I have played guitar since high school, have an old Epiphone. I am looking to upgrade soon, have looked at a couple of Takamines myself, coldfuse. Any other recommendations?

I also have a Yamaha electric, Ibanez bass to round out the strings.

I play piano, although not very well, only lessons for two years. At least I can better understand what is happening in a piece of music.I have a Technics digital with a built-in MIDI.

I also sing, vocally trained for years. I have been told I have creative gift for writing, so I am planning on doing some musical composition during the summer.

Posting here because I want this topic to continue.

I play a guitar...almost. Both of mine are too big to handle right. Some day I will run across the perfect, narrow neck, acoustic or electric...or GO DOBRO!

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Originally posted by VelvetVoice:
I have played guitar since high school, have an old Epiphone. I am looking to upgrade soon, have looked at a couple of Takamines myself, coldfuse. Any other recommendations?

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For the money, the best looking and playing acoustic I have seen in the last couple of years is an Alvarez AD60CK acoustic/electric cutaway with koa wood, purchased by my son last year for under $400 (discounted).

You might want to check Music 123 in the Answer Pool Gift Shoppe for some potential selections. There is a similar Alvarez for sale in black, a model AD60SBCK, discounted to $349, which I am thinking about getting for myself. I personally prefer to play the instrument first; however, I have been in contact with them about an Ibanez electric not shown on their pages and have found them to be extremely helpful and responsive. They also have a price guarantee that can't be beat!

You might prefer a Takamine, Gibson, Fender, etc. I simply feel like the feel of the fretboard and neck, tonal quality, workmanship and electronics on the Alvarez models described, finding them to be the equal of guitars at twice the price.

Now, if I could only sing like you do...!

I get a catalog from Musicians Friend and have only bought a few things from them but had friends who spent lots on their gear. This is the ultimate Wish Book for me. The inventory and prices change weekly. They have e-mail updates as well. Got my one and only wallpaper from this site. Musicians Friend

I`ve been playing piano for five years now, starting at 13. Then, while keeping that up, I took interested in joining the school orchestra, so I learned how to play the stand-up bass, and thanks to piano, I was able to catch on to join the advanced orchestra after two weeks! One of my favorite moments in Middle school. I started singing in the second semester of my freshman year in high school, and turned out to be a strong bass. So I love singing all kinds of music. I haven`t played my stand-up bass in about 2 years, but I plan on taking it up again, OR switching to bass guitar. Not sure. I`ve been in Japan for a year now, so I haven`t been able to keep up anything timewise, but I have less than a month left over here, so I plan on getting right back on everything. Especially piano. Does anyone know any good methods for teaching yourself how to play jazz music? Piano or Bass, either one.

I play at the guitar, but the best thing I ever did for the instrument was to teach my son. He's surpassed me to the point that I don't even play anymore, I just sing with him.

Been playing the trumpet for 12 years!! And that's pretty good since I'm only 19. Now I play in a band that plays spanish music.

if you're really serious about learning to play jazz piano ,here are a few ideas to get you started.
First,get yourself a good local teacher who actually plays jazz.If none is available ,go to your nearest music store and pick up or order a jazz "fake Book" containing all of the good jazz standards.There are also several sites on the internet where you can download the chord changes to many of these tunes.
Most important, however, is for you to learn how to build the various types of chords[major,minor,dominant 7ths,augmented and diminished and their entensions[6th,7ths,9ths,
sharp 5s ,flat 5s,sharp 9ths and flat 9ths,13ths.etc.]
Next learn about the cycle[or circle] of 4ths.
example:Cto F to Bb toEb to Ab to Db to Gb toB to E to A to D to G to C.
Next learn how to playI...VI...II..V in all keys.Then examine how may time this chord sequence occurs in Jazz Standards.In this way you'll learn the Form that many Jazz Standards use.
And don't forget to learn the chord sequence to the Blues as many Jazz and Bebop tunes are based on the Blues.
This should get you started.One more thing,start to find the licks or lines that you hear in your head.Try to find them on the piano and then incorporate them into your jazz improvisations.This way you will find your own unique jazz voice.
Pick up some tapes or CDs of the piano players you admire and try to copy some of their stuff.
Start with Oscar Peterson...he'll keep you busy for the rest of your life.
Good luck!!!

I am now taking classical guitar lessons from our piano teacher's husband! Yahoo!!!!

I love playing the piano. Most everything I play has been self taught. I am pretty good at playing by ear. I tried taking piano lessons twice but just don't have the patience. I used to play in my church off and on. When I moved out here to the Oregon Coast, I had to sell my beloved piano. (no room for it)

I haven't been able to play the piano in oh...about 5 years now at least and I miss it terribly. What I wouldn't give to tickle those ivories again!! If I ever do get another piano, I want an electric piano. My old church had one and it was really nice.

