How to Play Jazz Guitar on YouTube

Jazz guitar can feel like a mysterious world, especially if you’ve been rocking out in the metal scene. But don’t let that intimidate you. Learning jazz guitar on YouTube can be a rewarding experience, opening up new avenues in your playing. This post will guide you through some practical steps on how to get started with jazz guitar using YouTube as your teacher. From understanding jazz chords to improvisation tips, we’ll cover a lot of ground here. So grab your guitar, and let’s get playing.

Discovering Jazz Chords

Jazz is famous for its lush, rich chords that can seem daunting at first. But fear not, they aren’t as intimidating once you break them down. Start with the basic jazz chord shapes: major 7th, minor 7th, and dominant 7th. These are the building blocks of most jazz standards.

On YouTube, you can find countless tutorials that demonstrate these chords. Look for lessons that show you how to play these shapes all over the neck. This will not only improve your chord vocabulary but also enhance your fretboard knowledge. You’ll often find instructors breaking down these chords in a way that makes them accessible, even for those new to jazz.

• Major 7th Chords: These chords have a warm and smooth quality. Try playing a C major 7th chord and notice its distinct sound.
• Minor 7th Chords: These add a bit of melancholy to your playing. An A minor 7th is a good starting point.
• Dominant 7th Chords: These have a bluesy feel and are often used in progressions. The G7 chord is a classic example.

Once you’re comfortable with these shapes, you can explore more complex chords like diminished and augmented chords. YouTube tutorials often provide visual aids that make these concepts easier to grasp. It’s all about taking one step at a time and building your chord library gradually.

Understanding Jazz Rhythm

Rhythm is a crucial element in jazz, often characterized by its swing feel. Getting a grasp on this can drastically improve your playing. YouTube is an excellent resource for learning different jazz rhythms and how to incorporate them into your playing.

Start by listening to jazz standards and paying attention to the rhythm guitar parts. Notice how the guitar interacts with the rest of the band, especially the drums and bass. You’ll often hear a steady, swinging rhythm that you’ll want to emulate.

On YouTube, look for lessons that focus on comping, which is playing chords in a rhythmic pattern to support a soloist. Jazz comping often involves a lot of syncopation and swing, so it’s essential to develop a feel for these techniques. Many instructors break down these rhythms in an approachable way, often using backing tracks to help you practice.

Don’t be afraid to tap your foot or count along while playing. This can help internalize the swing feel and make your rhythm playing more natural. With consistent practice, you’ll find yourself getting comfortable with these rhythms, and soon they’ll become second nature.

Improvisation: Finding Your Voice

Improvisation is at the heart of jazz music, allowing musicians to express themselves freely. If you’ve been jamming out metal solos, you might find jazz improvisation a little different but equally exciting.

A great way to start is by learning the jazz scales like the major and minor pentatonic scales, the blues scale, and the modes of the major scale. YouTube is filled with lessons that cover these scales in depth. Look for videos that include practical exercises to help you memorize these scales and use them in context.

Once you have a handle on the scales, try improvising over simple jazz progressions. Many YouTube channels offer backing tracks for this purpose. This allows you to practice your improvisation skills without the pressure of playing with a live band.

Remember, jazz improvisation is about telling a story through your music. Don’t worry about playing fast or complex lines right away. Focus on creating interesting melodies and developing your musical ideas. Over time, you’ll find your unique voice in jazz, just like you have in metal.

Exploring Jazz Standards

Jazz standards are the core repertoire of jazz musicians. Learning these tunes is a great way to immerse yourself in the jazz tradition and improve your playing. YouTube is an invaluable resource for learning jazz standards, with countless play-along videos and lessons available.

Start with some of the more accessible standards like “Autumn Leaves,” “Blue Bossa,” or “All of Me.” These tunes have straightforward progressions and can provide a solid foundation for your jazz journey.

Many YouTube instructors offer step-by-step lessons on how to play these standards, covering everything from chord progressions to melody and improvisation. You can also find play-along tracks that allow you to practice these tunes in a band-like setting.

