Nervouspace

I know it makes you a better/more knowledgeable guitarist but I don't know... I took Jazz lessons, Played in my high school Jazz band. I didn't completely suck at it. I had a general feel for playing it but I hate it. I don't know why It just doesn't appeal to me at all. Some songs and solos yes, but most of them not really at all especially not the standards. What should I do? = ( I don't want to feel like I'm missing out as a guitarist.

Dayn

If you don't want to play it, don't. Do something that interests you. I tried to get into blues, but I thought it was boring, so I didn't. You'll have more fun if you actually do what you want.

Who knows, maybe you'll attain a greater appreciation for it later.

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jazz_rock_feel

How could it be bad? If it's not your thing, it's not your thing.

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cdgraves

Well it's a staple genre if you're considering music professionally, in which case you should probably bone up on standards even if you don't like like them much (they will grow on you). If you want to be able to sound actually jazzy, there's really no shortcuts. Just play, listen, and transcribe jazz tunes. The phrasing is really key.

If you're interested in jazz-related skills but don't like jazz per se, you can still apply a similar approach to rock, pop, and folk styles. Playing over key changes is common to all genres, but is pronounced in jazz because you're changing harmonies very rapidly. Practice dealing with key and harmony changes by playing chord tones (try to start each bar on the 3rd of the chord for example) or voice leading lines (stepwise patterns of chord tones).

Playing through changes is a really valuable skill, even if you don't inflect it as jazz. Listen to any good old bluegrass standard and you'll hear mile-a-minute changes with mandolin and fiddle players keeping right on it, just like any jazz player.

Edit:

you might also check out more modern jazz than the standards of the 40s and 50s. My favorite jazz album is Light As A Feather, which is all Latin Fusion, and it contains some of the most dense, intense, and beautifully executed jazz you will ever hear. Listen to a player with some serious musical balls like Coltrane - the intensity of a good Coltrane should appeal to any rocker. Al DiMeola's Casino is a must-listen for any guitarist.

The modern stuff is way harder to play convincingly than a lot of the old standards, but it's a good window into what kinds of sounds you can achieve in the genre.

macashmack

There is no good or bad in music. Except DJ's.

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Modes and scales are intelligent and useful. Start learning them. Seriously.

chronowarp

You sound like you're 11 and don't have a strong grasp of music.

Here's a novel concept: Play and listen to music that you enjoy.

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captainsnazz

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Hail

i'm gonna cut you up you insignificant little cockmongler

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vIsIbleNoIsE

jazz is super broad!

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AWACS

Your musical tastes will change. they're not jazz, but I didn't like Protest the Hero for the longest time. Then after a year of not listening to them, I did, and I really enjoyed them. Saw the more musical aspects of their music behind their hit-or-miss vocals.

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Nervouspace

Yeah I suppose I wont stress it too much thanks for the replies

thegloaming

Jazz was an acquired taste for me.

When I was first getting into guitar seriously back in high school, I kind of tried to force myself to get into jazz because I thought it was necessary for the proper study of music. I tried listening to a Thelonious Monk album, and basically thought it was the most weird and dissonant thing I had ever heard. I didn't really think about jazz much for the next year or so, until I was given Kind of Blue, by Miles Davis. That was a much more lyrical music, and I was able to relate to it much easier. I then went back to the Monk album, and that time around greatly enjoyed it. After that I set about transcribing solos, learning tunes, listening to a shit ton more artists, and basically have just been doing that ever since.

I guess my point is that your ear will change over time. Also, you might want to try a more accessible genre of jazz to first get used to it.

At the very end of the day though, play what you like, and if you really don't like something then it isn't for you. To be a good musician you aren't required to play a certain, academically accepted genres.

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Hail

some people here seem to think django isn't real jazz

also, mingus big band did it for me

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Sleepy__Head

Yes, and you should be ashamed of yourself.

Shame on you.

Shame!

Shaaaaame!

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Spaztikko

I agree. We were so ready to come and hang out with you today, but now I just want to punch your head. With another guy's head.

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AlanHB

I dont have an issue with it. I know people who studied jazz at university and it still wasnt their thing.

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Sethis

It's funny when people think they absolutely have to know Jazz. Who cares? It makes me sad that we often forget why most of us started listening to music or playing our instruments. It's because we had fun! We didn't have to do anything. Take that away and music is empty, boring and tasteless, even if it's jazz.

Woffelz

I'm not a the greatest fan of it either [apart from not liking the music itself, I suck at playing jazz]. Also, no - there's nothing wrong with not liking it.

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cdgraves

Eh, it can matter a lot depending on your musical aspirations. Anyone who wants to play music at the professional level needs either be an unmitigated badass at one or two things, or generally good at a lot of things.

Learning things that you don't exactly find inspiring is often a path to greater inspiration and creativity. I'm primarily a rock player, but my experience with jazz and classical music has opened up my rock playing tremendously.

Personally, I try to avoid thinking in terms of music I do or don't like, and focus on learning and applying new skills. As long as you practice diligently, you'll never be worse for learning new things.

If you don't plan on playing anything bigger than a bar, then by all means focus on what you know you enjoy.