When soloing in Jazz not all notes are created equal! There are definitely certain notes that make for more interesting musical solos. This easy to understand lesson is filled with helpful, real-world tips to being a better Jazz soloist. -Steve

Name: Greg O.

City: Battle Ground, WA

Forum Username: gotto

My Gear:

Guitars:

Martin 000C-16GTE
Taylor NS32ce nylon
Fender DG8S acoustic
Yamaha 120 (Nippon Gakki) classical
Variax 69
Fender American Standard
PRS SE EG
PRS Custom 22
PRS Hollowbody II
Suhr Pro T-1
Samba (kit-made)

Amps:

Roland Cube 60
Fender Blues Jr.
Line 6 DT 25
Marshall JMP1C
Vox mini

Pedals:

Damage Control Demonizer
Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808
MXR Dyna Comp
MXR Carbon Copy
ISP Decimator
TC Electronic Polytune
Gig Fx Kilowah (signed by Johnny Hiland)
Boss FZ4 Fuzz
Amptweaker Tight Fuzz

Misc. :

Line 6 PA and several mics and other studio equipment

Favorite Artists/Bands: Sting and Police, Santana, Beatles (just about everything British 60-70′s), Tom Petty, Beach Boys, B.B. King, CSNY….. the list goes on, but these artists are at the top of my list.

Favorite style of music to play: 60-80′s rock is my favorite to listen to, but folk-rock and most recently blues has grabbed most of my playing time. I am fascinated with the genre of jazz and though my understanding of it is primitive , I enjoy learning some of the progressions and the some of the chordal possibilities.

What made you want to play music? As a young person I was surrounded by music, popular from my mom and country western from my Dad. I was not interested in 5th grade band , but my neighbor was selling his Kay acoustic for $25 and I bought it. A few months of lessons and it went into the closet . I do remember seeing the “Meet the Beatles” album while taking lessons at the music store, and somehow over the next year or so decided I needed an electric guitar. I was finally hooked.

If the house was on fire, which instrument would you grab? My PRS Hollowbody II

Favorite place to be when playing guitar: Anywhere with a musical friend.

Most delightful musical moment so far: Listening to my compositions played at my wedding in 1974. Playing at my first open jam last week.

Hobbies: Playing guitar, woodworking, exercising, travel–especially those including a musical experience.

Current Job: Retired General Dentist

If you’re like many guitarists, you don’t really think too much about the type of pick you use. But, a pick can have a major effect on the sound and the feel of playing guitar. Here are a few quick tips for finding the right pick for your playing.

1) Thinner Picks are Better for Strumming.
If you’re playing acoustic guitar that involves a lot of strumming then consider using a Jim Dunlop nylon pick .60mm. Thinner picks provide less resistance against the strings and are much more flexible to accommodate the needs of long hours of strumming. If the pick is too stiff then your arm has to work much harder to accomplish the strumming. Choose nylon picks rather than plastic. Plastic picks tend to split after extended use.

2) Thicker Picks are Better for Defined Picking.
A thicker pick is better for quick, technical, defined picking. If you want to play a blistering fast lead solo or a fast-paced jazz solo, a thicker pick is going to give you the definition and control you need. Also, some players prefer a smaller pick for fast playing. I prefer the Jim Dunlop Jazz III pick. It’s 1mm thick so it feels very solid but small enough to control easily.

3) A Pointed Edge Gives a Direct, Aggressive Sound.
The edge of the pick that strikes the strings is a major factor in how the pick sounds. The more pointed the edge, the more direct and defined your sound will be. For Rock, choose a pick with a pointed edge.

4) A Rounded Edge Gives a Warm, Round, Softer Tone.
When you desire a warm, rich, round tone, try a thick pick with a rounded picking edge. When I need that sound I reach for my Golden Gate mandolin pick. It has barely any edge at all and works great to provide an instantaneous round, smooth tone perfect for Smooth Jazz.

