Best Online Jazz Guitar Lessons (2024 Update)

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

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

A fitting companion to "Mickey Baker Jazz Guitar Volume 1" a starters guide to Jazz Guitar. Many wonderful players have started with these books as a guide. You still need to have the "Ear" and a drive to want to play. Recommended.mark_lineham

Mickey Baker was a great jazz guitarist. This is the second on his books on leaning Jazz guitar and it follows along from his first book. It's a good book to add to your collection of chord and structure books.itguy_2002

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

Well, your not going to play like Joe, but it does provide a simpler understanding of the chord structures and has a 'slow motion' without too much unusual voicing so you can get the ideas..it also has a seperate 'chord chart' with sound so you can make sure you have voicing correct. Even if you don't understand all the formal talk, if you have at least some ear for music you can grasp what he's doing and have a foundation. I have two Jazz books and a cd that don't even come close, its usually like taking French 103 before taking French 101…not so here as much.jozluck

It seems (to me) that Joe Pass was a very down-to-earth guy, willing to share his knowledge and approach in the simplest terms, he was capable of expressing. In other words, Joe doesn't try to baffle the student … or blow the student away. This DVD, enhanced from the original VHS tape resolution, includes several very useful features, like a chord diagrams section, slow-down versions of the chapter lessons etc. I wish that the printed chord diagrams included the scale degrees – so I wouldn't have to stop to figure them out and mark it up with a pencil; but, hey, life's not perfect but lessons from one of the best IS …mpcoughlin

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