The Harsh Truth - 12 Things Not To Do Learning Jazz Guitar

There are A LOT of things you can do wrong when starting Jazz Guitar, so here are a few things to be aware of and how to avoid them 🙂 There are certainly a few mistakes I have made myself as well, but I'll tell you about it along the way.
Why I NEVER play my Vintage Gibson
• Why I NEVER play my Vi...
How I failed at Learning a Jazz Standard:
• Jazz Beginner - 5 Myth...
The 5 Solos That Will Teach You Jazz:
• The 5 Solos That Will ...
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Content:
00:00 The Jazz Beginner Mistakes
00:14 #1 Music Theory Is Not Music
01:09 #2 Don't Start By Buying A New Guitar
01:35 #3 Don't Pretend You Like Jazz
02:09 #4 Not Straight To iReal (please....)
02:59 #5 Don't Start With Chord Melody
03:56 #6 Don't Forget The Blues
04:49 #7 Books With Chords
05:27 #8 Spectator Learning?
05:56 #9 Don't Have A Metronome
06:38 #10 Just Scales!
07:20 #11 First Scales & Arpeggios
07:42 #12 Jazz Is A Language
08:05 The 5 Solos That Will Teach You Jazz Guitar
08:14 Like the video? Check out my Patreon page!
My name is Jens Larsen, Danish Jazz Guitarist, and Educator. The videos on this channel will help you explore and enjoy Jazz. Some of it is how to play jazz guitar, but other videos are more on Music Theory like Jazz Chords or advice on how to practice and learn Jazz, on guitar or any other instrument.
The videos are mostly jazz guitar lessons, but also music theory, analysis of songs and videos on jazz guitars.
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[@JensLarsen]

What are mistakes to watch out for when starting Jazz? Did I miss something? How I failed at Learning a Jazz Standard: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4ndZoWNapqloKc

[@juliovazquez3320]

Some of these are also a great guide for non-jazz players too. Nice video!

[@JensLarsen]

@@juliovazquez3320 Thank you!

[@jayumble8390]

Once you get serious with playing jazz, the guitar is not the point...it's just a tool. There was a period in my jazz career where I was playing a $100.00 solid body guitar because it felt like a dream. Change the pickups to your liking and you're good to go. Music is within you, it's not about a $300 guitar, a $1,000 guitar a $5,000 --forget about that, just learn how to play the instrument, everything else will take care of itself.

[@robbertr1558]

Thanks for the interesting video again, you're like a jazz-mentor but also a music-comedian with your delivery. Your videos on your practice-philosophies have helped me a ton!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Robert!

[@jasonmudgarde286]

I was amazed to hear that George Benson as a teenager had been gigging with jazz bands for a while before he was shown some theory from a pianist, just shows that a good ear often comes first. Great advice Jens thanks

[@victotronics]

Your first point is so spot on. People seem to think that theory is a magical key to the kingdom. It's not. I didn't have a theory lesson until I'd been playing for years, and so learning theory was a constant "Oh, this thing I've seen a thousand times has a name!". Of course after that, theory is a help in all sorts of way. But it's silly to start there and to focus too much on it in the beginning.

[@fiddlemastrjay4274]

I bought a cheap tape recorder and play chords to a metronome. I love playing along to my own playing. It might not work for some people, but it certainly works for me. Songs, songs, and more songs. Always to an audible metronome. Plus, I had a great teacher. It took me a while to get 'that jazz sound' while improving. But once it clicked, it clicked. Learning songs is where I learn the most. I love watching Jens Larsen videos because I always hear something that I can immediately incorporate. Jens doesn't hold anything back. Listen carefully to what he says.

[@mikebutler6659]

Reminds me of the good ol days of cassette and chords😊

[@joeraidu3480]

Thank you Jens for all the kindness and wisdom of your advice. you remind us that music passes through our ears to touch our hearts and then let our fingers translate our feelings as best we can. 😌😊

[@JensLarsen]

You are so welcome!

