Jamey Aebersold Jazz Improvisation (Guitar Book) Ver

GENERAL INFORMATION
This booklet is designed to give you the basics which you will need in order to learn the art
of improvising in music. Many feel that people who improvise or play jazz are special. If they are
special, it is because they have spent their time wisely learning the tools of the trade. A few of the
tools are: scales, chords, patterns, licks, songs (standards and originals),training the ear, listening to records of jazz greats and any other thing which they feel will contribute to the growth of a
well-rounded musician.
I feel it is good to establish a practice routine, especially for those of you who are new to
learning the language of jazz. To play jazz requires discipline, and discipline is good for all of us.
The language of jazz or the jazz idiom is in aconstant state of flux. In order to be a part of
the jazz movement one must accept change. Jazz has changed greatly over the past 85 years
and is presently in transition. Each generation of jazz musicians contribute their own unique
ideas, feelings, and sound to the music and this is what creates the change. If you equip yourself
well, you may be one of those people who influence others and set newtrends in jazz.
If you want to get it all together, I suggest reading each of the pages in this booklet very
carefully. Mark with pen or pencil points that you feel are important so when you flip through the
pages In the future your eye will catch them. Listen, listen, listen carefully to anyone playing
jazz or improvising. You can learn much from live performances as well as records. Start arecord collection and listen to what has been recorded over the past 70 years. You are in for a
treat!
Spend your practice time wisely. Don't play things over and over that you can already
play. This is great for the ego but does little to advance your musical progress. Be patient with
yourself. Don't expect everything to come at one setting. They say that things come to us when
we are readyto accept them. A healthy mental state is also responsible for progress when
practicing.
Gradually train your ears to really HEAR music and all of the components that make the
final product. Read the pages on Ear Training carefully and institute a daily routine to improve
your perception. There are also other pages that help spell out an excellent practice routine.
Since most of us do nothave a good rhythm section at our disposal, I recommend practicing and soloing with the play-a-long records. Each volume contains a book and one or two
recordings. Many professionals use these recordings to warm-up, keep in shape, practice new
patterns or licks, or to learn new songs and improvise on the chord/scale progressions.
During the past ten years, many private teachers as well as highschool and college
teachers have made the recordings part of their daily or weekly teaching assignments. It is good
to begin playing with a rhythm section as soon as possible and the better they are the more you
can benefit from the experience.
Playing jazz teaches self-esteem and independence.
I also highly recommend our SUMMER JAZZ WORKSHOPS which are offered in the U.S.
each summer. Some ofthe finest performers and teachers of jazz appear at these weeklong
workshops. Write care of Summer Jazz Workshops, P.O. Box 1244, New Albany, IN 471511244, or see our website at http://www.jazzbooks.com for more info.
Last but not least, play on the best instrument that you can afford and study with the finest
teachers available.
May your journey in music, and jazz in particular, be asenjoyable as it has been for me in
putting this booklet together for you.

Jamey Aebersold
Copyright © 2000 Jamey Aebersold Jazz, Inc. http://www.jazzbooks.com

VALUABLE JAZZ INFORMATION
by Jamey Aebersold

The basic ingredients in music are SCALES, CHORDS, MELODY, RHYTHM, and HARMONY. Jazz education's purpose is to
give you the basics you need in learning to play jazz or to improvise. The...