Mike Stern - Exercises For Learning Tunes (Lesson Excerpt)

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Mike Stern talks about his approach to learning tunes. Excerpt from In The Style Of Mike Stern Vol.2
Mike Stern (born January 10, 1953) is a six-time Grammy-nominated American jazz guitarist. After playing with Blood, Sweat & Tears, he landed a gig with drummer Billy Cobham, then with trumpeter Miles Davis from 1981 to 1983 and again in 1985. Following that, he launched a solo career, releasing more than a dozen albums.Stern was hailed as the Best Jazz Guitarist of 1993 by Guitar Player magazine. At the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal in June 2007, Stern was honored with the Miles Davis Award, which was created to recognize internationally acclaimed jazz artists whose work has contributed significantly to the renewal of the genre. In 2009 Stern was listed on Down Beat's list of 75 best jazz guitarist of all time. He was presented with Guitar Player magazine's Certified Legend Award on January 21, 2012.
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[@rogerioreckel6335]

What blows my mind about Mike Stern is a guy of that magnitude teaching and talking beginners stuff as he is one...my favorite guitar player ever....thank you for being who you are Mike.

[@bronislawbonkala5371]

without a doubt, his genius aside, Mike Stern probably is the most likeable humble guitarist ever...

[@Notturno81]

Together with Steve Morse:)

[@hmmmwhatever]

Robben Ford is the same, just a great human being!

[@joserafaelbermudezartiles9398]

@@hmmmwhatever andy timmons??

[@elijahharms935]

Yeah and Joe Pass

[@jactodetarabilla2864]

Yes

[@3340steve]

I didn't realize until now just how badly broken Stern's right wrist was... amazing that he has regained his flexibility enough to play so well.

[@SkwisgaarScampini]

Mike Stern is a beast

[@rwjazz1299]

Even with nerve damage to his picking hand, he's still world class. Before the accident he was other worldly class. Galactic class.

[@marctucciaronemusic7738]

There’s nothing more inspirational than a genius with so much humility!! Watched him for decades in his element at the 55 !!! Fantastic memories. Go Mike !!!

[@luigicuccitto2113]

GOD Bless You 🎸🎸🎸

[@danyavilaoficial]

Amazing player, great tune, soothing notes...UNBELIEVABLE HAIR at more than 68 years old

[@trjb1767]

is it removable?

[@HFox-qh7jj]

No that’s real stuff

[@nowyee1182]

Mr Mike stern . My right hand has the same problem as you. But when I watch your video today . You gave me more strength to believe never give up your favorite thing in your life . Thank you master .

[@gameover313]

What a great person and musician. A real treasure

[@j.garnergtr]

This is a good lesson. Hard to get students to do it all, though. Their loss.

[@jimjiminy76]

Yep. Takes effort and discipline, which few students actually have.

[@kiadel7502]

What a wonderful world.

[@GlaucioFanara]

Grateful Master Stern...this is very good

[@pierheadjump]

Thanks Mike. ⚓️

[@faisalahmad4455]

Respect. Thankyou. Always

[@cw6367]

So much love

[@renatomessa2748]

Quanta generosidade e humildade em um guitarrista ... sublime e única é sua música, Mike.

[@pascaljeanne8002]

just play since a long time and 6 hours a day lol ! i saw mike stern , i was young at the new morning geneva , not paris , he played like he does 40 years ago lol ! remember , the gig with the violonist ...and cobham ! stern is great !

[@l8tapex]

If you know the theory, the chords as designated , the modes he actually referring too your really surpassed the point of the video.

[@danhope77]

The video teaches how to practice , yes, then you surpass the point when your ear is good enough to guide you

[@robertburks2187]

Stern, Monster guitarist, personable teacher, super cool cat

[@musicalexcursions]

I love the idea he brings up about "thinking" of it as C Dorian, and F Mixolydian, and not Bb Major, even thought they're the same notes. I try to get this across all the time. 'So important I think; so you play what you mean to play.

[@user-oy7gz5bf2h]

Had a chat with a bass player friend of mine last year who used modes the same way. Sorta wish I was taught it that way now.

[@fredericmentre9175]

@@user-oy7gz5bf2h eéé

[@user-oy7gz5bf2h]

@@fredericmentre9175 Say what? Je ne saisis pas.

[@johnkaminski9022]

@@user-oy7gz5bf2h I had to seek it out myself. I didn't go to school for music, but studied a lot out of what I heard and wanted to understand. Thanks Julien.

[@antoniorubino7667]

My prefered guitar player i met in dc at blues alley ! The best for me ! Antonio

[@lesarbuckle2541]

Stern is The Man.