[@markrollinger5366]

Such good advice!! Looking at jazz as a "language" is a good place to start. Jens, you are more brutally honest with every new post! I love it. Trying to teach yourself what you don't know? is a terrible idea. At least get a check-up (lesson) regularly to keep moving in the right direction.

[@ricklaino6385]

Always great advice..... Thanks Jens......!!!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you think so!

[@cbolt4492]

Loving the videos Jens 😎

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Christian!

[@thijs199]

It's that time again of the season, a non-trolling comment: I'm actually really happy with my current playing. I don't really feel the need of more information anymore, I feel like if I just keep on playing the guitar a lot now, it's gonna work out. Probably not as fast as with a systematic practicing schedule approach, but good enough for me. And this is in the end my goal. It's for me, I gotta like doing it. Your content has been helpful to achieve this level I'm now at. So whether I'm doing jazz or whatever you want to call it. I really don't care

[@xraydelta7]

Saving this video for inspiration.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it!

[@rudysalcedo9395]

Your tips are awesome and always useful especially for people that have played for a long time and understand what you're saying keep it up and thank you! 👍😎✌️

[@JensLarsen]

Glad to hear it!

[@gtrgeorge348]

Absolutely right on every point...

[@JensLarsen]

😎

[@gtrgeorge348]

@@JensLarsen I've never been a monstrously good jazz guitarist, but as far back as I can remember, '63-'64, I've always approached playing guitar the way you suggest in these points, especially about learning SONGS, by EAR, rather than scales & exercises. There was also a guitar teacher at Jamie Aebersold camp in 1995 (Fred Hamilton, I believe) who really stood up for that approach...

[@scramblethis3224]

In case of emergency, listen! Great advice, maestro.

[@rogerbergkvist1837]

Ur the best! Tnxs for your brilliant advises👍

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like them!

[@NMskinnyguy]

Yes to all of this!

[@Adetunji168]

Thank you for your advice. I've covered most mistakes you mentioned. 😂 Trial and error has brought me to same conclusion as yourself (and that's after 30yrs ). Your video covered it less than 20 minutes. I salute your teaching style🎉🎉 as a Philosophical Jazz Educational Practioner. You deliver process on how its done.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! Yes, a lot of things takes a few mistakes to learn 😁

[@velvele13]

Great advice. I'm currently taking Jen's Jazz Guitar Roadmap course. It's been a few years since I practiced exercises and that's what the course starts off with. I forgot how useful exercises are. I am taking it very slow and using a metronome. I'm not proceeding through the course until I have the exercises down and in time. I read somewhere that BB King thought that practicing exercises are more beneficial than practicing scales. But he did practice scales also.

[@WorldPeace-pi1uq]

I started by learning some easier George Benson solos on Brezzin', but one thing to watch out for is getting too locked into those memorized lines. I believe there is NO single right way to learn who to solo, but you're correct IMHO that just reading and practicing scales etc. without any context leads to sterile and mechanical playing. As a professional and champion whistler, I can use my mouth to come up with ideas that challenge my guitar-playing abilities. It's sometime hard reproduce what came out of my mouth so easily. I have know where the notes are on the fretboard. So if I know several ways to play a scale in different positions on the neck, this is handy. One teacher said to learn ALL the standard Jazz & Blues riffs or licks I can, and stitch them together for a solo. This is great to start with as I sounded decent quickly, but I couldn't play more advanced pieces this way. So I now restrict those licks to chord changes I feel benefit from them. If you want to solo like 'Trane you need to know all your scales, modes and more. It has to come instantaneously, not from thinking about it and deciding, when there's no time for that. I've heard of levels of soloing based on complexities, but I just don't want to be thinking what level should I use now for this tune. What I've done that really helps me is to record many common chord changes in my DAW - such as a II-V-I etc. and copy it several times. Then practice soloing over it until you can come up with nice and fluid phrases that aren't just licks. Then I change the keys in some larger progression and try to play over all those modulation sections. Finally, I try to connect the keys with phrases that sound like good transitions. Once I can do this and not repeat my lines, I know I can do this in a tune where it's used. In Jazz you have to develop a vocabulary of your own that you've mastered. It's like creating your own dialect of English, but everyone who speaks English can understand you.

