PlayJazzGuitar.com Forum

[beckstrat]

I know many newbees ask how to proceed with their playing but I need help. I've bought alot of books and play quite a bit but like many, I don't seem to realy know how to practice. I need some structure in my parctice schedule. Something that says,"A leads to B, etc..."I'd like a teacher but there aren't any close to me so I was wondering if anyone had experience with the Berklee on line courses? They seem a bit pricey but if they help, I'll do it. I have Chris's PWYH course and it IS helping with the ear training and I do enjoy working through it but I need more. I was a music major in college in the 70's so have some theory. I'm also sick of buying books and gaining various pieces to the puzzle. It's time to put the pieces together. I know I'm asking what many others have so I appologize for being redundant. I'm just very frustrated with my progress. I'd also be interested in hearing from others who face the same issues. Thanks.
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Main guitars-Eastman 805CE, US Masters LeGrand Legend, Warmoth Tele, Godin Multic Nylon.

[hanni]

hi, i have the same problem and i´m thinking about berklee online, but it´s sooo...... expensive, wasn´t at college and working 8 hours per day, i know the feeling it´s like to throw in cold water, don´t give up, plan what you want to do at first, find a line and than it will be better, time is on your side peace

[beckstrat]

I'm not sure yet which one I'd like to start with. I'm looking at the one on blues to start. Or anything to do with jazz guitar. Which one did you take and did it help?
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Main guitars-Eastman 805CE, US Masters LeGrand Legend, Warmoth Tele, Godin Multic Nylon.

[ingeneri]

[Gorecki]

I have to admit I've eyed the Berklee materials for sometime. But can't help accepting *my* reasoning for interest in Berklee is a bit of a harbored jealousy of my little brother getting to go and I didn't.

But I think it's way over priced especially if a person can't do it as a student would to get the most out of it. I have other training materials I still haven't touched due to time constraints.

Don't get me wrong, I think Berklee has a great program because they seem to consistantly produce great players!
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[alfonso]

Beckstrat,
Alot of your post sounds like me at times, I call it bouncing around. To get focused you can spend major dollars and take the Berklee Courses offered online. I don't have any experience with them but I do know of quite a few players who offer online lessons. They go from $25.00 a half hour to $200.00 an hour. Steve Crowell has lessons online and he does it without a webcam, Ted Veiera I don't know if the spelling is right but I'll leave you with a couple or 3 links. Hell if you got the bucks go for it, I do agree with whoever said Berklee would be the best if you could afford to be an actual full-time or even a part-time enrolled student on campus. I mean if you're still a young player with no kids or responsibilities and you can afford the tuition then, what the hell. But I'm sure that's not the case and that's why you posted, hope these links help. Steve Carter is the top link and actually teaches at Berklee, listen to his samples, he offers lessons through correspondence. I think that means send a cassette or CD and back and forth. Ted Viera is a smooth jazz player but I've heard him play standards as well, he's been coming up quickly and is a phenomenal jazz guitarist. The last link is a Gypsy Jazz player, Don Price supposedly he's a Monster finger frenzy player. I guess that's a pre-requesite to playing Gypsy he plays in Woodland which is real close to me plus he plays around SacTown but Gypsy isn't my forte so I haven't yet seen him perform. later

http://www.frogstoryrecords.com/

http://www.stevecrowell.com/

http://www.jazzinstruction.com/home.html

http://www.donvprice.com/

[beckstrat]

Alfonso, Thanks for the info. I think I will check in to on line lessons. The Berklee program is too expensive at this time and I think the Method books my be rehashing info I already have. As I said, I'm looking for some structure in my practice so I'm able to committ the fragments of knowledge I do have into something I can use. Right now I'm studying Wes, using PWYH, working on reading for guitar from a GIT publication, and also using some Robert Conti books. So, as you can see, I'm all over the map! It's amazing that I still feel like I can't play. Thanks again.
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Main guitars-Eastman 805CE, US Masters LeGrand Legend, Warmoth Tele, Godin Multic Nylon.

[hanni]

hi all,

interesting to read this, you are all on a high level, it´s realy sticky to learn playing guitar in two languages (the interesting pages are all in english) mostly i play whith my ears and it is no problem to play together with others, a good frind and owner of a little music studio told me that i don´t need a teatcher, i have just to play more barree cords and learning music theory, he made a test with me (paying guitar, drums, music theory questions and singing in his studio) i´m not sure if this is right, with no teatcher? i like to learn with a headset and cd player or laptop, but what´s realy the best?

[alfonso]

Beckstrat,
Robert Conti books? Which book did you find the most informative? Just curious as I'm thinking of getting one. I bought two of his DVD's, "ALL Blues", I got alot outta that one and then I bought his "Girl from Ipanema", still getting stuff outta that one in fact I'm still getting bits from each, there really very good. Some think their too expensive but when you figure their like 85 minutes long and that's the short one there's a treasure of licks and ideas that he actually shares measure by measure and it comes in notation and tab. The only negative thing and it's very minor is once in awhile he'll be showing you an amazing line that's really difficult and he doesn't seem to spend much time on it then there's other easier parts that he seems to overplay. But hey think about it if that's the only negative stuff I've found off his DVD's then trust me there really very good and I've learned tons of stuff from his DVD's, and what you can learn from them is well worth the asking price IMO. later

[beckstrat]

Alfonso, Yeah, Conti is amazing a very good teacher, IMO. I have his Source Code books 1 and 2. There very good. One book is a series of motifs that stick pretty much to a given set of four or five fret range. They are in tab but fairly easy to read. They are designed for technique, mostly. The second book deals with lead frases that continue to grow larger and can be used over a number progressions. He teaches things like, an FMaj7 chord is the 7, 9, 11, 13 of a GMaj chord. So when playing over a G13 you can play variations of an FMaj 7 'cause all the notes are there. The same applys to altered chords. The extended notes are chords in their own right. Interesting stuff.
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Main guitars-Eastman 805CE, US Masters LeGrand Legend, Warmoth Tele, Godin Multic Nylon.

