Playing, arranging for solo jazz (as opposed to jazz solos)

[Robin Nahum]

I am starting to want to be able to play jazz standards by myself (or with a simple bass and drum accompaniment) using a combination of chords and single notes and am wondering how to get started. Ultimately, I would like to be able to devise my own arrangements.

In terms of where I am now, I have experience in a bigger lineup comping and soloing and have also played single note melody lines in front of a rhythm section that includes a piano or second guitar. I have a good knowledge of how chords are built, how to analyse a chart and the modes and their uses. Reading is still pretty shaky - but I do have very good tone!!

Am I ready for solo playing or is there some other stuff that I need to do first?

If I am ready (or kind of) would it make sense to find books with simple arrangements so I can make a start on building the skills to play in this style and also get a few tunes under my fingers. If this is a good idea, can anybody suggest an appropriate book. (I guess 'Joe Pass Chord Solos' will come later :).) I already have a couple of tapes from chordmelody.com.

Would it also make sense to start to look at books that introduce me to arranging for guitar - is there such a thing? Is this what I should be looking for?

[alotas123]

I'd start with the very good publications by Howard Morgen. He talks about arranging for fingerstyle jazz but the concepts are applicable for all solo styles. From there, you may already be launched...

Al

[Joe-Bob]

Take some lessons from a good jazz player, and learn how to use and apply the "drop 2" chord system. This is a way of voicing chords with only 4 notes (believe me, that's more than enough), and arranging them so that any chord tone can be the top (melody) voice, with some passing notes. It makes for a really cool chord melody solos.




P.S. - I'm not a good typist, and it would take me a long time to explain it all here. Plus, the last time I posted it on the web, the readers didn't believe me anyway.

[Chris S.]

There are lots and lots of different approaches to arranging songs for solo guitar. But just like learning single-note lines, I wouldn't ignore the masters, like Joe Pass, Johnny Smith, Jim Hall, Bucky Pizzarelli (well, that 7th string could be a problem...) ;-) Mundell Lowe, Lenny Breau, Ted Greene, Tony Mottola, and many others. Just taking the time to transcribe even <u>one tune</u> by Joe Pass can teach you a LOT about playing solo jazz guitar! :-))

In the meantime, as to how to go about it, it's simple: put the melody on top and play the chords underneath. =:-O Oh, and try to keep the bass line interesting. Hee. (I said was "simple," not necessarily easy...) ;-)

Here's one place to start:

http://www.chordmelody.com/

Give them your email address and they'll send you a new chord melody arrangement for FREE every month – pretty good price. ;-) They also have materials on the theory behind the arrangements.

There are lots of books out there, too, but most of them offer complete finished arrangements, either transcribed from existing recordings, or newly published. Not a lot on theory. :-| For that, I would recommend the good old "Modern Method for Guitar" (Volumes 2 and 3 especially) by William Leavitt, available from Berklee Press, Amazon, and many other sellers. The chord-melody stuff isn't all lumped together in one place, it's scattered throughout the books, but it DOES get into the "why" of it, not just "here's an arrangement, learn it."

But again, IMO there's nothing quite like learning stuff directly from recordings. Try to figure out the top line first, then get the bass note, and a lot of times, the middle notes will fall logically into a familiar chord shape (at which point you can slap your forehead and say, "D'oh! I coulda thought of that one myself!" It's a great "learning experience"... ) ;-)

Have fun, CS :-)

P.S. Heck, you know what you REALLY should do? You've got one of the best resources in the world right in your corner of it: go knock on George Golla's door and keep pestering him until he agrees to give you some lessons – he's one of those "masters" I was talking about!!

[Robin Nahum]

Hi all,

Sorry about taking my time to reply.

Originally Posted by alotas123

I'd start with the very good publications by Howard Morgen. He talks about arranging for fingerstyle jazz but the concepts are applicable for all solo styles.

Thank you Al. I will keep an eye out.

I forgot to mention that I am able to "chordgrab" or use a plectrum but I do not have fingerpicking. Does this limit possibilities?

Originally Posted by Joe-Bob

Take some lessons from a good jazz player, and learn how to use and apply the "drop 2" chord system. This is a way of voicing chords with only 4 notes (believe me, that's more than enough), and arranging them so that any chord tone can be the top (melody) voice, with some passing notes. It makes for a really cool chord melody solos.

I am already having lessons JB. Charlton Johnson mentions drop-2 voicings (is this what you mean?) and other drop voicings in his Freddie Green book - which I have. I'll go have a look and see if I believe you. :)

Originally Posted by Chris S.

... Just taking the time to transcribe even one tune by Joe Pass can teach you a LOT about playing solo jazz guitar! :-))

I keep hearing this advice. It sounds a bit daunting but I'll have a go. I note your further advice below.

In the meantime, as to how to go about it, it's simple: put the melody on top and play the chords underneath. =:-O Oh, and try to keep the bass line interesting. Hee. (I said was "simple," not necessarily easy...) ;-)

Here's one place to start:

http://www.chordmelody.com/

Give them your email address and they'll send you a new chord melody arrangement for FREE every month – pretty good price. ;-) They also have materials on the theory behind the arrangements.

Good idea. I've already bought stuff from Steve and he sends me an arrangement on my birthday but you're right, this is money for jam.

.... I would recommend the good old "Modern Method for Guitar" (Volumes 2 and 3 especially) by William Leavitt, available from Berklee Press, Amazon, and many other sellers. The chord-melody stuff isn't all lumped together in one place, it's scattered throughout the books, but it DOES get into the "why" of it, not just "here's an arrangement, learn it."

I have Vol 1 of Leavitt.

But again, IMO there's nothing quite like learning stuff directly from recordings. Try to figure out the top line first, then get the bass note, and a lot of times, the middle notes will fall logically into a familiar chord shape (at which point you can slap your forehead and say, "D'oh! I coulda thought of that one myself!" It's a great "learning experience"... ) ;-)



Have fun, CS :-)

P.S. Heck, you know what you REALLY should do? You've got one of the best resources in the world right in your corner of it: go knock on George Golla's door and keep pestering him until he agrees to give you some lessons – he's one of those "masters" I was talking about!!

Hmmm nice idea but it would probably be more diplomatic to speak to my current teacher first.

[Dana]

Hi Robin,

This book helped me quite a bit. You may wish to check it out.

Drop-2 Concept for Guitar