[@TheOverlordOfProcrastination]

One of those guitarist who can play three notes and you’ll know who it is.

[@ramirofarb]

Exactly, with metheny the same. He plays one single note and you know its pat

[@addisonsmith7569]

I’m the type of guitarist who can only play 3 notes, but no one ones who I am lol

[@soofitnsexy]

@@addisonsmith7569 me 1000 notes

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

Got to admire his commitment to the chorus sound 😄

[@armandochuh]

Excelente músico - dança como um que conheço, ou quem conheço dança com ele?

[@juanpablonunez2310]

Un huevo pelao. Thanks.

[@charlesduckettjr.800]

I love Mike Stern. I first heard him live in 1979 when I was a newbie at Berklee. Countless times since then. But, I don't think the notion of "chord scales" works with this tune Autumn Leaves, or "Les Feuilles mortes", original title. To get this tune down to its full potential, you need to play the straight vanilla melody countless times until it is fully memorized. Once that is done, you will hear where & when to add any tension notes to your chording. A lot of jazz versions of the song use substitute changes that don't fit with the melody. I would recommend, do not go there. If you don't like the original changes, choose a different tune to play , or write your own. Jut IMO.

[@Osnosis]

The harmony is very static so substitutions are actually very helpful.

[@raefblack7906]

Badd ass Stern!

[@stratman006]

Hey Mike can you explain maybe in this format the chord subs #11 and how you might walk over those changes. What you are doing here is real simple and easy to understand. I grabbed some stuff you did with Bill Evans. I am more of a Blues Rock Metal player but have always loved the Jazz Vocabulary. Wes, You, Pat Martino and Kenny Burrell. Anyway thank you for your time and energy. All the best coming out of this Covid 19 debacle. Greg

[@HammerGruvin1]

Mike Stern is BadA$$!!!

[@winstonsmith8240]

Neat.

[@danhope77]

It all makes sense. You just need to know a bit if theory to get it.

[@user-oy7gz5bf2h]

Fingers on my right hand don't bend backwards that way. Very interesting. Just trying to imitated that position is very tense for me. We all come at it with our own morphology.

[@japatah]

I was curious about that myself. to it looks like mr. Stern's hands aren't loose as they used to be.

[@thorstenwiggers2521]

His right hand doesn't look healthy... His index finger seems to be some kind of deformed. And he even has his pick glued to his fingers (05:31), which at least I haven't seen him doing in the past...

[@displaychicken]

@@thorstenwiggers2521 He had a fall and broke his right hand quite badly a few years ago.

[@thorstenwiggers2521]

@@displaychicken Ah, I thought he broke his shoulder. Thanks for the info!

[@jazzalmenasmusic]

I remember Mike at the 1st Panama Jazz Fest. He asked me if I transcribed, which I said yeah, but when I asked him, he said he has books full of them. No wonder he is a master!

[@NekromanKim]

Always liked Malcolm Young playing some jazz tunes

[@Alanoffer]

Didn’t realise just how bad he broke his right hand a couple of years ago , he really must have gone through it

[@trabrex7697]

👍

[@ugopalazzooddo8405]

@3:11 If "this is very confusing" even for Mike himself, I think I might have a little chance!!

[@dema866]

Do vou knou Nelson Faria. Guitar play from brazil?

[@jeanpierrepascal128]

Bravo super ! Pouvez vous me dire les références de vos cordes merci d'avance amicalement jp

[@soulvaccination8679]

Whad he say?

[@beratsmoke]

02:00 song?

[@mirandazohran]

Does he only use a chorus patch for everything?

[@DaveManleyguitar]

The info here is good, but it won't make you a good improviser. Better to break it down into smaller bits of info dealing with motivic development and focusing on the top 4 string.

[@magnusberger6762]

If Mick Jagger and Emmylou Harris had a child it would look like this

[@guidemeChrist]

There isn't a G7 in autumn leaves though, the melody forbids it

[@j.garnergtr]

It's a quick secondary dominant back into the first chord, the C min. The melody does not forbid it. Besides, there are plenty non harmonic tones in melodies.

[@henrikduende]

My autumn leafs always have a G7 b9 before going back to the Cm7

[@jo18ist]

It' Jazz dude, playing the wrong notes is fun.

[@WyattLite-n-inn]

Luv ya Mike , but does that chorus effect have a broken “Off” switch? Oy!

[@soulvaccination8679]

in jazz?

[@midlifemotox]

This is why Jazz musicians have no money. No one cares.