Simply moving a chord up and down with no understanding of the context of the key is just not good enough.

It takes lots of time, and is an arduous task to say the least…īut the result is an excellent understanding of harmony, and a good working foundation of chords and arpeggios.Īs the guitar is a transposing instrument and we often rely on patterns, it is also important to get to know each and every key. I require all my jazz guitar students to memorise this particular cycle throughout the cycle of 5ths. Here’s a list of high quality jazz artists that you should listen to:īecoming a master of jazz cycles is an absolute must, if you want to become exceptional at playing jazz guitar.Ī classic jazz harmonic cycle that occurs over and over in jazz is the: “I IV VIII III VI II V I cycle”. Understanding the language of jazz, as well as the subtle and intricate swing rhythms will help you on your journey to become a competent jazz guitarist. You will also witness first hand how jazz musicians take turns to solo and support each other! In addition to listening, you should also attend regular performances of live jazz.īy attending live jazz performances, you will become more and more acquainted with the vocabulary of jazz music. Listening to a lot of jazz music will help you internalise the sound of swing! It is simply essential to get the sound of jazz in your ear! In order to become a competent jazz guitarist, you will need to listen to a lot of excellent jazz music.

Jazz gui tar chord practice