i started picking my way through jody fisher’s beginning jazz guitar. it is a very impressive introduction to jazz guitar and, more importantly, fretboard harmony.

the layout of the book is brilliant. each lesson has a segment on chords and a segment on scales. one could progress through the book in any number of ways to achieve personal goals. this is something that should be done more in guitar instructional books. i have said forever that anyone can learn to play enough guitar to be happy. it’s a very simple and democratic instrument. in short, even a true novice can sound good enough to fulfill the creative urge. but most books don’t account for someone who simply wants to play what they want to play. i think this is a good answer to that.

so what did i do this week? i worked through the first section of etudes. simple triads and scales. the scales? easy as can be (for me). the triads? there was a reason that i totally ignored the later studies of fernando sor. my fingers don’t like it. but after only a few sessions with the very simple exercise, i noted immediate benefits. my left hand is more limber and i’m thinking all over the fretboard again. this is exactly what i was looking for when i picked up this book.

i should add that many books on jazz or rock guitar will show a million different ways to play a chord without ever discussing the theory that lies just beneath the surface. that approach makes it difficult for the beginner to put the theory with the practice later. by stepping through the major, minor, augmented and diminished chords in their most basic forms, the author lays a thorough foundation for later study.

so far, i would rate this experiment a success. and after having blown through the book once very quickly (who could resist?) i feel really good about spending some real time with it. put on the white belt. returning to the humblest of pursuits will reward the patient.

also of note, i am still gluing up the braces on my soundboard. this takes a lot of time. again, i don’t have a huge pile of clamps so it’s “glue a few…wait until the next day…glue a few…wait…” i should have the last bits glued down tomorrow night. hopefully, i will have pictures for thursday’s post.