PlayJazzGuitar.com Forum

[wannabjazzy]

Ok, I uploaded this lesson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWuzLk-leL0 on utube in case anyone wanted to check out the dvd rom for modern method guitar 1. Sounds almost like a jazz lesson!

Lesson 13, page 116 I believe. Hope they don't mind....
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"....I was gonna play. but I forgot what to play after hearing him!"

[6string83]

are the modern guitar method books a good series. for jazz that is.
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Passion before reason.

[wannabjazzy]

I would say it's more of a how-to-learn guitar with a slant towards jazz. The main thrust is learning to sight read & correct guitar playing. I'm using this to clean up my sloppiness and re-learn what I never learned in the first place!

Ya gotta start somewhere, and I was looking for a good way to learn sight reading and this book/dvd combo hit a home run with me. Now that I've watched almost the entire DVD, I don't think I could do the book all by myself without it.
I posted that lesson to demo how far it takes you into chording. You do learn a fair amount of chords (along with a lot of scales).

It's foundational in that from this you could go on to just about anything. But, it does seem to have a jazz feel to it. I'd say it's like a jazz pre-requisite type of course. It takes you from raw beginner to somewhat intermediate.

My goal with this is to lay down a good foundation for later serous jazz study.......but it's not the only thing I'm working on. I'd go stir crazy just doing this book! But it's definitely a priority book and one I'm determined to get through!
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"....I was gonna play. but I forgot what to play after hearing him!"

[hanni]

hm,....... maybe its good, but since some weeks i ask myself: why should i play so many scales at first? of corse it´s important, but such a mount? why should i play a melody at last? now i did this: put jazzmusic i like on a little mp3 player, put just one pin in my ear not both, keep my guitar and try to play along, that means finding out where to put my lefthand fingers, i don´t know the chords, than i write it down on paper and look on a chord chart to find out what i did, copyed a good chord chart from internet into word and saved it, at last i play some scale melodys from a classic guitar book to learn where are the notes on the fretboard, it works

[Sardonic]

nice vid

tnx

[Floyd]

I started out learning how to play using William Leavitt's books at the age of 10. I still have my old "Modern Method" books from way back when I was a kid. I never threw any of my old music books out.

For those who are unfamiliar with "A Modern Method for Guitar", the series is an excellent Introductory, intermediate and slightly advanced compilation of instructional books especially designed for students at Berklee College of Music. It's not really designed for someone who either has never touched a guitar, or has no interest in playing at a professional level. However, the first volume is excellent for those who not only want to learn to read music, but also desire to strengthen their knowledge of music theory and clean up their technique. I'm pretty familiar with several of Leavitt's books, as I learned to play guitar using them when I was a kid, so I'll try and give a brief description of what they contain and what they teach.

The first volume is an introductory music text. It is not simply a sight reading book, but it does lay down the basics for treble clef musical notation in a very gradual and easy to understand fashion. It's very user-friendly for someone with a modest degree of guitar skill and background. The main thing this book does is explain basic beginner music theory, while teaching the student how to read music at the same time. The book's approach also helps to develop the student's physical playing skill through the use of speed, solo and drill exercises. Soloing, rhythm, melody and harmonization are also stressed. Scales, chords and arpeggios are all displayed in musical notation. Chord forms are shown in grid form when they are introduced and a chord simplification and substitution chart is presented. All songs and exercises presented within the book's pages are original compositions written by the authors.....you'll find NO "Jingle Bells" and "Mary had a little Lamb" to play on this book. It's an excellent soft cover textbook.

The second volume expands on the first. The level of note reading difficulty increases as more complex songs, drills and exercises are introduced. Additional scales, modes, and arpeggios are introduced in musical notation. All positions are covered and the cycle of 4th/5ths are explained. Intervals, chord formulas, chord relationships, triads....etc...are explained and exercises that allow the reader to apply harmonic theory to actual music are also presented. The book also discusses scale/soloing improvisation and rhythm guitar playing techniques. Again, it's very user friendly and explains everything excellently, without the fluff.

