NeilES335

Looks like you all had a terrific time. 🙂 Thanks for the photos and commentary Diane. I was wondering... are there any videos of the teaching sessions available or in the works? It would be nice to see some of the instruction.

Hello GG Friends; It's been a while since I posted here, but yes, I'm still around and pop in occasionally. Regarding Steve K's Jazz Guitar academy, and learning jazz chords in general, I agree with @Garry Nelson. Don't let the chords etc scare you. Yes, they can be challenging at first like anything worthwhile learning. Even if you have no ambition to play jazz, learning the 'new' chord shapes will add new textures and colours to your sound. These can be used in all types of music, as well as enhancing your knowledge of the fingerboard. I recommend Steve's Fretboard Workout Jazz Chords to get started, as I did. The Academy should be a great foundation for future learning as well. Cheers; Neil https://youtu.be/yXbTUTfOWmw?si=9ovx0pMz13qM2gLY

Sounds like a wonderful experience Diane 👍.

Way to go Doug 👍 When does the album come out? 😉

Yes, thats true. I probably would go back, as the venue was a more "family friendly" place, and the players were very welcoming too. I hope I get the chance to practise with the other guitarist a bit first on the songs he/I want to play. I wouldn't play that Georgetown venue, and having been there, I understand your reluctance Doug. Anyway, I have a few weeks before the next one... wish it was closer.

Hello Friends; Well, I finally played my first ' jazz gig / jam session ' in a public venue. Some may recall I've been looking for quite a while for the right players and setting. I recently found a jazz trio (on Facebook ) that plays Sundays regularly at a cafe' , about 45 min drive away. They invite basically anyone to come and play whatever instrument and style they play. After contacting the leader, a jazz guitarist with 50 yrs of playing experience, and sharing some of my recordings and Jazz Studio collaboration videos, he was quite keen for me to attend. I practiced a few tunes ahead that I know well, and showed up early. The group was very friendly, & welcoming. There was a good drummer, bass player as well, who play together regularly. I listened for their 1st set, about 45 minutes, then sat in with them. We played a few tunes I had prepared for , Autumn Leaves, Black Orpheus, Summertime, and a G Blues. I stuck mostly to comping rhythm, except playing melody on Summertime, while the other players took turns soloing. I had a little trouble hearing the 'changes' , ( drums were loud, right behind me) but I was told I did very well. I though I could have played much better but for the first time I guess it was OK. There was also a very good trumpet player playing with us, which I really liked. So... it was overall a good learning experience ( 'diving into the deep end' as the leader put it) and great to meet and play with some good musicians. They invited me back anytime, so I left on a positive note. Next time ( a few weeks) I'll know more of what to expect. Cheers; Neil

Im sure you'll have a great time and learn a lot Doug 🙂 Neil

That's very interesting Steve, as you have some really nice instruments, like your trusty ES335 ( that I believe you've had since college) I'd have to agree though that an acoustic guitar ( or acoustic/ Electric, like my Taylor 224ceK- Dlx) would be the was to go, first the reasons you've stated. I would be tough to give up my ES335! Kindest Regards; Neil

I had the privilege recently to participate in a virtual collaboration with 8 other players from 5 countries in a jam of "Little Wing" ( Jimi Hendriks) These great players and I are all members of Frank Vignola's Jazz Studio on Truefire. We where all given the freedom to create our own solos, using acoustic flat top guitars I hope you enjoy it! It was fun to do 🙂

Thanks very much for posting that link 😀 I really enjoyed listening to all of them... it's been years since I've heard them! (Yes Doug, I know the all 😉) It took me back to my Jr. High and high school days and my Mom's '9 transistor ' Sears pocket radio, my first guitar, and trying ( feebly) to emulate the Venturers. 'A blast 😃 from the past", as **** Clark used to say!

Looks and sounds like a wonderful time 🙂.

@matonanjinI'd take a sizable chunk of cash for me to part with it! I've had it about 10 yrs, and the more I play it (lately every day) the more I love it. Cheers; Neil

A highly subjective topic ... greatest of all time at what genre? Jazz artist like Joe Pass, with his stunning chord melody playing, and Wes Montgomery's beautiful melodic ' octaves techniques are conspicuously absent from this so-called greatest list. If you've never heard either of them, do yourself a treat and like them up!

Congratulations Gotto on getting out and playing in public with your band. I bet that is fun to do😆

Thank you all for your kind comments. It certainly helps to play with excellent players. I've participated in several now, but this was my first as a Trio, and having the melody lead as well. They are fun to do, once you get the hang of it. I am looking forward to the next one 😉 . For the past year or so I've concentrated on learning jazz standards, both rhythm and melodies, and also learning the fretboard even better. I'm also working on a course for solo guitar on Chord Melody style arrangements (playing chords and melody simultaneously) . Lots of new chord shapes and harmonizations! Never stop learning😉 Cheers; Neil

Doug; Thanks Doug😊 JP Cousineau plays a vintage Washburn, similar to a Gibson ES175.. He told me it's a hand made instrument made in Japan. N

Thanks Wim; It was I think, our best one yet 🙂 . I'm glad you enjoyed it! All three parts, audio and video were recorded in separate locations, and later mixed to produce the video.

Here's my latest Jazz Studio collaboration; "That's All". This time featuring two fine Canadian jazz guitarists, JP Cousineau (Montreal Quebec), Dan Kozar (Windsor, Ontario) and myself. What a treat to play with these gentlemen. We hope you enjoy listening!

@Plantsman13 You can adjust your screen colour/ colour scheme on the site by using the little paintbrush on the main page to the right of your User Name.

Im looking forward to the day I have a dedicated studio space too... Plenty of good suggestions here, so you should do well. For recording gear (as Doug said) I bought the Focusrite Scarlet 2i2 combination kit, with the interface (2 channels in 2 channels out), a good set of over the ear headphones, and a microphone. All great stuff, and the worlds top selling unit. I comes with a raft of "plug in's" (recording software) and all you really need. You'll need to select a DAW, (Digital Audio Workstation) to record this, and after "demo-ing" a few, I settled on REAPER. It's a free to try program with a "sugested" license agreement (not expensive). There are lots of videos on YouTube to show you how to record with it. It''ll take a while to learn, but you dont need to know everything to produce a decent recording. Recording yourself is a HUGE leap forward, and I strongly recommend it to ANYONE, regardless of skill level. You can hear what you acutally sound like and work on your skills, and playing songs. You dont HAVE TO share it if you dont want to... Good Luck and Happy Tunes; Neil

@Wim VD1 Hi Wim; I wonder if you saw my personal message ? Neil

@Eracer_Team-DougH Good job Doug😊 I know you worked hard on this one. Playing 3 parts, ( plus vocal track ) and getting most notes clean and in time is not the easiest task on this tune. Just a suggestion... I wonder if the tempo was a bit quick.(?) If it was slowed down a touch it could play and sound a bit smoother. Otherwise very good.😉 N.

If you're speaking about the Learn & Master course, I don't think you'll find any reference to modes in this course. I'm sorry I can't really point you to it off hand. Modes are a more advanced concept. Very basically, the concept is starting a scale on other than the root. For example in key of Cmaj, start on D (2nd ) but stay in key of C (no #s or b's) or E (3rd) but stay in Cmaj. There are 7 modes all with their own names (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aolian & Locrian. ) and each has a distinct sound. There is plenty on line and YouTube about this for you to explore if you wish.