Five Tips For Writing A Jazz Song On Guitar

Five Tips For Writing A Jazz Song On Guitar Sign up successful I refer to the first one as the “L.” It looks like this: Although it can be strummed, the “L” chord sounds best when plucked (with your thumb, index, and middle fingers to be specific). When plucked, it makes an attractive “thumping” sound. When multiple “L” chords in different positions are played in quick succession, they can imitate walking bass patterns which are common to jazz. I refer to the other triad as the “triangle.” It looks like this: The “triangle” is a five (not six) string chord (ADGBE). Like the “L”, it can be easily transposed anywhere on the neck just by sliding it up or down. While writing a song, I recommend experimenting with both formations in as many different positions as possible. Combine Them With Barre Chords Jazz chords are typically more complex than the common first-position chords (C, D, E, F, G, A, and B7th). Sevenths, minors, and other chord variations are common. These two barre chord formations can easily be switched from major to  seventh if you remove the note marked with an X. They can also be changed from major  to minor by moving the Y back a half step. As with the triads, I recommend experimenting with barre chords in different positions too. Add Pentatonic Notes The pentatonic scale (“penta” meaning “five”) is comprised entirely of notes that make up the circle of fifths (C, G, D, A, E, B, Gb/F#, Db, Ab, Eb, Bb, and F): If you havent already done so, practice these scale patterns. Use the notes in these scales to improvise. Keep Your Progression Simple Although may be familiar with complicated-looking jazz guitar scores (and, yes, many of them contain laundry lists of intricate chords), youll benefit more as a songwriter by keeping your chords trim. Start with a I-IV-V pattern (such as A, D, and E7th) and embellish it with the suggestions above. Remember, your objective is not to win a prize for complexity. Its to make memorable music. The easier it will be to learn to play, the more memorable it will be in the long run. Keep Your Subject Material Light Heres the fun part writing lyrics. Compared to other American genres, jazz involves soft and gentle themes. “Grab your coat. Grab your hat. Leave your worries on the doorstep,” is a good example of a great jazz lyric. So is “Stars shining bright above you. Night breezes seem to whisper I love you. Birds singing in the sycamore trees. Dream a little dream of me.” Forget angry topics. Youre not out to take your audience on an emotional roller coaster. If youre writing a song about heartache, it should be sad and not vindictive: Willow weep for me Willow weep for me Bend your branches down along the ground and cover me For me, jazz is a basically joyful-sounding music. Its free from the raw exuberance, aggressive sounds, and gritty topics common to Chicago and Texas blues, contemporary country, and metal. Its music and lyrics should both reflect this by having been written in a peaceful state of mind. Working with a private guitar teacher is a great way to build your jazz guitar skills fast. Find your guitar teacher today! Samuel B. teaches beginner  guitar lessons in Austin, TX. He teaches lessons face-to-face without sheet music, which is his adaptation of Japanese instruction (involving a call-and-response method).  Learn more about Samuel here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher