Patric_Bernard

I love jazz, and i love hearing people jam to 12 bar blues, and shuffles and all of the different styles of impov. My question to you is, Where do I start? I most often start trying to learn scales and theory (which I do know, its the applying it to chords that I'm bad at), and I get frustrated with all the different chord changes that come up. How do you know what to play in certain keys? I know that you can play anything in the given key, but what else can you play?

Also, what are some good books for learning jazz theory?

mrmusicnotes

Hi Patrick, Some good books for jazz learning are JAZZ THEORY by Mark Levine,IMPROVISING JAZZ by Jerry Coker,JAMEY AEBERSOLD VOL. 1 & 2.You will need a good Fake book(THE REAL BOOK OF JAZZ Bb edition).You are right in respect of learning all the scales, patterns and licks in all the various keys that pertain to the the changes.These are your basics tools to begin.To really get good at it all you have to do is have a passion for it. You can't dabble in it you have to be engrossed in it.It takes manny years to take an idea and instantly transfer it to your horn.Listening to the likes of Lee Morgon, Freddie Hubbard, Dexter Gordon ect. is probably the most important aspect of learning.I suggest you enroll yourself in a JAZZ workshop where you will get to work through a handful of tunes each semester with your teacher and fellow studens.Because Jazz is not popular,you will find a lot of great teachers in the various conservatorys.Good Luck.

trjeam

listen, learn scales, learn patterns in all keys/modes, transcribe, learn tunes, and memorize as much as possible.

the aebersold books are great and so is the program band in a box... Coker's jazz patterns, and jazztrumpetsolos.com (along with other internet sites) are all great resources.

this short and list may sound simple but it's a lot to work on. I find the diffuculty in practicing jazz is doing it in a organize and effective manner (meaning that's it's tought finding the mix between learning jazz and working on trumpet mechanics).. this is just me though..

Bill McCloskey

I've read all the books.

The best in my opinion is Jerry Bergonzi series.

ARTIE RULES

learn one a day:
JAZZ TRUMPET TRANSCRIPTIONS Jacques Gilbert

JustinSmith

You can get Jamey Abersold Volume 56, "Maiden Voyage". It is a book with 14 relatively easy tunes to improvise on. Each tune has scales the go with each of the chords. On a very basic level, this will get you playing right away, with the recorded rhythm section.

Patric_Bernard

I think thats in the Smart Music Studio. I think my problem is i need to learn more rhythms. I usually get stuck onto one rhythm and just improvise off of that instead of the origional piece or even off of it.

wlrube

Books are great, but the most important thing is LISTENING TO JAZZ RECORDINGS. A lot of beginning improvisers can play scales and licks like mad but have no soul because they don't listen -- they don't dig the music. Know your major/minor scales and listen to a lot of jazz, then from there you can build up your knowledge of chord/scale theory.

Here's a short list of some good musicians to listen to:

Charlie Parker (alto sax)
Miles Davis (trumpet)
Art Blakey (drums)
Freddie Hubbard (trumpet)
Sonny Rollins (tenor sax)
Clifford Brown (trumpet)
Stan Getz (tenor sax)
Sonny Stitt (alto sax)
Bill Evans (piano)
Dexter Gordon (tenor sax)
Lee Morgan (trumpet)
Woody Shaw (trumpet)
Horace Silver (piano)

flugelgirl

Listening is always your most important tool, but another important one is analyzing! Don't just play those transcriptions, figure out where they're going melodicaly and harmonically! Once you get a little better at it, do it with your own solos, too - I had a teacher who would make me stop and write down licks that I played that I liked during a practice session and learn them in all 12 keys. that way, you have some patterns that come from YOUR head and not just anywhere! Good Luck - it takes years, but it's worth it to be able to express yourself this way - I can't think of anything better!

Mattrumpet

Pat Harbison's book is really great.
Buy Pat Harbison: Technical Studies For The Modern Trumpet online today!
It won't replace listening, but it is a really great tool. Also, training your ear/fingers to cooperate to the point where you will be able to just play what you hear in your head is one of the hardest but most important things. Playing simple melodies like happy bday and learning it in many different keys is essential to getting that ear working.