Jazz Guitar For Non-Guitarists

Jeff SaundersOctober 23rd 2020

Guitar Anatomy

Neck Head(stock)Body

TailpieceBridge

Pickups

Volume/Tone Knobs Tone (Pickup) Selector Switch

Pickguard

Cutaway

Frets

Fret Markers

Nut

Truss Rod Plate

Tuning Pegs“F” Hole

Tuning Post

Left Hand Technique

Wrist is straight Fingers are curled Tip of finger in middle of fret Thumb in middle of neck

Bad Left Hand Technique

Thumb is wrapped over top of neckWrist is bent

Finger is laid flat and too close to the fret

Right Hand Technique

“O” Method OR “Pinch” Method

Palm on bridge

Other fingers can be a guide to which string(s) you’re picking

Posture

Sit up straightRelaxed

Elbow crease on top of body90 degree angles for elbows

Straight wristsNo tension

Hunched overElbow tucked in

Strumming on neckShoulder tension

Fingers on top of frets

If wearing a shoulder strapRight arm goes through strapStrap rests on left shoulderEnsure strap pins are tight

Electronics

Amplifiers

Tube Amplifiers Solid State Amplifiers

ProsSound betterGreat responseEasy to use effects

ConsHeavierMore fragileExpensiveNeed to warm up (standby switch)

ProsMore durableLighterCheaperModeling

ConsSound qualityDifficult to EQ

Notation

Open Strings: Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie (Low to High)

Notation is difficult on guitar - there are FIVE middle C’s!

Single-note lines sound best in the middle of the neck (5th to 12th fret)

Always find the best position to play in, keeping in mind you might need to shift

Notation Cont.

Tablature can be a great way to get your guitarists started (they may already know how to read tab), but try to get them onto standard notation ASAP

Improvisation

Major Scales

Minor Scales

Dorian Mode Scales

Coloured frets are the root notes

Improvisation Cont.

Mixolydian Mode Scales

JazzMinor Scales

Blues Scales(USE WITH CAUTION)Major Minor

Chords

Most chords that your guitarists will use in your ensembles will be based on barre chords

These are derived from the open position chords that many guitarists learn when they are starting out

X= Don’t play

O= Open string

The curved line represents a barre

X O O

O O OE

A

F

BbX

Jazz Chords

FMaj7 F7 Fm7 Fm7b5

BbMaj7 Bb7 Bbm7 Bbm7b5X X X X

X X

X

Comping

Comping is the term used to describe guitarists’ (and pianists’) rhythmic playing of chords

We typically want four strums to the bar in a straight-ahead swing (a la Freddie Green from the Count Basie Orchestra) but at times the sheet music will give us different rhythms to play

Latin, rock, waltz and other styles have prescribed strum patterns, but the music will almost always provide the rhythms

If the chords call for lots of extensions (9ths, 11ths, 13ths, 5ths etc.) they can be replaced with the basic shapes from the previous slide (though you will eventually want to play the proper voicings)

Advanced Jazz Chords (Rootless Voicings)

Maj7 dom7 m7 m7b5

Maj9 dom7 m9 o7 X X X X

XXX XX XX X

(Diminished)X X

Advanced Jazz Chords (Rootless Voicings For Altered Dominant 7th)

dom7(b9) dom9 dom7(#9) dom7(b5)

dom7(#5) dom13 dom7 (b5,b9) dom7 (#5,#9) X X X X

XXX XX XX X

X X

Thanks For Attending!

Please get in touch if you have any questions!

Jeff Saunders

@jeffsaundersedu

@jeffsaundersmusic

jeffsaunders3@gmail.com