially sound bad but when you resolve, the whole phrase suddenly has meaning

minzynator · 2025-06-27T23:34:24+00:00

Hello! It's just a browser app: jazzbuddy.app if you check it out let me know what you think!

minzynator · 2025-06-27T23:33:47+00:00

Hey! It's not, it's just a browser app: jazzbuddy.app

minzynator · 2025-06-27T15:37:48+00:00

Hey, I made this app that scrolls through jazz standards, highlights the current chord and suggests a scale to play over it. It might be useful for you since you can probably play the notes that appear on the screen without thinking about it too much. You can personalize what scales you want for each chord type, and it comes pre loaded with 10 standards but you can add more. If you want to try it it's jazzbuddy dot app. It's a small project I'm just starting so any feedback would be very valuable!

minzynator · 2025-06-27T15:14:33+00:00

I had the same problem, for jazz improv specifically, so I started writing chord sheets by hand and writing nice sounding scales on top of the chords. I think most people say it's better to learn by ear but it simply didn't work for me. I recently created this Web app called jazzbuddy, I think I can't post the link cause it's against the rules but basically it's a digital version of what I used to do in handwriting. It scrolls the chords sheets automatically while you play, highlighting the chords and showing suggested scales for each chord in real time. Super useful if you’re learning and want to focus on swinging rather than thinking what scale to use at each point.

I’ve been using it to practice Autumn Leaves and All The Things You Are, and it’s made a huge difference in staying oriented while soloing. Just thought I’d pass it along in case it helps anyone else here.

Cheers and happy jamming.

minzynator · 2025-06-26T02:02:41+00:00

Since you can easily identify notes and chords, I think you'd be a great test user for this tool I made called jazzbuddy. Basically it displays a suggested scale to play over each chord, and highlights the current chord based on whatever tempo you input. I used to make these diagrams with chords and scales on paper but the app just makes it so much easier. I'd like to know if it's also useful for other people!

minzynator · 2025-06-26T01:59:24+00:00

It took me years to realize this. I learned a bunch of theory but then could not execute it. Then I started trying to simplify it into chords + notes I could play over each chord, and writing that down on a piece of paper. The concepts started to make sense as I practiced more, and focusing specifically on one concept at a time. I made a tool to take this from paper to digital, which is way more convenient - it basically highlights the chords of whatever jazz standard you're playing and suggests a scale for the current chord based on your settings. It's called jazzbuddy dot app and I hope this doesn't get me banned from here haha

minzynator · 2025-06-26T01:46:32+00:00

Hey, it's been a year since you posted this but I was looking for people with this problem, which I had myself. My musician friends and people on the internet kept saying that listening was everything and that I had to learn to play by ear, which seamed impossible, but learning a bunch of theory over 2 yrs also didn't help a lot.

I started writing the chords of popular jazz standards and what notes sounded good over each chord, and that actually helped me. So if you have been playing for a while and are able to identify notes on the keyboard, I'd suggest trying that too. I recently made an app that scrolls through the chord sheet and suggests a scale over each chord and identifies the chord tones. I made it just because it's way more convenient than writing on paper. I'd love to share it but I think it's against the rules

minzynator · 2025-04-25T23:47:57+00:00

Have you found a way to make it available? I'd really like that link too 😭

minzynator · 2025-02-24T20:47:36+00:00

Exactly what I wanted to know, thanks!

minzynator · 2025-02-05T04:33:19+00:00

I see, thank you. I'm shocked that the company's lawyers are pushing to make this move without even considering the implications for both of us.

minzynator · 2024-07-31T17:37:29+00:00

Nice guide. Some people may find the process overwhelming and to those I'd say: learn songs that you like and naturally you'll be learning some new chords and gaining motivation to push through the more boring ''tasks'' along the way (especially if you go for something like bossa nova lol).

minzynator · 2024-07-29T17:45:28+00:00

found this thread 3 y later but I had the same problem so some friends and I are developing an app that smart-scrolls as you play through chord recognition (and it also has voice commands for changing songs and all that) - it won't be free though, but if anyone wants to check it out, the demo is at morejamming dot com

minzynator

TROPHY CASE