5) Wegen Picks Work Well for Bluegrass Flatpicking.
The great Flatpicking guitarist Russ Barenberg recommended these to me. Wegen picks are a thicker pick with a beveled, rounded edge, with a textured surface that provides a distinctive warm but defined sound. Wegen picks are handmade in the Netherlands.

6) A “Stubby” Pick Works Great When Picking on Nylon Strings.
When I’m in the studio playing nylon string guitar and need a sweet, defined line on nylon strings, I’ve found that the thick Jim Dunlop 3mm “Stubby” pick works best. It’s thickness and smooth, glassy surface provides a warm, round tone against the nylon strings.

7) For All Around Playing, Consider a Medium Nylon Pick.
If you’re like most people, you’re doing a little bit of everything as you play – strumming and single notes. For general guitar playing like this use a Jim Dunlop .73mm nylon pick. It provide enough flexibility to be comfortable strumming but is thick enough to work well on single notes. It’s a great all-around guitar pick for acoustic or electric guitars. I never leave home without it.

As with anything with guitar playing, different players will have very different preferences. These suggestions are the picks that work for me and my playing. Your needs may be different. Experiment with lots of different brands, shapes, thicknesses, and picks with different edges to find the ones that work for your playing. Finding the right pick can make all the difference in the feel and sound of your playing. Keep up the great work!

- Steve

Ever asked yourself “How should I be practicing?” or “What should I be practicing?” Here are some real world tips on what you should be doing in your practice time to get the most amount of progress in the least amount of time. -Steve

Are you up for the challenge – the Learn & Master Guitar recording challenge, that is? One of the best things you can do for your guitar learning is to record yourself. It’s amazing how much you will learn.  So each month, Learn & Master Guitar will offer a home-recording challenge. (A special thanks to fellow Learn & Master Guitar learner, Ben Bob, for the vision for this great idea.)

Here’s the idea.  Choose one of your favorite songs that go along with the theme for the month, practice and work the song up, and then record yourself playing it.  Post it up on the Learn & Master Guitar discussion board and winners will be chosen at the end of the month.

Full band, acoustic/vocal, or even instrumental versions are welcome.

The theme of this month’s challenge is:  SONGS OF THE ROAD! (Any song that sings of the road, highway, freeway or turnpike is eligible to meet this challenge.)

From “Country Roads” to the “Highway to Hell” (or to Heaven), guitars and roads just seem to go together don’t they?

To get you started, here is a list of some road songs.

We’d love to hear background info on your track, including recording gear, techniques, and any other information or excuses you’d like to add.

Get all of the information HERE at this thread on our discussion board.

So, grab your guitar, start recording, have fun, try something new, and give us something to listen to!
- Steve

Name: Benjamin R.

City: Buellton, CA

Forum Username: BenBob

My Gear:

Larrivee OM-09
Great Divide (camping guitar)
Ibanez classical
Squire Tele
Late 40′s Silvertone (Kay) Archtop (as a project)
Fretless bass
Mandolin
Homemade Cigar Box Guitars
1929 Tenor Banjo (project)
*I mostly play acoustic, but for plugging in I have a Fender FM212 and a Digitech RP355.

Favorite Artists/Bands: Lately I’ve been listening to Django Reinhardt, Willie and the Wheel, Kris Kristofferson, Big Head Todd, Brian Setzer, Cowboy Junkies, Olds Sleeper, and Owen Plant. I’ve also listened to a lot of Paul Simon, Sting, Rich Mullins, Willie Nelson, CCR, Eagles, Doors, Beach Boys, U2… so many! Most of all I like good songwriting.

My favorite fingerstyle album for many, many years has been Keaggy’s Beyond Nature. Martin Simpson’s When I Was on Horseback, and albums by Peter Finger, Pierre Bensusan, and Laurence Juber have gotten a lot of play too.

Favorite style of music to play: Mostly acoustic stuff. Country, swing, classic rock, folk and blues.