[@DexterTheater]

Damn the intro of The Borgia Stick... I'm going to be stuck in this forever. Did not know the song, thanks Jens.

[@JensLarsen]

Haha! You're welcome 🙂

[@markslist1542]

I'd add, don't confuse being fluent at playing solos with playing fast. Playing fast for it's own sake can introduce tension, turn your picking hand into a machine, erase your musicality, and put you at a loss when playing standard themes.

[@davidpatrick1813]

great tips

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you think so!

[@throckmortensnivel2850]

Another great video. Music theory is necessary if you want other people to play your music. It is not necessary to learn music, but it sure helps when you get into making charts for other musicians, or for yourself. It also helps if someone hands you a chart for a song you've never heard before. I would say the music is the first priority, but it doesn't hurt to learn theory. It definitely helps you grow as a musician.

[@25dbz-ot9br]

THANK YOU on the chord melody thing. For some reason I get a bunch of adults who don’t like just playing chords, or melodies. They want to do both before they can say something on a basic blues.

[@tomcripps7229]

Thanks!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you enjoyed it, Tom 🙂

[@JeffSmith-di5rk]

Great suggestions, here!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you think so! Here are the Holdsworth videos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5_UqZ53aqZ5o7c

[@JeffSmith-di5rk]

Thanks, Jens. I appreciate it and look forward to going through these! Allan is a personal favorite and was a huge influence, but I did have to realize at some point I couldn't be and wasn't him and had to treat that deep influence in a special way.

[@conradgittins4476]

It seems that I am doing it the right way then. I've played violin all my life and recently started jazz guitar so I'm already used to playing melody lines. Learning songs I find easy and improvising once I've internalised the songs is going fairly well. However, learning harmony and therefore chords etc. is taking quite some time. I've taken to figuring out the cords without using chord charts because I think more is learned that way.

[@chetanhandique5824]

Very true❤

[@belindadrake5487]

SOMETIMES, l think to REALLY LOVE & UNDERSTAND JAZZ , you need to be brought up on it or surrounded by it. . l was an embryo when l first heard this AMAZING MUSIC. THROUGH MY JAZZ NUT DAD💔 24/7, all my life, a west coaster… & more ( no trad no 3rd stream) 👊🏾DAD💔l miss you SOOO MUCH. I am a jazz musician thanks to you. And l remember you taking me to my first gig; DAVE BRUBECK, in SYDNEY. I was 3 years old! . And BEETHOVEN; every SUNDAY NIGHT until 5am… 😰 I could go on. I’ve done my classical music exams. BEETHOVEN IS GOD! 🎹 DAD💔 left me 20thousand records, DVDs, videos, and a massive sound system. You gotta have bass! You’re just so right. JAZZ RULES. I’m NO WAY being a smart a..*res. I smile when Joe Pass is always mentioned . The HUNDREDS of guitarists, l like. Shooda seen the look on his face when l had the audacity to say ‘Barney Kessle’ overshoots frets. 😲🙄. JOKING!!! Thank you so much 🙏🏾✨🎸💫🌟

[@liontone]

Spinal Tap went for being the greatest rock band, to the greatest fusion band, back to the greatest rock band….marvelous.😊

[@crazygirlfun1]

You hit me with the ireal pro😄because I use the app to practice all the time😅

[@JensLarsen]

Haha! I think that is very common. Maybe try to only use it some of the time 🙂

[@guitarhans]

Good advices. We have to humble ourselves up to use the metronome more often. I have iReal Pro, but I dislike it.

[@JensLarsen]

Indeed Hans!

[@falsenotefest]

7:16 Very good advice

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you

[@falsenotefest]

@@JensLarsen zoals gewoonlijk 🤪👍💙

[@trombonemunroe]

Metronomes are really terrific. At first, it really is better having the metronome assigned to the downbeat of each beat. Later on, when you have some experience just playing to a beat, then you can focus on putting the metronome on the offbeats (2 and 4 or the offbeat of each beat_, or just on the 4th 16th beat of each bar. It comes later. P. S. The notion of playing "All of Me" in an Allan Holdsworth style gave me a chuckle!

