Learning Jazz Guitar Chords with the Number System

Tue, 03/03/2015 - 11:20am
Written by JakeHertzog

jazz guitar lessons with chuck loeb

After the jazz explosion in the early 1900s, musicians were eager to transfer the new sounds emanating from New Orleans onto the guitar. Although initially conceived as a rhythm instrument, a slew of stellar six string geniuses quickly elevated the guitar to its current status. Guitarists like Eddie Lang, Tiny Grimes, Charlie Christian and Django Reinhart are some of the most influential early players who were using jazz guitar chords in their music. By the time electric guitars became popular, the floodgates were open and jazz guitar soon became its own genre.

So how did they do it? How did the early 20th century guitarists capture the jazz sound on their instruments and become pioneers of a new genre? To understand this better, let's closely examine how to create jazz guitar chords by using the number system from the Online Jazz Guitar School with Chuck Loeb.

First we learn the major scale as a pattern of half steps and whole steps. 

Paul Gilbert sends us an Ibanez Fireman

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 10:11am
Written by ArtistWorks

artistworks with fireman guitar

The ArtistWorks office in Napa, CA just received an awesome surprise - Paul Gilbert sent us a beautifully signed Ibanez Fireman guitar!  We were so thrilled that we all put on our best rock faces for this picture of gratitude. Thank you Paul! Click here to learn more about the Fireman, Paul's signature guitar from Ibanez!

Pedalboard for Clinics in April

Fri, 03/13/2015 - 9:35pm
Written by PaulGilbert

My clinic tour in April is quickly approaching. I spent the day preparing my pedalboard for the trip, and also rehearsing some of the songs that I plan to play. For those who are interested in the pedals, here they are, in the order of the signal path.

  • TC Electronic - PolyTune 2 Mini
  • MXR - Phase 90 Script with LED
  • Homebrew Electronics - UFO Fuzz
  • TC Electronic - MojoMojo Overdrive
  • TC Electronic - Alter Ego V2 Vintage Echo
  • Lehle - Little Dual Splitter / Amp Switcher
  • From here, one cable goes directly to the "dry" amp. The other goes to...
  • A/DA - Flanger
  • Neo Instruments - Mini Vent Leslie Simulator

Then to the "wet" amp.

Everything is powered by a Voodoo Labs Pedal Power 2 Plus (sitting under the Alter Ego.)

The clinics are mostly in Italy, but there is one in England, and one in France. I hope to see you there!

http://www.paulgilbert.com/tour/

Rock and Roll!

Paul

Did I Say Stereo? I Meant Mono!

Mon, 03/16/2015 - 5:52pm
Written by PaulGilbert

After spending a some time with a stereo pedalboard set-up... I decided to go back to mono. 

I've got enough complexity going on on the fingerboard, so I think a simpler pedalboard will serve me better. We'll see if this one survives the week!

Rock and Roll!

Paul

Bonus Lessons Labeled! (in +MUSIC)

Wed, 03/18/2015 - 9:02pm
Written by PaulGilbert

In my monthly video messages, I usually include a Bonus Lesson of something that I'm excited about on the guitar. These videos have always been available on the site, but I finally got around to giving them proper titles, so now you can go directly to the one that you want to watch. I had to watch them all in order to title them, and I have to say that there is some good stuff here. I recommend a look! Just go to +MUSIC and click on Bonus Lessons to get started. As I make more of these, I'll continue to label them, so you can continue to find what you like. 

Thank you,

Paul

Some news from Asia and a new video

Tue, 03/24/2015 - 6:22pm
Written by andreas

Hey,

Earlier in March I had my 10th Nr 1 in Japan (official single and album charts combined). A boy band with the interesting name "Sexy Zone" reached the top spot on the album chart and has sold more than 100,000 copies so far of the new album. 100k sold albums in Japan means another Gold record certification by RIAJ. I had the pleasure of writing one of the songs on the album together with Andreas Carlsson, Fredrik Hult and Steven Lee. We did this song at our camp in Costa Rica last year. The album also ended up as the 6th most sold album in the world that week on the Global album chart.

Also I recently had the pleasure of doing some gigs in Colorado with Frank Vignola and Vinnie Raniolo. We also did a short appearance on a local TV show in Aspen. Here comes our version of Limehouse Blues:

Enjoy!

Regards Andreas

Guitar Legend John Renbourn Dies Age 70

Mon, 03/30/2015 - 4:54am
Written by MartinT

It is with great sadness that we heard the news that the acoustic guitar legend John Renbourn has died of a suspected heart attack at age 70.

Along with Bert Jansch and Davy Graham he was one of the most influential acoustic guitarists to emerge on the British music scene in the 1960's.

He will be sadly missed by all of us that knew him and loved his music.