• Learning the Melody: Focus on playing the melody cleanly and with good phrasing. This will help you understand the structure of the tune.
• Understanding the Chord Changes: Analyze the chord progressions and practice comping along with the tune.
• Improvising Over the Changes: Use the scales and improvisation techniques you’ve learned to create solos over the tune.

As you become more comfortable with these standards, you can explore more complex tunes. Each standard you learn will add to your musical vocabulary and help you become a more versatile guitarist.

Developing Your Ear

One of the most important skills for any musician is ear training, and this is particularly true for jazz guitarists. Being able to recognize chords, intervals, and melodies by ear can greatly enhance your playing and make you more adaptable in a band setting.

YouTube offers a wealth of resources for ear training, from interval recognition exercises to transcription tutorials. Start by practicing simple intervals like major and minor thirds, perfect fifths, and octaves. Many channels provide exercises that you can follow along with, allowing you to test your ear in real-time.

Transcribing solos is another excellent way to develop your ear. Choose a solo from a jazz guitarist you admire and try to figure it out by ear. YouTube often has slowed-down versions of solos, making it easier to pick out each note. Transcribing not only improves your ear but also gives you insight into the phrasing and note choices of great players.

Consistent ear training will pay off in spades, helping you recognize changes on the fly and adapt to new musical situations. With practice, you’ll find yourself becoming more confident and intuitive in your playing.

Jazz Technique: Picking and Phrasing

While jazz guitar might not involve the same kind of aggressive picking as metal, it does require a refined technique. Clean articulation and smooth phrasing are essential to capturing the jazz sound.

On YouTube, you can find lessons that focus on alternate picking, economy picking, and hybrid picking—all techniques commonly used by jazz guitarists. Look for tutorials that offer exercises aimed at improving your picking accuracy and speed.

Phrasing is another crucial aspect of jazz. It’s what makes your solos sound musical and expressive. Pay attention to how jazz guitarists phrase their lines, using slides, bends, and vibrato to add emotion to their playing. Many YouTube instructors break down these techniques, providing examples and exercises to help you develop your phrasing skills.

Practicing these techniques will not only improve your jazz playing but also enhance your overall guitar technique. You’ll find that these skills translate well to other genres, including your beloved metal riffs.

Building a Practice Routine

To make progress on jazz guitar, it’s important to establish a consistent practice routine. YouTube can be a helpful tool in creating a structured practice schedule.

Start by identifying the areas where you need the most improvement, whether it’s chord changes, improvisation, or rhythm playing. Search for YouTube lessons that address these areas and incorporate them into your daily practice.

• Warm-Up Exercises: Begin each session with finger exercises to get your hands ready to play.
• Focus on Chords: Spend time practicing different chord shapes and progressions. Use YouTube tutorials to learn new chords and voicings.
• Improvisation Practice: Set aside time to work on your improvisation skills, using backing tracks or play-along videos.
• Ear Training: Incorporate ear training exercises into your routine to develop your listening skills.

Consistency is key, so aim to practice a little every day. Over time, you’ll see significant improvements in your playing, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a competent jazz guitarist.

Leveraging Online Resources

While YouTube is an excellent resource, don’t limit yourself to just one platform. There are many other online resources that can complement your learning.

Consider joining online forums or communities where you can connect with other jazz guitarists. These platforms often have discussions, tips, and resources that can enhance your learning experience.

Additionally, there are websites like Riffhard that offer structured courses and lessons. Although focused on metal, the techniques and skills taught by renowned instructors can prove valuable in any genre, including jazz. By learning from some of the world’s best guitarists, you can pick up new techniques and concepts that will enrich your jazz playing.

Exploring different resources will give you a well-rounded education and help you stay motivated on your jazz guitar journey.

Final Thoughts

Learning jazz guitar on YouTube is a fantastic way to expand your musical horizons. By focusing on jazz chords, rhythm, improvisation, and technique, you can develop a deep understanding of this rich genre. Remember, progress takes time, so be patient with yourself and enjoy the journey. Plus, if you’re looking to incorporate some metal techniques into your jazz playing, Riffhard offers valuable lessons from top metal guitarists, adding a unique twist to your skillset.