What made you want to play music? My parents both filled my childhood with music and I can’t remember a time that I didn’t love it. I have a memory of my father sitting on the font porch singing and playing his Harmony 1260 on a rainy day and I think that was when it really grabbed me.

Previous music experience: I started with accordion! I moved on to a little piano and finally guitar. I learned chords from a Simon & Garfunkel picture chord book, and then a Calvary Praise book and whatever I could find at the library. In college I took a couple of classes in music theory and recording techniques. I also worked in a high-end acoustic guitar shop (Long Beach McCabe’s/Wheatons) where I learned setup and got to see a lot of great fingerstyle players in concert. I dabbled with classical, fingerstyle, and learned bass which I played in the church band for a few years.

Last year I decided to try and fill in fundamental gaps in my playing, especially related to electric and lead guitar, so I decided to get the L&M Guitar program. I’ve enjoyed it, I’ve been learning, and the community has been a big part of keeping me motivated!

If the house was on fire, which instrument would you grab? My Larrivee OM. It was an early ’90s NAMM representative originally owned by a great guy named James Jensen who organized the concerts at the shop where I worked. He went on to become a Grammy-winning producer for the album Pink Guitar. Thanks for the guitar James! It’s still a joy every time I play it.

Favorite place to be when playing guitar: In my friend’s old farmhouse kitchen. He hosts a weekly acoustic jam that I go to as often as I can. It’s typically a few guitars, Weissenborn, mandolin, and sometimes bass, harmonica, and even fiddle. We play for a couple hours, eat pie, and play a bit more. It’s a great time and I learn so much playing there. Find a jam or start one! It’s the best.

Most delightful musical moment so far: Highest honor– I had a church friend many years ago who was diagnosed with cancer in his 30s. Brilliant, good man… a writer with a young family. He lead the music for an evening service with just him on acoustic and me on fretless bass. I don’t think we’d played together before that night, but we clicked and it was one of those magical moments. That was probably his last time leading before chemo, and he died not long after, but it’s a beautiful memory.

More recently, a friend of mine who was learning bass had a goal to play a set for his 40th birthday. We got together every week for months and made it happen at his birthday party. Thanks to his encouragement, I ventured to sing. It was great fun, and we kept getting together and played a couple of other parties too.

Hobbies: My lifelong hobby has been guitar, but I’ve also dabbled in traditional archery, astronomy, and photography.

Current Job: I.T. Administrator

Name: Perry W.

City: Fort Worth, TX

Forum Username: Scratching a Itch

My Gear:

Gibson ES 335 sunburst
Gibson Les Paul Standard
G&L Legacy electric
Fender American Deluxe Strat with soft V neck

Seagull S6 Original (acoustic)
*I currently have my eyes on a Martin D28
(haggling with my wife on this one)

Steinway grand piano
Roland RD 700 GX keyboard
Multiple harmonicas

Favorite Artists/Bands: My favorite of all time would be The Eagles.  Motown music in general. Country music in general.

Favorite style of music to play: I just care about playing songs that are pretty to listen to.

What made you want to play music? Introduced to music by an older cousin in elementary school.

Previous music experience: I have played the piano for about 50 years.

If the house was on fire, which instrument would you grab? The Steinway

Favorite place to be when playing guitar: On my back porch

Most delightful musical moment so far: Highest honor– I was invited to give a piano concert / recital at the Hemisfair in San Antonio, Texas in (I think) the late 1960′s.  I have also been honored in the past to have played the piano at weddings.  Most delightful moments–  When my wife used to ask me to play her to sleep with my piano at night.  She said it gave her sweet dreams.  On the other hand, my guitar gives her nightmares.

Hobbies: Traveling, gardening, playing golf, going to good sports events, Scuba diving (Master Scuba Diver), Going to movies, MUSIC!  Too many to list.  I have never been able to just sit still.

Current Job: Retired — practiced as a doctor/ physician for 35 years