[Lionelsax]

Hi !

It's been a couple of days I'm practising the way I want because I've got a room for that.
I know it's a saxophone forum but I want to talk all the problems I've got to find a sound on the guitar.
At first I tried with a pick because it sounded good to me but when I recorded it, that sounded too electric and thin despite I use flatwounds on my solid body.
So I tried with the flesh of my thumb (sometimes) but the rest of the time, with my nails.
It sounds OK for chords, I'm sorry for the solo.

It's a blues from Volume 1 of Aebersold without the piano.

https://app.box.com/s/id6xkgynyp9vmz82fypcjb99kbn8qhh2

 

[Dr G]

Re: How difficult is jazz guitar !

Hey Lionel.

I'll talk guitar. What setup are you using? Picks: Thin picks can sound horrible in the style you are playing. Use a heavier pick, and grip it close enough to the tip such that it doesn't flex or flop in your fingers.

Hi !

It's been a couple of days I'm practising the way I want because I've got a room for that.
I know it's a saxophone forum but I want to talk all the problems I've got to find a sound on the guitar.
At first I tried with a pick because it sounded good to me but when I recorded it, that sounded too electric and thin despite I use flatwounds on my solid body.
So I tried with the flesh of my thumb (sometimes) but the rest of the time, with my nails.
It sounds OK for chords, I'm sorry for the solo.

It's a blues from Volume 1 of Aebersold without the piano.

https://app.box.com/s/id6xkgynyp9vmz82fypcjb99kbn8qhh2

 

[lostcircuits]

Re: How difficult is jazz guitar !

in the beginning your timing lags quite a bit but you are syncing up the farther it goes into the tune. It's a bit of a learning process to get the timing right but you are doing well. And it is a transition from pick to thumb or fingers. The main thing seems to be that you are still looking for the chords when you change, there are a few "corrections" but all of that is ok and will go away with a bit more practice and anticipation of the next chords. Keep it up, I like it, especially towards the end. And if you can blend in a metronome, it'll work some magic!

 

[Lionelsax]

Re: How difficult is jazz guitar !

Hey Lionel.

I'll talk guitar. What setup are you using? Picks: Thin picks can sound horrible in the style you are playing. Use a heavier pick, and grip it close enough to the tip such that it doesn't flex or flop in your fingers.

Gibson Nighthawk Pyramid 11-48 flatwounds, about the pick, it's Dunlop Jazz III I play it on the other side, the round side.

 

[Lionelsax]

Re: How difficult is jazz guitar !

in the beginning your timing lags quite a bit but you are syncing up the farther it goes into the tune. It's a bit of a learning process to get the timing right but you are doing well. And it is a transition from pick to thumb or fingers. The main thing seems to be that you are still looking for the chords when you change, there are a few "corrections" but all of that is ok and will go away with a bit more practice and anticipation of the next chords. Keep it up, I like it, especially towards the end. And if you can blend in a metronome, it'll work some magic!

Thanks for listening, yes I use a metronome on 2 and 4, I could use voicings instead of playing chords but I only do it to know how it works.
Thanks for your comment, playing the jazz guitar in a band is really difficult, I've used to playing chords and the bass on the guitar when I'm comping, it's kind of simple... but with drums and bass... it's another story.

 

[Sacks Of Phones]

Re: How difficult is jazz guitar !

How difficult is jazz guitar?

The answer is "yes".

 

[Grumps]

Re: How difficult is jazz guitar !

At least you're comping. That always seems to be the most difficult endeavor for any guitarist...

 

[Lionelsax]

Re: How difficult is jazz guitar !

How difficult is jazz guitar?

The answer is "yes".

I didn't ask, I know it, normally when I play chords, it sounds like a pan, it took quite a couple of hours to do this.

 

[Lionelsax]

Re: How difficult is jazz guitar !

At least you're comping. That always seems to be the most difficult endeavor for any guitarist...

Yes, I have always complained about them, not enough space to play a solo.

 

[lostcircuits]

Re: How difficult is jazz guitar !