[@jerrymcdrake]

Sir thanks for the advices. Could you make a video about how to put licks in a context, which way we should practice it. How is your approach to using licks in different progression. How to disguise them, how to tag on them? There are million channels on youtube offering zillion licks from billion guitarist but I didn't come across sigle one explaining how to practice and how to put it in a context. Only book Which I found about that Introducing Jazz Guitar Soloing by Sam Elliot fom MIT. Thanks in advance.

[@JensLarsen]

It is not about using licks in your solos, it is about making your own. I have many videos where I say that, and I am sure you have heard me say that too 🙂

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a wonderful day also Monday was my friends birthday also my birthday ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@michaelstevens8]

Outstanding video as always Jens. Here are 3 more mistakes that beginning Jazz Guitarists might make. Being present, Meditating, and Getting plenty of Sunlight. This is in reference to another Jazz Guitar Teacher KZbinr. Although these things are good in their own right, None of these things will make a Beginning Jazz Guitarist better. Jens, I know its not the topic of this Video, but I'm curious anyway. What are your Top 10 favorite Jazz Guitar Solos? Thanks.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! I don't know if I have top 10 favorite Jazz Guitar Solos, I would have to think about that. I do have recommendations for people to check out though: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJPRgHRpZaiDqsk kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJbamXuwoNdrgZY

[@michaelstevens8]

​@JensLarsen Thank you Jens. I just watched your 5 Great Jazz Guitar Albums video. Wes Montgomery's Smokin At The Half Note is often called the greatest Jazz Guitar Album. It's certainly one of the greatest. Also, based on some of your previous videos, it looks like one mistake you made early on was not learning from Grant Green. Grant Green playing a Jazz Blues is perfect Jazz Guitar 101. Thanks.

[@jeremyversusjazz]

Great list jens. Btw its freddie not freddy.

[@andersestes]

I see you agree with Tommy Emanuel: “Songs are our teachers. They show us the depth of the human race and its unrelenting desire to create.” - Tommy Emmanuel

[@JensLarsen]

Exactly!

[@damonshanabarger2604]

3:05 Been at this a long time I have. There is something really cool about playing the lower notes over the chords on the same instrument. Don't know what the name of this piece is. I think the lyrics go, "Everybody needs somebody some time." Something like that. Tony Bennett possibly did that, or at least he performed it. I still have a long way to go. Maybe I should research it. The progressions I've been writing myself seem to occupy all of my time. Hopefully, someday, I can share them and earn money. I don't know. Sorry about the Yoda pun.

[@RobKandell]

“Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime” is a song by Dean Martin.

[@RobKandell]

Metronome? My background is as a folk player. What’s a metronome? 😊

[@thierrythierry1013]

What you might have miss is that learning improvising tools doesn't necessarly make a good improviser, but just someone applying receipes. Real improvisation is...improvising out of the toolbox. I'm currently struggling with this.

[@joeknipes9567]

#15: teach others what you know (helps codify your own approach and enhances your own understanding)

[@JensLarsen]

It is actually a list of what not to do 😁 But I guess we follow what you mean

[@joeknipes9567]

Whoops I got carried away😅. Maybe it could be rephrased as, "Don't keep what you've learned to yourself. Sharing with others will help you to…"

[@RobKandell]

For theory, early lessons would do better to be honest about what they’re teaching. For some reason, university courses start you out with 18th Century voice leading. While the concepts are sound, the principles are not used today - whether pop, rock, jazz, or whatever. You proposed method is clearly sound, and flexible enough to work for any style. I hope people realize what a valuable resource these videos are.

[@trombonemunroe]

Don't Forget About The Blues 100%! In fact, don't learn blues just by listening to jazz musicians - probably one of the worst ways to learn the blues. Listen to blues musicians, and take a huge detour into it to really get a sense of that genre to better inform your jazz playing when you come back to it!

[@noobsomething8884]

Question, how are you supposed to identify where a song is supposed to be played on the fretboard if you don’t have a good ear? Should I just experiment until it works out?

