How to start?

Hi folks

I would like to share how it is working for me.
I too have lots of sources, and besides the few ones you can discard immediatelly at a glance, there are hundreds manuals that you will have to try out.
I usually think that I don't loose anything in learning from different sources.

So here is how it happened with me: I had classical backgorund and I wanted to dive into jazz. So I started learning from lessons on the internet, which didn't work out because the materials were very "disconnected"

I started Joe Pass method, and I learned something useful, though I had to change some things to work for me. At a point I felt there was no point in going on and I started another method: Mickey Baker. After more than one year I am still satisfied with it, because the exercises really sounds like Jazz, and I feel I keep evolving.

So I suggest for start getting an old renowned book, like Mickey Baker or Mel Bay or Mark Levine's (I only know Baker's).
At the same time keep always working on standards (Real Book) and make your own compositions.

Seems easy, no?

---Well, now I just started having lessons with jazz great Pedro Madaleno.

Scales and patterns and fingers

Hi m78w and all,

I agree that a good instrumentist has to go through the scales, in order to improvise successfully and fluently.

Regarding the patterns, I have been dealing with this subject for some time now, and I have built the patterns and fingerings I find most useful. There is one difference from your approach, I always go down through all 6 strings, not only 1 octave.

I also try to learn 8 patterns for each scale, following Joe Pass method. He called the form C, A, G, E, intermediate and D (CAGED System), plus 2 slightly different that A* and E*

I will put the charts for C ionian. You have the fingering I prefer, and on bold is the root:

C major (ionian)

C form (open strings)
[chord]

0-1-----3-------------------------
0-1-----3-------------------------
0----2----------------------------
0----2--3-------------------------
0----2--3-------------------------
0-1-----3-------------------------

[/chord]

A form
[chord]

-1-----2-----4-------------------
-------2-----4-------------------
----1-----3--4-------------------
----1--2-----4-------------------
----1--2-----4-------------------
-1-----2-----4-------------------

[/chord]

A* form (note the simmetry on first 3 strings!)
[chord]

-------1-----2-----4-------------
-------------2--3----------------
----------1--2-----4-------------
-------1-----2-----4-------------
-------1-----2-----4-------------
-------1-----2-----4-------------

[/chord]


G form
[chord]

-------------1-----3--4----------
-------------1--2-----4----------
----------1--2-----4-------------
-------------1-----3-------------
-------------1-----3--4----------
-------------1-----3--4----------

[/chord]


E form
[chord]

-------------------1--2-----4----
----------------------2-----4----
-------------------1-----3--4----
-------------------1-----3--4----
-------------------1--2-----4----
-------------------1--2-----4----

[/chord]


E* form (again, note the symmetry)
[chord]

----------------------1-----2-----4-------
----------------------------2-----4-------
-------------------------1--2-----4-------
-------------------------1--2-----4-------
----------------------1-----2-----4-------
----------------------1-----2-----4-------

[/chord]

intermediate form
[chord]

----------------------------1-----3--4----
----------------------------------2--3----
----------------------------1-----2-----4-
----------------------------1-----2-----4-
------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------

[/chord]


D form
[chord]

----------------------------------1--2-----4-------
----------------------------------1--2-----4-------
----------------------------------1-----3----------
----------------------------------1-----3--4-------
----------------------------------1-----3--4-------
----------------------------------1--2-----4-------

[/chord]

Then I made the same for minor natural, dorian, bebop, harmonic minor, and some others (the most easy ones)...

Hey, pros, I wellcome comments on the patterns, the fingers, the approach, etc.