Thanks for listening, yes I use a metronome on 2 and 4, I could use voicings instead of playing chords but I only do it to know how it works.
Thanks for your comment, playing the jazz guitar in a band is really difficult, I've used to playing chords and the bass on the guitar when I'm comping, it's kind of simple... but with drums and bass... it's another story.

Yes, I know exactly what you mean but like I said, towards the end you synced up really nice with the track so it is just a matter of finding the groove (and then staying on it). And you are doing everything you need to do so it is just a matter of a few more days to adjust yourself. there is a lag between when you think you want to strum and when it really happens, I am sure you noticed that yourself and after awhile, because you can't adjust the lag, you'll adjust the "mental command" and it's a natural process that will happen by itself. It's the only reason I practice drums in between, to get the timing dialed in.

 

[Lionelsax]

Re: How difficult is jazz guitar !

Yes, I know exactly what you mean but like I said, towards the end you synced up really nice with the track so it is just a matter of finding the groove (and then staying on it). And you are doing everything you need to do so it is just a matter of a few more days to adjust yourself. there is a lag between when you think you want to strum and when it really happens, I am sure you noticed that yourself and after awhile, because you can't adjust the lag, you'll adjust the "mental command" and it's a natural process that will happen by itself. It's the only reason I practice drums in between, to get the timing dialed in.

You gave me an idea, this is what I'm using to doing on classical guitar when I'm watching TV, but on electric, it's different.
So I took the metronome...
It's not the same exercise : https://app.box.com/s/4lqvcbbjgxypf5kvkztniin2fbisyc0t

 

[lostcircuits]

Re: How difficult is jazz guitar !

You gave me an idea, this is what I'm using to doing on classical guitar when I'm watching TV, but on electric, it's different.
So I took the metronome...
It's not the same exercise : https://app.box.com/s/4lqvcbbjgxypf5kvkztniin2fbisyc0t

Exactly, spot on! It's kind of funny how things start relaxing when you hit it just right - until you don't

 

[Dr G]

Re: How difficult is jazz guitar !

Gibson Nighthawk Pyramid 11-48 flatwounds, about the pick, it's Dunlop Jazz III I play it on the other side, the round side.

It would be interesting to hear a couple of choruses back to back, with and without the pick.

Or consider adjusting your tone controls. Is it the tone or attack that you don't like?

 

[Lionelsax]

Re: How difficult is jazz guitar !

It would be interesting to hear a couple of choruses back to back, with and without the pick.

Or consider adjusting your tone controls. Is it the tone or attack that you don't like?

This is what you want : https://app.box.com/s/vcsi7ndx31lqpw2t2fsspanehytgkdae
Thanks a lot !

Tell me what you think.

 

[dexdex]

Salut Lionel. I’m currently learning some guitar basics myself. I decided to go fingerstyle, no pick, my hero being Wes. Starting at my age, I’ll probably never achieve any reasonable level anyhow. Comping jazz style is my main target, partly due to the frustration of not getting enough of it as a horn player. Besides Wes, Ed Bickert is THE comping model for me. High pitched rootless chords, and lots of space.

Nice job anyway. Your comping is fine, you could play more long chords, alternating with short “stabs”.

Do you know the Play Jazz Guitar group on Facebook ? Nice community, great support.

 

[Lionelsax]

Salut David ! The guitar is a really interesting instrument, I encourage you to play. Thanks for your comment, getting the right sound is difficult too if it's a solid body.

Well, I think I will play with not a lot of tone and my fingernails, it sounds acceptable.

 

[Hassles]

Get yourself "something" like this (see attached) and practice your backside off. T-Bone Walker would be good listening / inspiration too.

 

[Hassles]

I guess I should have made mention, the guitar was made by Germany's Rodebald Hoyer - not to be confused with the better known Arnold Hoyer.

 

[Zephyrwolf]

You played almost entirely very high voicing. I'm not a Jazz guitar player, but to me it got to be tiresome quickly, even setting the timing issues aside. Count 16th in your head regardless of the notes being played.

 

[Lionelsax]

You played almost entirely very high voicing.

Yes, because there is something called a bass.