The easiest way to begin is to describe what is not the jazz guitar style. Power 5 chords, simple open chords, steady strums, static chord progressions, a lack of key modulations, heavy bending and vibrato, slinky thin strings, distortion, excessive volume, huge amplifiers … these are a few characteristics that say that the music is probably not the jazz guitar style.

On the other hand, mellow tone, full body hollow electric guitars, great tone, the use of modality, a large repertoire of chords and voicings, more scales and arpeggios than you can imagine, shifting harmonic tonalities, fast hands, octaves, standards, soloing on complex chord progressions, the “swing” feel in rhythm, dynamic shading, the Bossa, the Samba, the Jazz Waltz, screaming tempos, flying arpeggios, rubato ballads.. These are some signs of this style.

The jazz guitar style today might be considered a performance blend of standards from the 30s and 40s, the modal influences of Miles Davis, the harmonic sophistication of the French Impressionistic period and the Blues.

Obviously, jazz is a wide idiom ranging from the Bebop to the Atonal to the Urban to the Free to the Progressive styles. In the long run, what works is what works for you and your audience.

In today’s internet mentality and ultra niche markets, it seems more important than ever to be able to categorize music. If no other reason than to know how to direct your marketing efforts, where to advertise, where to promote and where to perform. Jazz guitar is a category in and of itself.

The jazz guitar style is an art form. Is it a commercial style?  Well, that depends on how you define “commercial”. I believe it has a tremendous potential to develop a significant world wide audience.

Improvisation is at the heart soul of this style. The freedom of improvisation lives with the discipline of a very complex art form. The goal is however to allow people to see beyond the complexity and into the beauty of direct communication. Yes, too often jazz guitarists substitute meaningless flash for substance. But welcome to the world in general. Our society is not short on replacing substance with surface.

Listen to the jazz guitar. Find who and what you like. The guitar is the most popular instrument in the world, Its sound appeals to the masses. The jazz guitar with its unique sound and feel is well positioned to influence the listening standards of the world!

In reality, this art form is simply spontaneous conversation between friends. A listener no more has to understand the intricacies behind it, than they have to understand the details of brush strokes to appreciate a painting.

Just listen to what the music is saying. It’s saying something different to each person. Unlike songs with lyrics, instrumental jazz allows the listener to form unique images, feelings and stories. Listen and enjoy!

Jazz guitarists are, like many other guitar players, obsessed with speed. Although speed is a good measurement of how much you’ve practiced, it’s not a good measurement of how musical you are.

Today’s advice is simple. Remember that whole notes , half notes, dotted half notes and quarter notes are not only permitted in guitar solos but are actually desirable.

Rhythmic variety is an important tool in making a guitar solo interesting.

To organize the topic of rhythm, visit www.modularphoneticrhythm.com or check out my site at

Ben,

I am a veteran jazz guitarist, born in Chicago but based in suburban Philadelphia.

I appreciate how you handle sensitive topics related to the Art of Jazz.

Being in this business for a long time as a musician, educator, author and lecturer, I have a somewhat different take on the subject of jazz musicians and audiences. Though it’s easy to blame the media and they deserve some of the blame, I think the biggest problem lies squarely on the shoulders of jazz musicians and the jazz community.

This community has never promoted or marketed their art and craft at the level or with the same intensity as other musical idioms. This is not to comment one way or another on the musical significance of jazz versus rock – country vs pop etc.

As an example, country music has an enormously popular and important tradition called Fan Day. This is basically a big convention for the fans to meet, up close and personal, their country music idols. Autographs are given, merchandise is sold, pictures are taken. I have never seen a country artist resist this tradition or complain about it. They recognize that without the fans, they would have no career.

Country music plays to the fans and seems to show a genuine interest in them. I understand the differences between country and jazz but jazz still must be marketed with consistency and enthusiasm. The musicians have to do their part in promoting and marketing their art and craft. I am talking about traditional forms of jazz not “smooth jazz”.

Jazz shares many of the same issues with classical music. There is too often a distance and certain type of elitism that prevents audiences from getting “close”.

I hold out great hope for the future because of the “new” music business – the “cyber marketing” and all the tools that are available to jazz musicians across the world.

Chuck Anderson
“Audience Friendly, Progressive Jazz Guitar”
www.ChuckAndersonGuitar.com

If interested, I’d love to send you copies of two of my CDs as well as one of my books. It deals with the subject of development within the music business, the individual and within the artistic community. The book is titled “Music Pursuing the Horizon”
—-
Chuck Anderson
www.ChuckAndersonGuitar.com
chuckandersonguitar.blogspot.com