I don't agree with this approach exactly. By all means do technique practice in ways that will work best with how you will actually be performing, but I think that far and away the best thing to do to learn how to improvise is to pick it up by ear from records by master players you want to try to emulate. I don't like most formulas for improvisation, except maybe Lee Konitiz's method of starting by improvising off the melody to start and then progressively moving away from that until you are making up something completely new (which I think he got from Lenny Tristano), and this method is really just a general concept, not formulas for what to play, other than starting with the melody of the tune. Everybody keeps looking for an easy way around this. I did for far too long. Get with learning to play by ear based on working with recordings as quickly as you can. It is hard at first, but like anything it gets easier the more you do it, until you start to actually enjoy it.
@@JensLarsen , I don't know how I could possibly be any clearer, and your facility with English seems to be very good.I was commenting on an existing video that you cited above, not on a yet-to-be-published video.
Yes! Listen, listen, listen! I listen to jazz about 6 hours a day. My wife is slowly coming around to it also. As for jazz guitar, Kenny Burrell “Midnight Blue” is essential
Great analogy. Arpeggios are exactly like words or phrases in a language; they only gain their sense when put to use in context, and remain empty and ambiguous otherwise! Though, exercises are important too for learning the fretboard and developing muscle memory.👍
Scales and arpeggio's are there for learning to play the guitar (technical issues). To master a specific type of music, such as jazz, one has to become familiar with the characteristics of that style.
Another lesson with great help and tips by the great Jens Larsen. Thank you for staying with us for so long! I can say you've helped advance my jazz guitar playing.
You know it's business when Jens starts the video with him bring his guitar onto his lap. Happy New Year Jens! Hope you had a great holiday. Looking forward to watching this one.
Really vital, great advice--learn the tunes! And so right about how awesome the technology is now and how accessible the music is. I ruined some LPs and styluses picking up the needle and putting it back 1000 times to try to get a phrase.
@@JensLarsen That‘s the way I learnt, listening to LP‘s and later CDs. …. and I ruined a lot of LPs:) I‘m teaching for 30 years, and my message is always: listen to what you want to play. Great video!! Happy New Year! 🍀
Hey jens im really a big fan of you. Starting jazz is really confusing as you said. Don't have money to afford your road map but would like to buy it in the future ! Happy new year and cheers 🎉
Another good way to practice- pick a key and chord progression, and write little songs. I do it everyday; for instance right now I’m working on my modulation, so I pick a key and progression and start working on it- tritone subs, backdoors, secondary doms, etc… then I start attached scales and modes to each chord; let’s say I have a Ebm6-A7b9-Bbm7-Bbm6/9-Bm6-Bm-Em(add4)-Emaj7, without my extra nonsense it’s just a modal 4-7-1 progression. I’ll pair Eb Dorian with A Super Locrian bb7, with Bb Dorian or Bb bebop minor, etc… essentially just pick a key and chord progression, find some scales and modes that can be played with it and spend the day jamming on it
@JensLarsen Thank you again for your artistry and insights. You inspired us with your tone, your playing, your lessons, and your passion. Thank you for a wonderful year of videos (I realize that it’s very time consuming and takes much energy). I wish you health and joy. And, many more rapturous musical moments in 2025 ! -Dr D
Happy New Year, Jens. Thank you for always inspiring me to practice and for sharing your knowledge. I hope you are well and that 2025 brings you happiness, joy and lots of great music experiences. Cheers From VT!
Jens - can you please do a video where we listen to specific versions of jazz standards that are actually played in clubs and then figure out the simplest way to play along with the videos? I have spent so much time listening and learning and then getting stumped during an open jam. Thank you.
Well spoken to the Practice Routine. One Thing is complicated, If you try to Play with some Dudes to make Music. Perhaps you can make a Video about this Theme, what skills must i have to play as a sidemen in a Band.
I started the hard way, because I did start by learning all the scales and modes (that are most used in Jazz), learned all my seventh chords and their various inversions, know how to build 7alt chords; spent entirely too long learning about suspended, augmented, and diminished chords- I use too many now- and I had to know every song I heard; had to to learn Joe Pass songs. I actually recommend going head first into it, going that hard into it. Over the course of a year… Geeze, I guarantee I’m 20x better than I was in January 2024
Happy new year! Everything will be Music when the war in Ukraine ends. Now it is difficult to concentrate on classes and you have to just maintain some kind of "sports form" and listen to a lot of music. It helps and distracts from stress...
please please please can you do some lessons or direct me to any tabs/lessons around the Mglaughlin/Lucas/Cosey Bitches Brew/on the corner /Big Fun etc 70's era Miles Davis ? (there is almost absolutely nothing anywhere on youtube/google/lead sheets /guitar magazines etc...any lessons or info would be greatly appreciated (I've been looking for years ) I cant be the only one that loves the guitar from Miles fusion era ???