[beckstrat]

Igiro thanks for the advice. I'll revisit the Method books. Hey, this is why I posted in the first place. Thanks again.
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Main guitars-Eastman 805CE, US Masters LeGrand Legend, Warmoth Tele, Godin Multic Nylon.

[wannabjazzy]

I'm throwing this in in case anyone else is looking for similiar advice. Seems I'm not the only one having the ..."which way to go" dillema!

I'm starting on Modern Method for Guitar WITH the dvd rom. I made an image copy of the dvd on my hard drive and so it's there whenever I want without having to pop in the physical dvd.

The dvd really brings this book to life! In fact, of the many guitar "how to" guitar things I've looked at, I'd say there is nothing better. Larry Balone does a wonderful job of explaining every single page of the book. He gives advice and encouragement along with pointing out the more important aspects of the book. He is truly a gifted teacher.
I'm starting from page one and going one step at a time. You get to practice away from the computer but the beauty of this is that you can check your progress with Larry. He plays every thing in the book and you get to play duets along with him.

I've looked at almost the whole 14 hours of dvd now and there is SO much there I don't know, besides the reading factor. This is definitley a great way to learn how to read plus clean up all the little things you never learned on your own.

This dvd comes as close as possible to having a live teacher in your living
room.....I can't see can't see getting anything better.

The good thing I discovered about this "beginner's" book, is that it is somewhat slanted towards jazz. Even the basic chord exercises sound somewhat jazzy!

It's gonna be a lotta work. and it will take some patience and time....2 things I now have in abundance!

As being someone who hops around from book to book, dvd to dvd, I think this time I'll just settle down and master this book. The end result can only be me being a much better guitar player.

And that's only the first book!
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"....I was gonna play. but I forgot what to play after hearing him!"

[alfonso]

wannabjazzy,
Thanks for posting the review on the Modern Method// Leavitt book & DVD combination, I just might revisit it with the DVD this time. When I first bought that book it was maybe 10 or even 20 yrs. ago, they didn't have the DVD available at that time and that book kicked my ass on a daily basis. Of course I tried to tough my way through it but the only time I ever had a good time with it was when I had a friend join me to work on the duets. Yeah, I just might check that DVD out. Sometimes a $30 or $40 dollar investment works wonders. later

[wannabjazzy]

alfonso,

If you can play EVERY single page of the book perfectly and flawlessly then don't waste your money...lol....

My guitar chops are such that I was "taught" basic chords on my front porch from some guy who was probably no good but I thougt was...gg...

I learned the E shape bar chords, basic c scale open, A shape bar chords, and that was it. The rest came by ear, and watching up close a true virtuoso guitar playing friend of mine.

Now, I never learned "correctly". Back in the day, it was anti- everything! It took me decades to finally realize that learining that way required some serious talent to get good at it...lol!

Thanks to the input on this forum, I decided that I
could learn how to read and that the Leavitt books would be a great way to do itl.

I had no idea that the dvd version would be so good! And I misread the ad figuring it was a regular dvd. A little disappointed to see it was a dvd rom----until I popped it in.

They made it a dvd rom to keep costs down I figured. There is 14 hours of instruction .....very good video & audio quality....shock wave files I think. If it was in regular VOB files they would have had 5 or 6 DVD's!

The book by itself is already good. But it would definitely take some discipline to do it page by page until finnished. This dvd makes it so so much easier to do so. Larry Balone does such a great job of instructing, it feels like you are one on one with a teacher.

EVERY single page is explained, expounded on and demo'd for you. He also points out the more imortant points that perhaps some would miss doing it all by themselves. If Berklee has any more courses designed like this for this great low price I'd get all I could.

Of all the various guitar programs and things I've looked at or even purchased, this combo blows all of them away. I'd even bet someone who is naturally gifted and above average IQ could get this, buy a guitar, and then with NO help from anyone, come out at the end being a half decent sounding guitarist!

I know this sounds like over kill and it may just be my idiosyncray's, but I really do believe this is THE best way to go if you are gonna do it on your own.

But again, if you already have this book mastered, then don't bother, unless you enjoy collecting guitar courses like me!
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"....I was gonna play. but I forgot what to play after hearing him!"

[wannabjazzy]

Went to Berklee's site to see about a DVD for book 2 and apparently they are watching the sales of book 1 DVD to justify the costs of making another one.

Book 2 seems far more intimidating than book one...epecially with no DVD to help....(now I'm spoiled!). The cd is only good for duets, better than nothing I guess.

If anyone is considering these books, I'd just get book one with the DVD, work though it and hopefully by the time your'e finnished, book 2 with the DVD will be out!
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"....I was gonna play. but I forgot what to play after hearing him!"