Best Guitar Lessons

Three of my video discussing the "best guitar lessons". Improve your playing by planning your practice, getting a good teacher and practicing jazz guitar daily.

Jazz Guitar Transcriptions : How To VIDEO

A discussion on the transcription process for jazz musicians. As per a request by Jay Green, a visitor of the website. In this video, I discuss preparation, actual transcription and what to do after you've lifted something from a recording. Those are all the tips I can think of, and they all come from my personal experience of learning solos, songs, compings, arrangements, rhythms (etc.) from great jazz recordings. I hope you find this useful and please, let me know if you have any questions.

Devising Your Practice Routine

Follow the process (take pen and paper!)

Devising your own routine by planning ahead, understanding your goals, assessing your weaknesses and being precise in setting your musical habit. Planning ahead is one of the best guitar lessons you can ever learn.

1 - Goals (big picture!)
2 - Topics (from your weaknesses)
3 - Habit (establish a schedule)
4 - Routine (create detailed action plan)
5 - Log (keep track of your progress)

Have fun!

What to look for in a private teacher

Looking for private guitar instruction?

Make sure that you get the most out of it. A good teacher should be :

• In a good location (close to your home)
• Available and flexible schedule-wise
• Experienced and knowledgeable
• Dedicated
• Interested in your progress
• etc.

The best guitar lessons are the ones that really help you move forward (in music and in life). The perfect teacher, to me, is the one that shows you much more than scales, chords, licks and tunes...

Look for a private teacher that inspires and motivates you to "go and get it". A mentor that picks your curiosity and gives you a sense of direction.

Also, remember that in private instruction, the spotlight is on you : you're learning, searching and progressing... for your own sake!

Unlike books and articles, the private teacher will actually care for your playing and your progress!

Where to get the best guitar lessons? Find a good teacher that suits your own needs today.

How To Practice Jazz

How to improve at jazz guitar ? (and practice jazz improvisation in general)

*Don't let yourself be discouraged!*

1- Spend time with your instrument

Personally, I had a harder time in the beginnings. I cherished every little improvements that appeared in my playing, little step by little step. It made me realize that the efforts are always rewarded, one way or another...

Work at it, and you'll get results. Spend the necessary time...

2-Planning

Like any project you need to have a "direction". Know where you're going and why you're practicing THIS thing right now.

It doesn't matter if you change "paths" along the way : simply aim somewhere useful. (examples : "I want to play convincingly on 12-bar blues" or "I need to memorize 10 standards" or "I will do this or that transcriptions from Wes" etc.)

3-Step by Step Thinking Long-Term

It takes a significant time investment to play an musical instrument better. Think Long-Term and make every minute count : 30 minutes today, then an hour tomorrow, 15 minutes over the weekend, etc.

All of that SUMS UP! That's how you created the player that you are now (and creating the one that you'll soon be.)

4- By Leaps

You'll notice changes in your playing by "jumps" rather than by a steady upwards curve. The longer you've been "stuck" somewhere, the closer you are to your next "Leap" in improvement!

Keep going! You'll wake up one morning and do things on your instrument that you never taught you could! That is the sum of all your practice sessions. Do you believe in miracles?