I'm a guitar player, and I spent years listening to all the guitar player "wisdom" shortcuts that say you don't have to learn scales or theory. It got me nowhere, then it dawned on me that horn players do all the things that I've been told I didn't have to do: read music, understand a bit of theory, know scales, etc. Got my Jamey Aebersold Volume One sitting beside me right now, and am digging it mightily. Who knows? I might figure this thing out yet.
Your videos are top-notch Donna. Your explanations are very clear and concise. Jamey Aebersold's books can be very overwhelming for self-taught students and your recommendations and suggestions make learning the material so much easier! Thanks for all your great videos! :)
Gr8 tips; found a few volumes on-line .. Vols 1, 2, 24, 54, 30 Rhythm Workout, 38 Blue Note. The II-V-I, Cycles & Turnarounds, Bebop/Bird & Wes Montgomery am eyeing. Over the decades had acquired old photocopies of some volumes including even an original accompanying vinyl LP. Used 2 play it 2 enjoy the groove .. bit fast but. It’s inspired me 2 seek out more of the originals. Plan’s 2 overdub gtr parts against the materials thru the cassette Portastudio .. combining love of analogue home-audio, home-studio & Jazz study. Know the rudiments, some of the basics but also must fix my poor reading (decided on the Berkeley system there). Now, if I can just negotiate another lifetime🤣😂🤣
I love that you mentioned all the verbiage in volume 1 😀 I got it, opened it up, and pretty much didn't open it again for a year. After watching lots of youtubers explain improvisation, I opened it again, and understood what Jamey was saying in the introduction. Great stuff. Thank you
I have volume one. Can play quite well, but struggling to start using the book. I can’t also tell if the first play alongs are for quarter or full notes.
Years ago my trumpet teacher in teaching jazz improv would give me 2 scales to learn at a time. Started me out with C and D major and harmonic minor in 2 octaves. I drilled harmonic minor because was easier for me to flat a seventh on the fly than to sharp one,etc. Eventually over a few months I had all twelve keys of majors and harmonic minors. Then we started adding the blues scales to the mix. After that I added the major bebop scale and diminished 7th arpeggios. I drill all these now to this day. Aebersold wise I did start out with volume 3 for the ii V7 I progression, and Bb blues from volume 1. First song I did was Song For My Father, plus assorted other tunes I'd pick from Chuck Mangione, Seawind or other groups I liked.
Hey thanks for sharing - some great things your teacher did and you've kept it up! That's interesting starting withVol 3, but the good thing is that you worked on hearing those chords and how they relate to each other. Very cool :)
Good evening Donna, this is exactly what I needed to know! I have a question: is there any way how to learn improvisation through your video lessons/online lessons? I play vibraphone, I know a lot of musical theory, but I cannot use it and I do not know how to start :-/ I will be happy for your recommendation!
Glad to hear! I can definitely get you started. My 1:1 online lessons would be best for learning improvisation. Can you please contact me here: donnaschwartzmusic.com/contact-me/lessons/
Hi Donna! I'm new to your site and you've been so helpful. Can you tell me the name of the software that slows down the music that help me lean play with it. Thanks
You mention jazz blues and rock blues in this, Donna. Can you give me a popular / good example of each? To me both rock and jazz came from the blues. But I don't think of one type of blues being more rock or jazz, though.
The changes for Jazz Blues are a bit different than Rock Blues - compare Billie's Bounce with a 50's tune which follows the simpler Blues changes (just I, IV and V). That's what I mean...
That's a great question. The Aebersold tracks used to be the standard - there are over 120 volumes of books with various styles and hundreds of tunes. iReal Pro can have 1000's of tunes when you visit the Forums. And, you can control the tempo, key, number of choruses. But you do not get the sheet music for the melody - you get the chord progressions but not the melody. So you have to learn the melodies by ear or have memorized them. The Aebersold books have the written melodies and chord progressions, along with the chord scales for some of the volumes. But you don't have the freedom to change key, tempo & no. of choruses.
Donna Schwartz thank you so much for your reply! I took a jazz piano lesson today by a nice lady who recommended a comping Jamey aeobersold book, but she didn't remember the name of it. I'll have to figure out which one it is which may be easy if called comping for jazz piano or similar. Your answer helped me because I already have ireal pro, but I'd like to see the melody and voicings/chords recommended to play. It looks like they both have pros and cons.
Jazz is like standing in front of the mount Everest with a rusty spoon trying to tunnel you're way true it and realizing you'll never reach that finish line...
You could go with Vol 21 (Getting it Together) after Vol 3 OR explore one of the tune books (Miles Davis Vol 7, Sonny Rollins Vol 8, Herbie Hancock Vol 11) It depends upon what you are working on and want to explore next.
I don't know how to play or what notes to play when you talk about chord changes and also lets say that on a sheet of music there are no notes for the Alto Sax and I panic. Howevef
I'm a guitar player, and I spent years listening to all the guitar player "wisdom" shortcuts that say you don't have to learn scales or theory. It got me nowhere, then it dawned on me that horn players do all the things that I've been told I didn't have to do: read music, understand a bit of theory, know scales, etc. Got my Jamey Aebersold Volume One sitting beside me right now, and am digging it mightily. Who knows? I might figure this thing out yet.
Great advice Donna, thanks very much.
Suggested order of study in summary:
1. Volume 24
2. Volume 1
3. Volume 54
4. Volume 2
5. Volume 3
Your videos are top-notch Donna. Your explanations are very clear and concise. Jamey Aebersold's books can be very overwhelming for self-taught students and your recommendations and suggestions make learning the material so much easier! Thanks for all your great videos! :)
Thanks so much, Jared!
