Jazz Blues Soloing for Guitar: A Guitarist's Guide to Playing The Changes on a Jazz Blues (Learn How to Play Jazz Guitar)

I have been playing jazz blues for a few years and have bought tons of books and used even more websites. So far, however, this book is the best I've found for getting a player into the jazz blues style. It's a bit more bebop oriented than swing oriented but I suspect most players are looking for the former. That said, this book doesn't just show you scales or licks, it shows you how to use the scales to create licks. It begins the process of getting you to think about licks in terms of melodies and intervals and demystifies the process of playing the changes. If you're the kind of guitar player whose blues playing is largely limited to minor pentatonics and the blues scale (or even if you've already figured out how to incorporate the major/Mixolydian into your blues playing), then this is the perfect book for getting you moving forward.Best of all, Alexander has included backing tracks that target each of the changes in a standard jazz blues, so you can practice making I-IV change, the I-VI change, and the II-V change. It's such a simple and logical idea that I'm surprised I haven't seen it done in other places. But that's indicative of the book and Alexanders' other books as well. He approaches the material in a logical and very practical way that will benefit the readers immediately while also providing a long-term foundation for further developing your playing.If you're looking at instruction books on jazz blues here on Amazon, I'd suggest starting with Alexander. After that, other books like All Blues for Jazz Guitar, the Herb Ellis books, and even John Ganape's "Jazzin' the Blues" will be much more fruitful and valuable. The same goes for the videos by Herb Ellis and Emily Remler.

I've been playing guitar for several years, with a personal goal of learning to play jazz. I found plenty of websites with videos and free lessons. They're helpful, but I felt I needed something more structured to help me progress. Enter the Fundamental Changes series by Joseph Alexander. His lessons are designed to teach one small skill, and then to build on that skill. The result for me has been that I am able to learn major jazz concepts without the feeling of being overwhelmed at the start. With patience, practice and a small investment in time I've found that playing over the ii V I progression is becoming natural for me, and that's incredibly exciting for a newcomer to the guitar. I enjoy working through the examples he provides, and I've begun to write some of my own licks as suggested in the material. They're simple, of course, but there's a great satisfaction in playing something you've created. Joseph is also very responsive to emailed questions, and I appreciate that very much. I have purchased six of his books, and I've been equally satisfied with each one. They are well written, and I would highly recommend them to anyone who would like to learn to play jazz on the guitar.

I really like Mr. Alexander's teaching style in this book. He starts with a simple blues chord progression, quickly advancing to a more advanced jazz blues progression, and then shows how to play inversions of those chords on the top four strings of the guitar, implying that a bass player will cover the root. He then starts with simple arpeggios that will ensure you really lock in those chord tones before moving to more advanced scales and arpeggios. This isn't really a lick book, although there are plenty of good ideas here. Rather, he teaches how to use these scales and arpeggios by building them; simply at first and then with increasing complexity. It is the way a really good teacher would teach a dedicated student. The whole book is in the key of B-flat. Obviously, the implication is that the student is a dedicated enough player to play these examples in all keys. I play each progression, arpeggio and scale through the circle of 5ths until I've completed all the keys. By then, you really have these lines under your fingers. After finishing this book, you should have a very good handle on jazz blues guitar playing. I wish all method books were this comprehensive. I look forward to checking out more of his books.

There is no such thing as "the best" when it comes to teaching guitar or anything else for that matter. There are lots of different ways to teach and learn--what's important is finding what fits for you. Mr. Alexander takes the learner step by step from the "bottom up." For me, his approach has been the most effective for my own growth and development on guitar. He gives progressive "assignments" that combine intellectual/theoretical understanding, semi-rote (but not boring) exercises that build directly toward the goal of the book, whether it is his ii V I, blues, etc. tomes. I find there is no time or effort wasted toward the target goal of each book.I highly recommend his approach for others who feel overwhelmed by scale memorization books, or lick memorization books, etc. Note that these approaches DO work for some people (my own instructor included) -- but don't work for everyone.For me, Mr. Alexander's approach provides the framework for understanding and creating your own licks based upon the underlying logic and art that the pros use.

This is a great book either to go through with an instructor or just by yourself. The presentation of material is clear and well laid out so that each concept builds on the next as your understanding and musicianship increase. It definitely pays to get the concepts down before moving to the next section. I've been playing for quite a long time and have way too many teaching books. Some I get through and some I don't. But Joseph Alexander's books really work and the progress I see keeps me engaged to completion. I've already completed the Fretboard Fluency book and it greatly helped with my dexterity and practice efficiency. I’m about halfway through his Jazz Blues book and my improved solos sound a lot more interesting than they did a few months ago. I highly recommend his books.

I got this on Kindle and have many from the Fundamental Changes library. This is a great value for money book.My only feedback is that it would be nice/more beneficial to have the exercises move key in different chapters concepts/backing tracks. I'm now very happy and fluid in B Flat, but feel a little stuck there. So you need to make a real effort to practice in other popular keys - E Flat - C - G etc for each section. Don't get stuck like I have!!There are some great options in this book, covering concepts such as soloing over dominant 7 chords with diminished scales, and playing modes like the Phyrgian Dominant over the Dominant 7 variations. It doesn't get too bogged down with theory, more providing you with a bit of a toolkit to use across the jazz blues format. Definitely recommended at a fiver on kindle it is a ton of easily read, well presented material with lots of accompanying backing tracks and examples.

I have just finished 5 years of University studying creative guitar concepts and before joining I must admit, Jazz just wasn't my thing.Over the years that all changed and developing an understanding of basic concepts such ii V I progressions and Bebop lead playing has opened my playing right up and added to my abilities as a professional musician.This book is something that I needed as a constant reference and a way to keep progressing in my Jazz guitar studies.Very well written, clear and easy to understand and well worth having.10 out of 10 from me.

As with my experience of other Fundamental Changes book, this seems well laid out and concise. And it's nice to have a book rather than digital copy!I'm only a couple of chapters into the content & consider myself an intermediate player - I feel there is a certain amount of assumed knowledge so far, and as referenced in the book (and to the detriment of my credit card) there are other books in the series that provide more in-depth explanations of that assumed knowledge. I'm studying these in conjunction with online guitar & theory courses, so for me, they're just more pieces of the musical jigsaw.The accompanying audio tracks were very easy to download, and compliment the book excellently.I would definitely recommend these.

This is an excellent way to move from blues to jazz with the lessons organised into bite-size chunks. As a guitar player of many years, there is a temptation to skip to tasty bits of this book that catch the eye. Whilst this produces some results there is no doubt in my mind that it it worth working your way through the book methodically so that you gain a complete understanding. It is carefully planned and well thought out. Outstanding value for money in Kindle format as well. Wholeheartedly recommended and I shall be buying more. Wish I'd discovered them before!

This is a great book it reveals some fundamental jazz methods. If you follow all the advise and guidance in this book and practice, you will definitely be able to learn some nifty jazz playing. The rest is up to you. You cant go wrong if you listen to Wes Montgomery and Emily Remler, this will enhance your melodic ear. Thanks so much for this book and the backing tracks are great too.