Play Jazz Now

[Doris Edward]

Getting that jazz sound can be a complex process. It is impossible to
say who have the greatest jazz tone and sound as we are all different
and are subjective in our listening. What I'm about to share with you
acts as a general guide in the area of getting that jazz tone and
should be improvise upon should you feel like it.
The Guitar
For an authentic jazz tone, you should have a semi-acoustic hollow
body electric guitar. The Gibson ES-175 or the Gretch Tennessean can
run into thousands of dollars but there are also excellent entry
models such as Ibanez Artcore line of guitars. Guitars by Yamaha or
Guild also make great entry level semi-acoustics. Epiphone, owned by
Gibson are designed for the aspiring musician to own a Gibson but lack
the budget to do so. What you get is a fantastic sounding guitar made
by Gibson but at a much much lower price. Look for a guitar which
provides a clean tone with plenty of sustain.
Jazz guitar players often plays with a rich mellow tone that is
suitable for the style. Roll off the treble on your guitar's controls
to achieve that.
A Jazz Guitar Amplifier
The playing style and sound that you wish to attain will determine the
amp you need. Very often, traditional jazz guitar players uses solid
state amps that can produce a clean sound which compliment acoustic
arch-top guitars. For others seeking a more distorted sound, a tube
amp might be just what you are looking for. Many jazz guitarists use a
Fender Pro or a Polytone. On board effects maybe another requirement
you are looking for. This can range from a overdrive channel to a
reverb channel.
Effect Pedals
A hint of reverb is all you need if you are one who does not want to
meddle with effects. However, many modern jazz guitar players today
includes an arsenal of effect pedals in their effects chain ranging
from chorus, overdrive, distortion and even wah-wah pedal. A word of
advice. When using effects, ensure they compliment your playing style
and that you retain that "clarity" in your tone. Many guitar players
often make the mistake of cluttering their guitar tone with too many
effects which results in a poor quality muddy sound.
In summary, listen, listen, listen. Listen to recordings by all the
jazz guitarists. Listen closely to their sounds and try to emulate
them. When done enough, you'll be able to find that unique tone in
your guitar sound which you have crafted. Congratulations! You have
found your very own signature sound!