The third volume simply completes the instruction at a much harder level. All songs and exercises are relatively more complicated....(they make most fakebooks look like kindergarten reading material). More theory is discussed, additional chords are introduced, triad melodization techniques are shown, scales and arpeggios are analyzed in more detail...etc....Again, no "old fashioned little ditties" here to play......all songs are designed specifically for Berklee musical guitar majors.

After going through all three volumes, you aren't going to be a George Benson or Wes Montgomery..........But you will be able to play Jazz and Blues. To really get good at playing Jazz and Blues you're going to have to do a little more than just read a book though.

If you've had some experience playing Jazz and Rhythm and Blues in the past, but you wish to learn to read music and strengthen your theory knowledge and playing skill, I guarantee that you will play those genres of music much better than before after going through the material. The Modern Method volumes aren't really Jazz instructional manuals, but they read like they are because of what their use is intended for. I've seen plenty of Rock, Jazz and Blues instructional books selling at stores like Barnes and Noble and Guitar Center that are just pure crap. I’m surprised at how they sell so well. The Modern Method Series has been in publication since 1966, yet isn’t really offered at most book retail stores. Some of the better music stores may have them though.

[alfonso]

I guess I got here too late cause youtube.com removed the video. It's a shame I still have quite a collection of videos on there myself but last week or so they removed 10 of mine, infringement rights and all. I think it's a shame that they remove stuff that players and people really enjoy seeing for free. Some of the ones I posted were really old Emily Remler, Pat Martino etc. I was so pissed off I didn't even check yet to see which ones they removed. My name on there is jazzfretboard. later

[Bjorn]

[wannabjazzy]

[stupot]

I have to say that having bought the Leavitt book and DVD, i found it incredibly dull and uninspiring and heve never used it since. I don't doubt its value, but i found it really hard to motivate myself to pick up the book and use it. Personally i prefer the Jodie Fisher / Mickey Baker comibination.

Just my opinion though, which is probably worth jack !
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'I'm not interested in being the star, just a participant in playing some great music' - Tal Farlow

[wannabjazzy]

one man's meat is another's poison!...lol!

I've never found any type of book that involves learning to read and theory study that was motivating, inspiring, exciting...etc.... it's all about determination, the will to succeed and lotsa hard work. Music theory study is tedious and slow going.....for me anyway.

When I want some fun, I just do a little shredding.....then get back to work.

The dvd is certainly not one to watch with your friends, for sure!....but it's a sure fire way to get a handle on this book....you study your lessons, then refer to the dvd to see how well your doing.....almost like going to class...exciting?.....NOT!....valuable?....VERY!
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"....I was gonna play. but I forgot what to play after hearing him!"

[alfonso]

Stupot,
I appreciate the second opinion and that doesn't take anything away from the first opinion but it gives me a different viewpoint. Bjorn, I still can't watch the video also I just got kicked off youtube.com. Guess they didn't appreciate turning my head on copyright infringement. I know some people enjoyed what I had up there. I was actually surprised that they would cut me off completely, live and learn shit those videos took along time to upload even though I only uploaded like 29 and the rest were just favorited. later

[Floyd]

[Floyd]

On a passing note....here's a little webpage I found on William Leavitt that gives a brief bio about his life, career, and it talks a little about his book:

http://www.alisdair.com/educator/williamgleavitt.html

Thought that it might interest some of you.

[wannabjazzy]

Thanx for the Bill Leavit info site....what a talented dude he was!!!

Ok, so it now looks like some have a better/more "inspiring" guitar method?......I've though about the Jody Fisher series. I'm wondering if it's possible to take something as dry as music theory and make it inspiring? Jody Fisher does that?....great....

I'm starting to collect a series of books that most likely will see little use other than a passing reference now and then. It takes a long time just to get thru ONE book, never mind several.

At the rate I'm going, I'll be dead before I get 'em all worked thru!

For now my inspiration comes from the need to know.....and the desire to do it on my own. Which is why I like the book/dvd combo. Too often these books have a cd/dvd that does NOT explain everything in them, but only provide examples.

This one was different in that respect and for a musical moron such myself is very helpful!
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"....I was gonna play. but I forgot what to play after hearing him!"