[@JensLarsen]

Find the key and stat in a position your are really familar with

[@matt_greene]

But how am i supposed to hear that Georgia on my mind and NOT want to play chord melody!

[@JensLarsen]

Nobody says you can't play chord melody, just don't insist on ignoring everything else! 😁

[@andrewwesley4282]

What was the name of the standard played during the chord melody section?

[@JensLarsen]

It's "Georgia On My Mind" I posted it on Instagram a few months ago 🙂

[@andrewwesley4282]

@@JensLarsen Awesome, can't wait to check it out!

[@lancerigby3662]

Excellent advice! There should be more of this and not the three easy steps to become the next "guitar god."

[@Earthstein]

Is ear training the key; or is it visual memory?

[@JensLarsen]

Anything that works is good if you use it right. Don't spend 4 hours a day practicing intervals and expect to magically play amazing solos, just like you can't memorize tons of licks out of a book and get that to sound great 🙂

[@Earthstein]

@@JensLarsen Jens you are very generous with your time. To answer me here shows that. Thank you so very much. I will take what you say and use it.

[@rsavage42]

What you? Mistakes? Jen.

[@JensLarsen]

Yes, well it was a loooong time ago 😂

[@WildChild]

Tell me about it, man

[@JensLarsen]

I will! Tomorrow! 😂

[@steellemonstudios]

Shots fired at Kirk Hammett! 🤣

[@kevindonnelly761]

Someone told me once that he played something that was not in E minor Pentatonic - and he TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE WAH PEDAL FOR THREE SECONDS !!!! Aaaaarrrggghhhh !!!! But I don't believe it. 🤥

[@steellemonstudios]

To be fair, there was a time he’d incorporate some jazz ideas into his playing (like when he mixed an Em triad and a Bb triad into a run, I think in “Shortest Straw”). But in the early 90s he would reference all of these jazz influences like Coltrane and Monk, and it just… well, how could literally NONE of that seep into his playing? It strikes me as what Jens was saying here which is just saying how influential it is just to be cool or sound sophisticated.

[@kevindonnelly761]

@@steellemonstudios Yep, I agree with you and Jens on this. Also, I'm tired of hearing about his famous guitar (not Jens, but you know who). So he has an expensive guitar with an interesting history of its prior owners. So what ? It's likely a great guitar but guitars are hunks of wood. They need someone to play them. 😕

[@JensLarsen]

Well, I am sure he can take a joke 😁

[@jamescopeland5358]

You told it like it is Jens

[@JensLarsen]

🙏

[@davidrinaldi77]

I am the number 8 😅

[@JensLarsen]

😂

[@DaveVedder]

I see you've watched me try to learn jazz.

[@JensLarsen]

😁

[@andrejtih7373]

класссс)))

[@CrispySonOfA]

Is that an FM3 behind you??

[@JensLarsen]

Yes

[@CrispySonOfA]

@@JensLarsen Awesome! I recently moved away from gigging with a tube amp, fractal makes awesome stuff!!!

[@JensLarsen]

@@CrispySonOfA Yes, I have been using Fractal since 2010, they are fantastic 🙂🙂

[@user-vw3vs5oc9i]

Дружище, привет из России!!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you

[@adamrivers4481]

Someone, somehow needs to make the metronome sexy. Far more important than amps and pedals!

[@kabirkachroo8229]

Oh no😥

[@JensLarsen]

Oh no? 🙂

[@kabirkachroo8229]

@@JensLarsenI’m scared

[@kabirkachroo8229]

@@JensLarsenthe ireal one💀💀💀

[@JensLarsen]

@@kabirkachroo8229 You know it's true 😁😁

[@harimathur2191]

Dear Jens. I am now very confused... why do u make tutorials then tell us not to learn from KZbin? 😮

[@JensLarsen]

I didn't say "never" I said "not only" 😁

[@wizardito7741]

Number one: Bending.

[@markfreemantle7608]

"...and you might be making one of them right now..." Did you mean Watching Jazz guitar videos instead of Playing jazz guitar? ;-)

[@JensLarsen]

I guess if you watched the video a bit further you would know?