Book and CD
Hal Leonard Corporation
www.halleonard.com

There are a vast number of jazz guitar instructional books available today making it easy to spend a large amount of money garnering bits and pieces of information from each. Schroedl has been able to compile most of this information into one book. He covers such topics as providing a definition of jazz, presenting a "who's who" of the jazz guitar field, equipment choices and performance essentials.

The first part of the book describes and discusses each subcategory of jazz. A short explanation of dixieland, swing, bebop, cool jazz, free jazz, and modern day fusion are put in plain words. He offers a list of recommended artists to listen to that is extensive but not overwhelming. From George Benson and Tal Farlow to Mike Stern and Pat Metheny, Schroedl's suggestions run the gamut of fine players each different in their approaches to guitar and at the top of their individual genre.

In his section on jazz performance, the general format of songs is presented. Codas, intros and endings, and even trading fours are included in the exposition of the approach taken by most modern players in developing the music from its basic melody. Doing this enables the reader to begin thinking about the importance of memorizing the actual form of the tunes they play.

Schroedl then explains the role of the guitarist in different musical settings. The content of this unique chapter is overlooked by many authors yet is critical to novice players. Knowing how to adjust when working with a piano, how to interact with horns and other melody instruments, and the proper way to accompany a vocalist are all vital skills. Successful and popular guitarists have these considerations foremost in their minds and that knowledge and respect for other musicians leads to true success in group playing.

The discussion on equipment and sound explains the most common choices of jazz guitars and amplifiers. While this is subjective at best, Schroedl's opinion is based on his experience as a top-level guitarist. This information can be invaluable to the player transitioning into jazz.

The technical instruction section begins with well ordered chordal studies -- the critical starting point for any serious student of improvisation. He then moves to common chord progressions and different comping styles. Various accompaniment styles are played with various jazz standards on the CD. Once the ear and hands are comfortable with the necessary foundational tools, improvisational lines are discussed and developed. Schroedl covers eight soloing styles including Bossa, Swing, Mainstream, Bop, Bebop, and Ballad.

Finishing with a study of creating chord melody arrangements, reharmonization, and intros and endings, this book is truly a complete course of study for any guitarist interested in developing their jazz skills. Easy to follow and very reasonably priced ($14.95 retail), Jazz Guitar is highly recommended for self-study or with an instructor.

Related link
Jazz Guitar by Jeff Schroedl on the Hal Leonard website
Jazz Guitar by Jeff Schroedl on Amazon.com