I can sing too, kinda. I mean I get nervous in front of crowds so I don't. I sang a couple of times in my church and that was it. I've never even done kareoke...again, I get too nervous. But I have had alot of people tell me what a fine singing voice I have. Anywhoo...

I started my first Piano Lessons at 6 years of age and continued through high school until I was 19 years of age. I developed an interest in composing when I was 14. When I completed my active duty from the Navy I went to two different junior colleges to study composition and theory.

I also play the recorder (somewhat)!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Paul,

-Behave yourself! Asking someone to learn how to play jazz by listening to Oscar Peterson is like giving a novice physics student a copy of Einstein's Theory of Relativity and telling him he'll understand physics when he's digested it!
I recommend the jazz course designed by The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music at:- www.abrsm.ac.uk. They use books & CD's to teach from basic jazz skills to a fairly advanced level. Well worth the money.

Just click on the address above and type "Jazz" in the search box.

Interesting how this thread seem to stop & start! I wonder what triggers the sporadic activity...?

Ritzmar:
I suggested Oscar Peterson as a jazz role model[to listen to and try to emulate] because I can't think of another jazz pianist who swings harder,plays bluesier,or plays prettier ballads than Oscar Peterson.
I also suggested many other things to do to help a novice get started.But,by listening to Oscar,he[or she] would hear the sounds of an expert and could start to emulate those sounds.
Don't forget Oscar started by emulating Art Tatum and Nat Cole[by his own admission].Fats Waller learned at the feet of James P.Johnson.Monty Alexander and Paul Smith learned by listening to and imitating Oscar Peterson.Even England's own George Shearing admits that he picked up his locked hands style from Lionel Hampton's piano man,Milt Buckner.So we all learn by listening to and copying from others ,We pick up little things from each one and incorporate them into what eventually becomes our own voice,or style.
I wasn't really asking a beginner to jump into the deep end of the swimming pool.

Don't take me too seriously, Hippo! I know what you are saying; you seem really to know your stuff in this field, far more than I do; and of course Art & Oscar are the sine qua non of the piano jazz-playing world. I have emailed Lungbutter with a small suggestion. My only (tiny) reservation about Oscar is that I feel that he rarely uses three notes where 30,000 will do(!) Having said that, I used to have a record (old story; lent it out; never got it back) called "We Get Requests" with Ed Thigpen & Ray Brown where Oscar played so delicately and with such taste that it was a rare treasure to experience...
PS Agree 110% about the guitar. Never managed it! But have you noticed that a particular dischord which sounds unacceptable on the piano can be really beautiful when executed on guitar; even though the exact notes are played at the identical pitch? Vive la difference!

First of all I have to say that some of the posts on here are really long. I think it is awesome that so many people love music enough to have that much to say! Anyway, to answer the question, I have been playing the piano since I was six which is around 11 years. I have also been playing the trombone since I was nine (that's 8 years for you mathemiticians). I've tried some other things breifly namely: marimba, melophone, flute(man I stunk at that), trumpet, and organ.

Ritzmar:
If you want to replace your copy of Oscar Peterson's"We Get Requests" try contacting Jazz Heritage Society at P.O.Box 398 Oakhurst,NJ 07755-0398 or online at www.jazzheritage.com
That's where I got mine[a cassette] ,if that doesn't work send me your mailing address and I'll send you my copy[no obligation].I've got a slew of Oscar's stuff so I won't really miss it.
Your right about Oscar's occasional tendency to use too many notes,but that's the curse of those who have too much technique.But John Lewis of the Modern Jazz Quartet often used too few notes,Different strokes for different folks,I guess.
As far as dissonant chords are concerned I liked to use the dominant 7th chord[C7th] with C in the bass,but E,G,and Eb[bottom to top] for a good bluesie sound,which works on both piano and guitar.

Cheers, Hippo; I really appreciate that! I'll try your site first, and let you know how I get on. Incidentally, I also used to have a (poor quality copy) of Oscar with Joe Pass and Nils Pederson (no drums!!!!!!!!!!!) which was live and stunning. How any musicians, even ones as great as these could play together at that speed with no percussion at all, and with such spot-on timing in front of a live audience, to that standard, beggars belief. I think only regular players know how dependent we are on the shed-builder when the chips are really down!
PS Yes, that voicing of the flattened 10th is a great sound...

Abish; should you ever want to know anything about classical music, post me in that section and I'll do my best to answer it. If it's jazz, The One Above (^)is your guiding light...

Hippo:- hop to "Discussion Room"!

I've never taken the time to learn anything other than woodwinds. I can play:

clarinet
bass clarinet
contra clarinet
alto sax

I actually marched a bass clarinet an entire football season-- that was a job!