Best Jazz Guitar Lessons Online (2024 Update)

This is the best intro to jazz guitar I've ever encountered over 54 years of trying out this or that instruction material. Jody Fisher has the ability to explain complex theory in an easily understood manner while bringing back what playing music is supposed to be all about: fun and creativity. Wish I'd had this in 1962 when I started down the road with a jazz lesson series that basically told me to play this in all keys, whether that made sense or not. Just shut up kid and keep hammering away at it until it makes sense. I think that's why so many jazz guitarists are sour pusses and others have mental breakdowns. Where is the sense in all this, could you give me a hint? Jody does this smoothly and in a way that makes me want to practice, rather than doing it because I have to in the hope that someday I'll figure out why. He simply tells you why, and I bet it didn't hurt him a bit. I bet he didn't worry that he'd be telling secrets only the pros should know or that he would have to answer to some shadowy society in control of the Holy Hot Licks. No no no. You've got your own stuff inside, and here's how to bring it out. But you still have to practice, like eating to stay alive. Might as well do it in a way that's enjoyable and productive, and this book will show you how. I especially like the lessons split into chord and scale studies so you can concentrate on one or the other. The appendix is full of truthful and useful advice. The part about learning new tunes is alone worth the full purchase price, and then some. Jody has also explained the importance of modes and modal thinking so that even I can understand, which is remarkable and downright astounding to my classically trained spouse. Her explanation: Shut up kid and just do it. You will probably want to stock up on staff paper, blank chord diagrams, and tab paper. Initial lessons involve a lot of paper work, plus you'll want to write down your own ideas later on. So buy, learn, and above all else, enjoy!Old Bluesy Bum

My Background: I started playing the guitar six months ago (feels like a lifetime). Long ago, I played the piano for a duration of around 3 1/2 years when I was 14 years old. Now at age 43, I finally decided to live my dream and get into guitar – both bass and lead. I wanted to learn to play the music I love: jazz, blues, metal, rock, and some thrash. I have bought around thirty instructional books, VHS tapes, and DVDs. My Review: I bought this DVD around 2 1/2 months after I started playing guitar. It starts with a sprited performance by the instructor, Jody Fisher, who plays along with a band. AFter they finish playing the song, Jody starts giving instruction. In his introductory dialogue, Jody says the DVD is for musicians with around one year of guitar experience, and who are comfortable with chord changes. When I first heard this, I immediately put the DVD away. I was intimidated, especially after watching the instructor's (Jody) performance. In his playing, he used both fingerpicking/strumming and a pic. I knew I was not ready to play without a pic,and was weak with chords.Now, almost four months later, I found the DVD and played it. It turned out to be very good! It teaches great guitar chord theory and has great illustrations. Also, Jody takes you slowly and deliberately. He is obviously a great teacher, and has a calm, friendly manner.I learned a basic jazz chord progression that it taught, and can now actually play a song that sounds real nice on my archtop electric guitar. I still can't play it as fast as I would like, but I can play it slowly, and my friends say that I sound great. Additionally, the DVD gives you a couple of chances to play with the band backing you up. Jody starts you off, then he stops playing and lets you play along with the backing music of the band. After reading several books and watching multiple DVDs/VHS, this one turned a light on in my head, and I now fully understand music theory about chord progressions, major, minor, dominant, and diminished chords, seventh chords, etc..Now, I need to apply the advice he gave on soloing over chord progressions. He made it look very easy.I realize there is just so much you can get out of a 70-minute DVD, but I must say, I got a lot out of this one. I was so impressed with this production that I went ahead and ordered this company's blues instructional DVD. If the instructor is half as good as Jody, I will consider it a good decision.Fledgling musician