Gr8 tips; found a few volumes on-line .. Vols 1, 2, 24, 54, 30 Rhythm Workout, 38 Blue Note. The II-V-I, Cycles & Turnarounds, Bebop/Bird & Wes Montgomery am eyeing. Over the decades had acquired old photocopies of some volumes including even an original accompanying vinyl LP. Used 2 play it 2 enjoy the groove .. bit fast but. It’s inspired me 2 seek out more of the originals. Plan’s 2 overdub gtr parts against the materials thru the cassette Portastudio .. combining love of analogue home-audio, home-studio & Jazz study. Know the rudiments, some of the basics but also must fix my poor reading (decided on the Berkeley system there). Now, if I can just negotiate another lifetime🤣😂🤣
I love that you mentioned all the verbiage in volume 1 😀 I got it, opened it up, and pretty much didn't open it again for a year. After watching lots of youtubers explain improvisation, I opened it again, and understood what Jamey was saying in the introduction. Great stuff. Thank you
Can you recommend a good RUclips improv video?
Thanks for the very nice guidance regarding the JA series. Much appreciated.
I bought volume 24 I need this book. I will get it very soon through Amazon! Thank you so much for putting this video together. Vinny
I have volume one. Can play quite well, but struggling to start using the book. I can’t also tell if the first play alongs are for quarter or full notes.
Got both books Donna. Learning the scales and learning the standards with both of these. YES!
Years ago my trumpet teacher in teaching jazz improv would give me 2 scales to learn at a time. Started me out with C and D major and harmonic minor in 2 octaves. I drilled harmonic minor because was easier for me to flat a seventh on the fly than to sharp one,etc. Eventually over a few months I had all twelve keys of majors and harmonic minors. Then we started adding the blues scales to the mix. After that I added the major bebop scale and diminished 7th arpeggios. I drill all these now to this day. Aebersold wise I did start out with volume 3 for the ii V7 I progression, and Bb blues from volume 1. First song I did was Song For My Father, plus assorted other tunes I'd pick from Chuck Mangione, Seawind or other groups I liked.
Hey thanks for sharing - some great things your teacher did and you've kept it up! That's interesting starting withVol 3, but the good thing is that you worked on hearing those chords and how they relate to each other. Very cool :)
Thanks Donna. Excellent video. Very very helpful. Thanks again.
Wow, thank you very much! The order of the books are confusing sometimes, you helped me a lot! Subscribed! :)
Very good approach to the Aebersold collection. Thank you so much!
Awesome video..clear and very informative! I started with vol 1 and it was too hard. Will get 24. I have 54 and love it! Thanks!
Good evening Donna,
this is exactly what I needed to know!
I have a question: is there any way how to learn improvisation through your video lessons/online lessons? I play vibraphone, I know a lot of musical theory, but I cannot use it and I do not know how to start :-/
I will be happy for your recommendation!
Glad to hear! I can definitely get you started. My 1:1 online lessons would be best for learning improvisation. Can you please contact me here: donnaschwartzmusic.com/contact-me/lessons/
Hi Donna! I'm new to your site and you've been so helpful. Can you tell me the name of the software that slows down the music that help me lean play with it. Thanks
I use the Amazing Slow Downer, but I am sure there are more newer apps out there now.
Can you purchase these as MP3 downloads instead of CDs? I don't have a CD player anymore.
For most volumes - yes! Just go to jazzbooks.com
You mention jazz blues and rock blues in this, Donna. Can you give me a popular / good example of each?
To me both rock and jazz came from the blues. But I don't think of one type of blues being more rock or jazz, though.
The changes for Jazz Blues are a bit different than Rock Blues - compare Billie's Bounce with a 50's tune which follows the simpler Blues changes (just I, IV and V). That's what I mean...
thanks for tips
my first Aebersold book came with an LP....FWIW
I might see something like CMajor7 or some chord! How or what do I play in retrospect to the Chords on top of the staff?????? Vinny
Wow! Overwhelmed already and I have not even bought one lol
How does the Jamey Aeobersold backing tracks differ from using an IREAL Pro Ap? Thank you
That's a great question. The Aebersold tracks used to be the standard - there are over 120 volumes of books with various styles and hundreds of tunes. iReal Pro can have 1000's of tunes when you visit the Forums. And, you can control the tempo, key, number of choruses. But you do not get the sheet music for the melody - you get the chord progressions but not the melody. So you have to learn the melodies by ear or have memorized them. The Aebersold books have the written melodies and chord progressions, along with the chord scales for some of the volumes. But you don't have the freedom to change key, tempo & no. of choruses.
Donna Schwartz thank you so much for your reply! I took a jazz piano lesson today by a nice lady who recommended a comping Jamey aeobersold book, but she didn't remember the name of it. I'll have to figure out which one it is which may be easy if called comping for jazz piano or similar. Your answer helped me because I already have ireal pro, but I'd like to see the melody and voicings/chords recommended to play. It looks like they both have pros and cons.
You're welcome and definitely check out jazzbooks.com. If I remember right, they do have a rhythm section workout book as well as piano voicing books
How many degrees do you even have?? I barely have cash for one, holy lord!
Jazz is like standing in front of the mount Everest with a rusty spoon trying to tunnel you're way true it and realizing you'll never reach that finish line...
Where would volume 21 getting it together come in at
You could go with Vol 21 (Getting it Together) after Vol 3 OR explore one of the tune books (Miles Davis Vol 7, Sonny Rollins Vol 8, Herbie Hancock Vol 11)
It depends upon what you are working on and want to explore next.
I don't know how to play or what notes to play when you talk about chord changes and also lets say that on a sheet of music there are no notes for the Alto Sax and I panic. Howevef
Thank you Donna. Very informative