Az Jazz Guitar Lessons #1: The importance of listening

Welcome to the first in hopefully a series of jazz guitar lessons that I will be writing on steemit. This is part one.

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When people come to me to learn jazz, I often ask why?

Understanding the reason changes how I teach my students, some just want to understand jazz harmony so they can add some jazz elements into their rock or fingerstyle playing. Some just think jazz is cool so they're curious about. Some have seen my FB Live videos and want to learn from me personally.

The next questions are usually, "Who do you listen to? Who are your favourite jazz musicians? What is your favourite jazz piece or recording?"

When some people can't answer this question, it leads to me bringing up the importance of listening. Jazz is really an aural tradition, at the heart of it. No matter how complex the harmony gets or how chromatic the lines are, the best way to learn the language is to learn by ear and listen. A LOT.

If you wanna learn jazz & you gotta listen to the music. So that's the first lesson.

Go listen and find the music you LOVE. Yes, what you LOVE, not just like.

This music is difficult to learn sometimes so you better have a good reason to learn it.

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If you're interested to learn more in depth on this topic or level up your guitar playing ,music theory or songwriting or composing skills. get in touch with me for private lessons in Kuala Lumpur or worldwide via Skype/Zoom/Facetime etc.

Contact me here: http://www.azsamad.com/contact

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My new e-book, Jazz Guitar Licks and Etudes is now available:
http://www.azsamad.com/book2

My first e-book, Jazz Improvisation Uncovered is here:
http://www.azsamad.com/book

[Performances]
Zee Avi & Az Samad - Cry Me A River (Jazz/Acoustic Cover)
https://steemit.com/teammalaysia/@azsamad/zee-avi-and-az-samad-cry-me-a-river

[Music Education]
How to spot a good music teacher
https://steemit.com/teammalaysia/@azsamad/how-to-spot-a-good-music-teacher

How to write a song in 6 steps
https://steemit.com/teammalaysia/@azsamad/how-to-write-a-song-in-6-steps

How to learn music
https://steemit.com/music/@azsamad/how-to-learn-music

If we have the Internet, why do people even need guitar lessons?
https://steemit.com/education/@azsamad/if-we-have-the-internet-why-do-people-even-need-guitar-lessons

[Music Career]
I wanna be a full-time musician... should I?
https://steemit.com/teammalaysia/@azsamad/i-wanna-be-a-full-time-musician-should-i

When are you ready to perform for that big gig?
https://steemit.com/teammalaysia/@azsamad/when-are-you-ready-to-perform-for-that-big-gig