@@JensLarsen oh ,well.thnx for getting back to me though. (I've been souring the internet for years .a million resources for "cool "er Miles ,a ton of 80's Stern/Scho but no love for Cosey /Lucas/Mglaughin...my favorite era )
Hi Mr Larsen, thanks for the videos ! You should listen to the album called "sketches of Brunswick east" by the band king gizzard and the lizard wizard. Great jazz album by a non-jazz band ! Great harmonies and rythm! 🙂
Does this look difficult? I couldn't read music if the revival of Wes Montgomery relied upon it. ruclips.net/video/BoO0Bc9anQo/видео.htmlsi=ykPck-b4lR8ZX2Uz
Hey Jens, i Love you and your lessons, you're a great player and a brilliant teacher.. but, PLEASE could you stop with all the cartoon pop-ups, the jokes and visuals which are really distracting when you're trying to listen and learn from what you're explaining. Could you just do the vids without all that clutter? I know, it's fun and it's clever and you have the software so you CAN exercise your inner comedian, but it doesn't help with learning what you're teaching, it's a distraction, in fact it's really started to piss me off recently. So, any chance you could change your MO just a little in 2025? Just a suggestion.. Thanks for everything btw! :))x
To be honest, such videos now seem to me as if someone is trying to create content as cheaply as possible and without much work. And that's annoying. I don't need generalised wisdom over and over again. It's pure clickbaiting without actually delivering.
It sounds like you don't want a video on general wisdom. There comes a point when you realize that not everything that exists is catered to your tastes, needs, and preferences. You are free to move on and find something else rather than taking offense that it wasn't custom built for you. I hope you find what you're looking for!
Happy New Year! What are you going to learn in 2025? 🙂
I wish every beginner could watch this: ruclips.net/video/F_uuHfrMfIQ/видео.html
I don't agree with this approach exactly. By all means do technique practice in ways that will work best with how you will actually be performing, but I think that far and away the best thing to do to learn how to improvise is to pick it up by ear from records by master players you want to try to emulate. I don't like most formulas for improvisation, except maybe Lee Konitiz's method of starting by improvising off the melody to start and then progressively moving away from that until you are making up something completely new (which I think he got from Lenny Tristano), and this method is really just a general concept, not formulas for what to play, other than starting with the melody of the tune. Everybody keeps looking for an easy way around this. I did for far too long. Get with learning to play by ear based on working with recordings as quickly as you can. It is hard at first, but like anything it gets easier the more you do it, until you start to actually enjoy it.
@eichlerphoto The video is not published yet. Maybe watch it first instead of trying to guess what is in there
@@JensLarsen , my comment was in response to your comment citing that earlier video, which I watched and which was the basis for my comment.
@eichlerphoto what does that mean? 😁
@@JensLarsen , I don't know how I could possibly be any clearer, and your facility with English seems to be very good.I was commenting on an existing video that you cited above, not on a yet-to-be-published video.
Yes! Listen, listen, listen!
I listen to jazz about 6 hours a day. My wife is slowly coming around to it also.
As for jazz guitar, Kenny Burrell “Midnight Blue” is essential
Yes and also check out ‚Blues - The common ground‘ which is also Pat Metheny‘s favorite Kenny Burrell album.
Learning jazz by learning all the scales and arpeggio's is like learning a language by learning all the words
Reminds me of that guy who is a scrabble champion in french and spanish without knowing either language.
You learn a language by learning words lol. Scales and arepgios are not words,
@ what is the jazz equivalent to words, in that case?
Great analogy. Arpeggios are exactly like words or phrases in a language; they only gain their sense when put to use in context, and remain empty and ambiguous otherwise! Though, exercises are important too for learning the fretboard and developing muscle memory.👍
In college, I spent a spring break transcribing Giant Steps with a cassette boom box. My family hated me. lol
Scales and arpeggio's are there for learning to play the guitar (technical issues). To master a specific type of music, such as jazz, one has to become familiar with the characteristics of that style.
Another lesson with great help and tips by the great Jens Larsen. Thank you for staying with us for so long! I can say you've helped advance my jazz guitar playing.
Thanks!
Thank you for the support, Tom!
I'm in! Happy new year Jens 🎉
Happy New Year Christian! 🙂🙂
Listening to your band and advice is my New Year's resolution! Thanks for all you are doing to help us wannabes.
Happy new year!! Go for it!
“Practice, practice, practice!” - Dr. Ruth
The only way! 👍👍
@@JensLarsen 👉 2:42 you sir are remarkable.. absolutely great 👍
@@jesusislukeskywalker4294 🙏🙏
You know it's business when Jens starts the video with him bring his guitar onto his lap.
Happy New Year Jens! Hope you had a great holiday. Looking forward to watching this one.
Happy new year! 😁🙏
This is one of the best music education, videos I’ve seen in a long time. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Really vital, great advice--learn the tunes! And so right about how awesome the technology is now and how accessible the music is. I ruined some LPs and styluses picking up the needle and putting it back 1000 times to try to get a phrase.
Glad you like it!
@@JensLarsen That‘s the way I learnt, listening to LP‘s and later CDs. …. and I ruined a lot of LPs:)
I‘m teaching for 30 years, and my message is always: listen to what you want to play.
Great video!! Happy New Year! 🍀
The more I learn I realize how little I know which in turn motivates me even more to this addiction of the guitar 🎸
Always amazing advice, thanks! Look forward to spending another year working on all of this in 2025.
Thank you! Happy new year!
Great advice. I’ve done the Roadmap and it really helped me appreciate this approach. Otherwise, jazz can feel really overwhelming
great video Jens. Thanks so much!! You're a gem teacher! Happy New Year!
Thank you Henriette!
Hey jens im really a big fan of you. Starting jazz is really confusing as you said. Don't have money to afford your road map but would like to buy it in the future ! Happy new year and cheers 🎉
Feliz Año Nuevo from Madrid (Spain)
Happy New Year 🙏🙂
This was a great video to start the new year!
This year I will start jazz for real !! I hope 😅 starting with 5 standards properly learnt …
Go for it 😎
Another good way to practice- pick a key and chord progression, and write little songs. I do it everyday; for instance right now I’m working on my modulation, so I pick a key and progression and start working on it- tritone subs, backdoors, secondary doms, etc… then I start attached scales and modes to each chord; let’s say I have a Ebm6-A7b9-Bbm7-Bbm6/9-Bm6-Bm-Em(add4)-Emaj7, without my extra nonsense it’s just a modal 4-7-1 progression. I’ll pair Eb Dorian with A Super Locrian bb7, with Bb Dorian or Bb bebop minor, etc… essentially just pick a key and chord progression, find some scales and modes that can be played with it and spend the day jamming on it
Very thoughtful video... thanks for posting
Glad you enjoyed it!
@JensLarsen
Thank you again for your artistry and insights.
You inspired us with your tone, your playing, your lessons, and your passion.
Thank you for a wonderful year of videos (I realize that it’s very time consuming and takes much energy).
I wish you health and joy.
And, many more rapturous musical moments in 2025 !
-Dr D
👍 dude , youre such a pro 👉🎸
..... happy new year 🙏
Glad you like the videos!
Great advice. Happy New Year.
Glad it was helpful!
Roadmap! Works for me, but progress is slow because I only have about 30’ each day to practice
I like to warm up with scales and arpeggios. Might as well use that time to learn/practice a mode or 2.
Thanks Jens, have a great New year ahead. Jazz is our life! Very good advice as always!
Mike the Instrument maker and repairman
happy healthy new year jens larsen
Happy new year!
Happy New Year, Jens. Thank you for always inspiring me to practice and for sharing your knowledge. I hope you are well and that 2025 brings you happiness, joy and lots of great music experiences.
Cheers From VT!
Happy New year from Edinburgh
Happy New Year Paul! 🙂🙂
Jens - can you please do a video where we listen to specific versions of jazz standards that are actually played in clubs and then figure out the simplest way to play along with the videos? I have spent so much time listening and learning and then getting stumped during an open jam. Thank you.
Nice year Jens and a good guitar year for you.🙏
Happy new year!
Happy New Year Jens 🙂
Happy New Year Mr. Larsen 🎉
Chet Baker solos 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Saludos master Jens Larsen feliz 2025 gracias por el vídeo vamos a comenzar el año con mas práctica y gracias por los consejos
Well spoken to the Practice Routine. One Thing is complicated, If you try to Play with some Dudes to make Music. Perhaps you can make a Video about this Theme, what skills must i have to play as a sidemen in a Band.
