Jazz Exercises

This package provides the basics  to get started with jazz guitar improvisation. And, if you like the melodic jazz guitar style of Matt Otten, you'll find out what his approach is based on, and how you can learn to play like that. The material aims at guitar players who can already play at a beginner- to intermediate level, but want to understand how jazz improvisation works, and how to get into it.

If you're looking for a course in jazz theory, this isn't it; this is to teach you to PLAY; that is why it is called EXERCISES! The amount of theory is just enough to get you playing, and understanding principles of jazz improvisation. If you're looking for a 'play-like-a-pro-in-three-weeks' kind of course, this isn't it either. It is not set up to teach you a few easy jazz licks so that you can fake your way through jazz. These are real EXERCISES that you have to work on, in order to develop real improvisation skills. It is not difficult to understand, but it does take effort to do the exercises! The new on-line version is called the Jazz Guitar Improvisation Workout.

What it is not:

- a course in theory or jazz chords: there is a bit of necessary theory of course, but it is more practical than theoretical

- full video lessons:  there are introductory videos, however, explaining each of the exercises, the e-book, and there are fretboard videos.  If you want video only, see Blues Forms, Talking Jazz Guitar,  or Private Sessions instead.

- a beginner's guitar course: if you just started playing guitar, this will be too advanced for you. Start with a basic guitar book, and preferably a good teacher.

How to get it:

It is now an extended online course that you can find here.

Related products

There is also the course Smooth Jazz Guitar Solos:

5 complete contemporary jazz pieces, with smooth backing tracks, 12 extended solos with audio tracks, midi files, TABS and standard notation. For the intermediate and advanced student. A great follow-up to the Jazz Exercises (Jazz Workout), but also very valuable by itself.  In this package, the emphasis is not on teaching with step-by-step exercises, but on real full-fledged guitar solos, with solo analysis, to sink your teeth into!

And, there is the course Cool Jazz Guitar Solos:

5 complete original mainstream jazz pieces, with backing tracks, 10 extended solos with audio tracks, midi files, TABS and standard notation. For the intermediate and advanced student. Another great addition to the Jazz Exercises, but also very valuable by itself. In this package also, the emphasis is on real guitar solos, with a lot of explanatory comments.

The general idea behind these courses is described here.