I own over forty guitar and bass theory instructional books, CDs, and DVDs, and found that I got the most out this DVD, "Alfred Beginning Jazz Guitar." I have been playing guitar/bass for only nine months (although I have 3 1/2 years of piano experience), and since I have been learning on my own, I needed the most cogent, clear, and complete information I could find. You can't ask questions when you have a DVD or book.I bought the DVD after only three months on the guitar. While viewing the introduction, I got intimidated when it said you needed around one year of experience and a decent level of comfort with chord changes. Also, the song the band played in the introduction looked very difficult. This intimidated me so I put the book and DVD away.I came back to it at around the six-month point in my experience. I was better able to understand it this time, and within a month was playing the chord arrangements, albeit not at full speed. But it sounded good and was fun!The DVD explained and demonstrated some basic jazz chord progressions, and gave ideas on soloing over them. It had a band that played along with the instructor, then the instructor (who I found to have great teaching skills and an easygoing manner that made the DVD enjoyable)would stop playing and let you play along with the band.The instructor not only spoke, but demonstrated what he was doing on the guitar. Also, the DVD has tableture for you to follow as you play. Once you get the understand the DVD, which is pretty indepth on the basics, then you can go even deeper with the book.It gave many great tips on technique, practice habits, and a whole lot of theory including scale fingerings, chord theory (6ths, 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, etc…), scale theory, and even modal theory. All was easy to digest.I don't think you will be disappointed.JSustain

I won't go into detail about Brent Mason. If you don't know who he is, you probably don't need to. 🙂 The playing style on this DVD is Nashville commercial, with some Western swing and a dash of Jazz thrown in. This DVD is a remaster of a 1995 video. At first blush, it appears sub par in video quality, but then again, it's not a hollywood movie. The audio is excellent. The instructor, Brent Mason is a spectacular guitar player. One of the best I have ever heard, and that includes some very elite company. As a teacher, he is only fair. And that's not a knock against him, teaching is a very different skill. Best thing about the DVD, there are some fantastic chops on there. Brent plays them quickly and proficiently. He can really burn up the neck on a guitar. There are tabs for many of the "licks", included in a booklet. Next best thing, the DVD has an entire section devoted to half-speed (normal pitch) split screen videos of the examples in the tablature. It shows in great detail how Brent accomplishes his amazing runs so fluidly and with his own sense of taste and timing. As a fairly accomplished player, I found the examples challenging (to say the least). There are many I will probably never be able to play as smoothly and quickly as Brent does. C'est la vie. I bought the DVD to try and expand my thinking as much as my technique, and in this, the DVD shines. Brent has a highly original style and method and he communicates his "feel" and style very well. If you are a beginning player, much of this stuff will be very frustrating. I would suggest you start with something easier. All in all, it is well worth the price.joeportman

It has to be good its Brent Mason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11getupgetready

Incredible DVD and instruction.I was very happy to see tab included with this as it would be next to impossible to catch most of the licks. It was awesome watching him play the various styles and I highly recommend this humbling DVD.Ron Thompson of the Revelatorsdeependguitar

I think this book was intented for those individuals that play basic Jazz guitar already(same as the 100 blues lessons book)and lack of the needed acknowledgment to create their own riffs and licks(as most of the books sold around). So if you are a begginer playing the guitar or with music, this is not for us(and I include myself because I dont know anything about Jazz) I heard the two CDs that come along with the books and most of the tracks are just great to me, a few of them are less insteresting but that it might be because again , I dont know anything about Jazz. But the good thing to me is that I can learn whatever they threw on this book, I know I will find where to play all this cool stuff later on. What about you.? Four stars because a few of these lessons are just slightly different from each other.maruska

Is being easy to use, has concise lessons, self explanatory, had bought couple books different brand and they are real hard to read and work with, Hal Leonard Is always easy to learnJazz boy

No matter how long you have been playing, this DVD has many tips for all players. By demonstration and well explained theory, you find yourself a step higher in proficiency after watching this tape. Well worth the time and price.jetrotta

These are 20 concise stand-on-their-own lessons, so jumping around is recommended. This has the most information of any guitar video I own. I have some of Jack's books also, and this plus the books makes it seem like Jack is teaching me in person. It's very cool.Tony the guitar player

Each of the 20 lessons is concise and clear. It covers a lot of territory in it's 71 minutes and answers many questions I've had about playing the guitar. I have a lot of videos but this one gets played the most often since it is one of the best I've purchased. My favorite part is seeing Jack play, he's really something.Jazzman Paul

I'm a 4 year guitar student focusing on jazz. My music teacher instructed me to buy this book. So helpful with working on smooth chord changes and different fingering techniques.Mickey846