Guitar Gathering Academy: Jazz Standards Lessons

[jasn]

Anyone else joining Steve for the four Guitar Gathering Academy: Jazz  weekly classes in September '24?  In all my years of trying to keep up, I've shied away from Steve's jazz lessons and workouts, so I thought it was time for me to play a little catchup.  I also took Steve's advice to prepare and tap into his Fretboard Workout: Jazz Chords series and, I've got to say, some of these chords are HARD!  😬☺️  I'm having fun with them though, and starting to get them under my fingers.  Looking forward to this!

 

[Eracer_Team-DougH]

Jazz isn’t my “happy” place and I have more than my hands full trying to prepare for the fingerstyle retreat in Oct 

(although with the number of Jazz live lessons recently , I wouldn’t be surprised if Steve concentrated on Jazz fingerstyle at the retreat)

Enjoy your jazz academy 

[Nancy Lawing]

I'm in, but like jasn said, the workouts are hard.  I'm practicing them.  Problem is not just quickly changing those complex chords, but my left hand is hurting (arthritis).  This might be my last foray into jazz, though I enjoy it in small doses.  The Christmas academies are good, too, with renditions of carols that are both traditional and jazzy.

[Gary Nelson]

Jim,   I think I have participated in all of Steve's Academies and have enjoyed them all.   Since this is a repeat of the first one and I already have these arrangements, I may sit this one out - although I am certain I would benefit from the additional instruction!  But you know, as important as the materials and instruction are, one of the best parts of these academies is simply the opportunity to connect with other guitar learners on the weekly zooms.   Hard to beat a Saturday morning zoom with a good cup of Greg Voros coffee, a guitar and Steve and the rest of the folks.     

Don't let the perceived difficulty of jazz intimidate you.   I was never a jazz fan growing up - it was Southern Rock, Country and Gospel in my household.  I'd never heard of "Satin Doll" until Steve introduced it.  But there are many of these tunes that I was familiar with (Misty, Somewhere over the Rainbow, etc) and I have tried to focus on those. As Steve says, just pick up what you can - play the melody with a backing track, or just pick up a new chord form or two.

Enjoy yourself and I'll see you in October!

[NeilES335]

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

[Eracer_Team-DougH]

@Nancy Lawing here I’m whining about gearing for fall fingerstyle so I’m not doing the jazz academy and here you’re doing both 🫣

Makes me feel lazy. 😱

Happy guitar learning 

Edited August 25 by Eracer_Team-DougH

[Fretless]

I am taking a break from learning (but not from playing as I still need those jobs) while I put a new studio together (see the photo, below). I am hoping to be done by Easter 2025. We'll see.

Steve's Jazz fretboard workout course is now sitting on my computer, waiting for me. I like the look of it and am relishing working through new chord patterns, especially after watching quite a few YouTube videos of James Chirillo.

Edited August 26 by Fretless

[DianeB]

@Fretless Coronene on the ceiling?! Absolutely fabulous, says the organic chemist!

[Eracer_Team-DougH]

@Fretless wow we need a green jealousy emocon. Nice studio

I've gone through the Steve’s jazz fretboard.

certainly gives you a good start to jazz .

I just never made those DimFlat5 or Aug13th chords replacement for the ‘regular’ chords

[Fretless]

DianeB, I had not heard of Coronene before; thank you for that.

My hexagons were inspired by the ceilings in Wes Lachot's studio designs, in particular June Audio as I followed the building of that studio.

https://www.weslachot.com/recording.html

[Guitar_335]

Hello All! I signed up a few days ago for the Jazz Guitar Academy and I'm very much looking forward to learning! I've been around Live Lessons for a while (since the Ustream days) but I haven't been much of a frequent chatter. I had an account over on the old forum board, but it's been a while since I visited the new forum.

I ended up purchasing the Fretboard Workouts: Jazz Chords to make sure I'm prepared and I really appreciate how well the information is presented in both the videos and PDFs! (One of the many things I love about Steve's approach to teaching guitar - every graphic and note is written and explained so clearly)

Not sure if anyone would happen to know what software Steve uses to create these PDFs? I always make handwritten notes to myself (just to have a way to revisit old material). I've been using MuseScore lately to write out sheet music/chords but I'm curious if there is a way put both text/notes and chord diagrams in one place, like how Steve does it.

Hope to see some of you during the Zoom Jazz Academy sessions!

[DianeB]

@Fretless Wow, those are some spectacular studios. I must be content with something far more modest, but at least I'm close to the kitchen! The molecule (ahem) on my wall is picene.

We now return to our normal schedule of jazz programming.

 

 

[Nancy Lawing]

Diane, That is my dream space!