I guess that skill is 90% repertoire and 5% interaction and 5% social skills?
I started the hard way, because I did start by learning all the scales and modes (that are most used in Jazz), learned all my seventh chords and their various inversions, know how to build 7alt chords; spent entirely too long learning about suspended, augmented, and diminished chords- I use too many now- and I had to know every song I heard; had to to learn Joe Pass songs. I actually recommend going head first into it, going that hard into it. Over the course of a year… Geeze, I guarantee I’m 20x better than I was in January 2024
Van Kooten en De Bie!
Van Kooten en De Bie !!!!
😆
🙏😁
Recommendations on jazz guitar artists to listen to please
These: ruclips.net/video/K7OO-s31pOU/видео.html
And these: ruclips.net/video/zbnOA30CPtg/видео.html
@ thank you sir!!
I started with Holdsworth 🙈 but slowing down at 10% of the speed ! Not the best idea for sure 😂
Thanks for these videos! At ~4:14: Love the Joe Pass photo-bomb LOL
Happy new year!
Everything will be Music when the war in Ukraine ends. Now it is difficult to concentrate on classes and you have to just maintain some kind of "sports form" and listen to a lot of music. It helps and distracts from stress...
Yes, I hope that is over soon. I really thought we were done with war in Europe
please please please can you do some lessons or direct me to any tabs/lessons around the Mglaughlin/Lucas/Cosey Bitches Brew/on the corner /Big Fun etc 70's era Miles Davis ? (there is almost absolutely nothing anywhere on youtube/google/lead sheets /guitar magazines etc...any lessons or info would be greatly appreciated (I've been looking for years ) I cant be the only one that loves the guitar from Miles fusion era ???
I have some older lessons on McLaughlin, but in general it is not something people are that looking for/talking about in my audience
@@JensLarsen oh ,well.thnx for getting back to me though. (I've been souring the internet for years .a million resources for "cool "er Miles ,a ton of 80's Stern/Scho but no love for Cosey /Lucas/Mglaughin...my favorite era )
@@JensLarsen I alreay made a playlist of all your Mglaughlin lessons their all great !(why I thought I might ask you )
Hi Mr Larsen, thanks for the videos ! You should listen to the album called "sketches of Brunswick east" by the band king gizzard and the lizard wizard. Great jazz album by a non-jazz band ! Great harmonies and rythm! 🙂
John Scofield said in an interview to learn songs. He should know.
dangit, that Cherokee solo
What does “Stay in form” mean? How do I practice staying in form?
"Staying in form" is not loosing track of where you are in the form and in the time
what he said.
Thanks for the tips Jens. I $ent you a small one in return.☯️🎸
Does this look difficult? I couldn't read music if the revival of Wes Montgomery relied upon it.
ruclips.net/video/BoO0Bc9anQo/видео.htmlsi=ykPck-b4lR8ZX2Uz
Oh please tell me more! U talk to much!
Hey Jens, i Love you and your lessons, you're a great player and a brilliant teacher.. but, PLEASE could you stop with all the cartoon pop-ups, the jokes and visuals which are really distracting when you're trying to listen and learn from what you're explaining. Could you just do the vids without all that clutter? I know, it's fun and it's clever and you have the software so you CAN exercise your inner comedian, but it doesn't help with learning what you're teaching, it's a distraction, in fact it's really started to piss me off recently. So, any chance you could change your MO just a little in 2025? Just a suggestion.. Thanks for everything btw! :))x
Mark, if you don't like the videos then maybe just don't watch them
To be honest, such videos now seem to me as if someone is trying to create content as cheaply as possible and without much work. And that's annoying. I don't need generalised wisdom over and over again. It's pure clickbaiting without actually delivering.
Ok, if you read the comments then a lot of people seem to find it useful. What do you feel the video should contain that it doesn't?
It sounds like you don't want a video on general wisdom. There comes a point when you realize that not everything that exists is catered to your tastes, needs, and preferences. You are free to move on and find something else rather than taking offense that it wasn't custom built for you. I hope you find what you're looking for!
bIIIM7 - iim7 - I add(9, 13) Happy New Year !
Happy new year Kevin! 👍👍😎😎
Thanks!
Thank you for the support, Jay! 🙂