How to learn jazz

gpessa · Regular Member Joined: 26 Apr 2008 Posts: 46

Hola!
I started to play trumpet 10 years ago, I have spent no more than 1-2 hours a week on it... not enough to sounds decent.
Only recently I decided I want to improve and learn to improvvise. I will probably follow the course organized by this guy (www.learnjazzstandards.com) but for now the subscriptions are closed so I was looking for a sort of checklist of things I should learn, example:
II V I
II V I minors
Major scale
Minor scales
Chords ( 7, m, 75b, etc...)

Do you have an idea of what I need to focus on?

PH · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 1:40 pm Post subject:

This is one of the best study guides I've ever seen.

AND IT'S FREE here on TH. https://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32146
_________________
Bach trumpet artist-clinician
Clinical Professor of Jazz Trumpet, University of Illinois
Professor Emeritus of Jazz Studies, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
Faculty Jamey Aebersold Jazz Workshops 1976-2019
JazzRetreats.com

kehaulani · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 1:46 pm Post subject:

Get Aebersold Play-Alongs Volumes 1,2 and 54.
Maybe even Coker's little primer, "How to practice Jazz".
http://www.jazzbooks.com/

But listen voraciously to live as well recorded music.

Just remember, Jazz is an aural art. Listen and play "with your ear" as much as possible.
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

Richard III · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 1:51 pm Post subject:

TrumpetMD · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 2:18 pm Post subject:

Good advice already given ... find a good method to study from.

I started out on Aebersold, volumes 1, 2, 3. There are other methods out there, but this is what I started out with. Aebersold also has a free jazz handbook, which you can download. http://www.jazzbooks.com/jazz/FQBK

As you get better, you can get into more advanced patterns. I used (and continue to use) Jerry Coker's Patterns for Jazz. Many of the preliminary patterns in Aebersold's material are based on Coker's book. So for me, it was a logical transition.

To answer your specific questions on the "checklist" ...

- Learn the basic jazz scales (dorian, dominant, blues, half-diminished, diminished whole tone, diminished, and whole tone). All of these are included in the above Aebersold volumes.

- Learn some basic patterns over the common jazz chords. Again, this is included in the above Aebersold volumes.

- Learn the more common jazz standards. I like the following list, because it also includes some easy songs to start off with at the bottom of the page. http://www.hopestreetmusicstudios.com/articles/100-must-know-jazz-tunes

- Use page 9 of the free Aebersold Jazz Handbook for guidance on how to correctly learn a jazz tune.

- Get the Hal Leonard Real Books, especially vol 1,2,3. If you want a free Real Book, you can download a pretty good one here. http://bobroetkerjazzguitar.yolasite.com/free-stuff.php

- Find some open jazz jam sessions in your area, and get out and play. Many of these sessions welcome beginners. If you're not sure, ask the organizer.

Mike
_________________
Bach Stradivarius 43* Trumpet (1974), Bach 6C Mouthpiece.
Bach Stradivarius 184 Cornet (1988), Yamaha 13E4 Mouthpiece
Olds L-12 Flugelhorn (1969), Yamaha 13F4 Mouthpiece.
Plus a few other Bach, Getzen, Olds, Carol, HN White, and Besson horns.

Mike Sailors · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 4:14 pm Post subject:

You need to focus on listening at first. You should be listening as much as you practice. Find people you like and try to listen to them as much as you can stand too.
_________________
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Brassnose · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 8:42 pm Post subject:

Listen, listen, listen, and go to live shows as often as possible. My personal experoence is that listening to jazz during my 12 year trumpet layoff helped me as much as practicing. And get a teacher

_________________
2019 Martin Schmidt eXcellence
1992 Bach 43GH/43
1989 Kühnl & Hoyer Model 15 flugel
1980/2023 Custom Blessing Scholastic C 😎
1977 Conn 6B
1951 Buescher 400 Lightweight
AR Resonance, Frate, Klier

gwood66 · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2018 11:09 am Post subject:

The book Ready, Aim, Improvise by Hal Crook has kind of tied a bunch of things together for me. You can find it used for about $30. Haven't really had time to put the theory into practice yet.

Here is a good article at Jazzadvice.com:

https://www.jazzadvice.com/jazz-improvisation-ultimate-guide

This website has a lot of great stuff.

solo soprano · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2018 5:37 pm Post subject:

Information vs Wisdom - Getting started >

Link

_________________
Bill Knevitt, who taught me the seven basic physical elements and the ten principles of physical trumpet playing and how to develop them.
https://qpress.ca/product-category/trumpet/?filter_publisher=la-torre-music

kfeldt · Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 4:16 am Post subject: Re: How to learn jazz

MarkFoster · New Member Joined: 30 Aug 2020 Posts: 9

Thank you so much for all recommendations and guides! It's really valuable!

joshlawrencejazz · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2021 5:41 am Post subject:

Start with this: https://barryharris.com/jazz-tutorial-1/

You can't go wrong with Barry Harris