1st ever jazz composition

[tubenit]

I don't know music theory nor can I read music other then chord notation.  AND I've had a goal of learning maybe a dozen jazz songs someday.  On my way to achieving that slowly.

This is my very first attempt ever at writing a jazz composition.  Other then the first 4 chords of the song, the rest of it is what I heard in my head and tried to put down.   I've got the chord sheet attached here.

https://www.soundclick.com/artist/default.cfm?bandid=860798&content=music

I'd love some feedback as to whether the chord progression makes sense especially IF you know jazz or theory.   

The guitar solo/lead sounds pretty weak but I'm just in the process of beginning to learn arpeggios. 

Even if it's an OUCH, I'd appreciate your thoughts.   Thanks, Jeff

IF someone actually likes this song & wants a copy of just the chord/rhythm playing without the lead/solo,  I can email a copy to you.  Gotta be a bunch of you that could probably play a great solo over this IF you wanted to.

[Ritchie200]

OK that was too good to be Jazz...


A close friend of mine who I played with in numerous bands back in the day is an unbelievable bass player.  He is currently a session player in LA and has worked with many big names in the music business.  He has also put out several number one Jazz albums (in Europe).  Back in high school he could play Stanley Clark note for note effortlessly on a right handed bass turned upside down with the strings backwards.  He was a lefty and couldn't afford a real lefty bass so that is how he learned.  The custom 8 string bass he plays today is still strung upside down.  The reason I bring this up is I constantly give him endless trouble about playing Jazz (I know, you are surprised I would do something like that to a friend... ).  I tell him Jazz is a group of 4 or more players who are drunk or baked out of their brains all wearing earplugs playing different things at the same time - kind of like when the symphony warms up.  He just laughs, tells me to turn down (like he always did years ago...) and really listen to what is going on.  There is actual structure and beauty to the form.  I keep telling him a rock bassist plays three notes to thousands of people.  A jazz bassist plays thousands of notes to three people.  How do you know when a jazz bassist is at your door? He can't find the key and doesn't know when to come in. I tell him every marriage counselor has his CD's to play to their patients.  Everyone talks during a bass solo. 


Long story short, I am not one to judge your effort!
Jim

[Ed_Chambley]

I have to say this is really nice work.  Your playing has expand greatly from blues, creates tension as Jazz should.


I can hear a softer touch so obviously you have been doing more than listening, but actually applying the tembre with hands.  I like it!


Arpeggios are easier Eddie style.

[tubenit]

Ed & Jim,

Thanks!  I am appreciative of the feedback. I'm gonna keep working on this until I can put a melody with it.  Right now, all I
am able to do is play a pentatonic scale and it sounds like a fingering pattern instead of a melody that I'd like it to have.

My hands are somewhat arthritic so I am grateful to be able to play jazz chords at all. 

Ed, if I remember correctly …….. jazz, country etc...… is all part of your wheel house. 

With respect, Jeff

[SILVERGUN]

Jeff,
It is very inspiring to hear how you are reaching for new heights musically despite the setback of arthritis.
This recording sounds very sweet to my ears and although I have never attempted any real jazz myself I have great respect and admiration for anyone who can pull it off.

I have a decent knowledge of theory and I can tell you that the relation between recorded music and theory can be viewed as somewhat of a chicken vs. egg conundrum. Those who do not understand theory can wind up beating themselves up because they don't know if the music they create fits into the framework of THEORY (as if theory is a make or break rulebook).
I believe that theory is here to help us define what already exists as musical expression.

Simply put, the music comes first and then there is a theory that can help attempt to define it. There is plenty of jazz that doesn't fit into the confines of what theory would dictate. And there are millions of great musicians who don't know much about theory.

It is my opinion that your music sounds great and does not create any real unfavorable or non-musical dissonance, which in turn means to me that there is nothing theoretically "wrong" with what you have created. I could analyze the chords to tell you what key you were in and then attempt to justify your use of passing tones and or key changes but as long as it sounds good to your ears then the theory is designed for those who chose to theorize.
 
Music is much more than theory. It is the manifestation of the sound of your soul. I could use theory to try to put a framework around what you have created, but just know that what you have created is greater than any theory.
 

[Ritchie200]

Silvergun,


Wow!  Where did that come from!  My thoughts as well.  How come your never that nice to me?


We define the music we compose/play.  Where it falls in categorization - eh.  It's like someone who is an Eddie fan insisting that tapping defines rock music.  Or that you have to play the tangled chords of Al Di Meola to be considered jazz.  What you recorded has a Jazz feel to it.  I'd say you were successful!  If some corksniffer says it doesn't satisfy some attribute I can guarantee they have never composed a single piece of music in their life.  I like your description of "the notes you heard in your head".  That is fantastic!  Holy crap, you are light years ahead of the majority of the morons who post their trash on utube to have people post about how fast they are.  I've mentioned this several times but your playing has grown by leaps and bounds.  As you know, the older you get the harder it is to gain ability - much less playing through arthritis. 


Jim

[SILVERGUN]

Ritchie200, get over yourself...no one said Purple or Major or Strat. Let the adults talk now.
Go clean your room.




Jeff,
It is late and Im working on my phone but I attempted to confirm your chord names based on the chord markings.
Eight chords in I found Eb7b5, which I questioned (because of the chord diagram at the bottom). After looking over the notes I determined it would be better notated as Em7(b5). Then the version that you have drawn out and noted the added E string (at the bottom of the page) would be Em7(b5,b13)


Use this online tool to help you confirm/name the other chords in question and scroll down to see the actual musical notation. I hope this is helpful.
*Note- there is more than one possible name for the same chord


https://www.oolimo.com/guitarchords/analyze

[tubenit]

Hey guys,

THANKS for the feedback and encouragement!  I have no business having this much fun at something with so little talent to do it. 

Silvergun,  I appreciate the link to the chord stuff.  I didn't know something like that was out there. I've been playing some chords for years and still don't know what they are?    And I appreciate the corrections on the chords I had labeled.  Thank you!

I've got two or three more jazz tunes I want to learn and then I think I'll take a break for a while & get back into playing slide.

Jeff

[SILVERGUN]

I had never seen that specific site before and I went back to look around and saw some more useful info.
https://www.oolimo.com/chordtheory/intervals

If you're working on a computer (not a phone) the menu is visible from the home page and there are some good links there that may be helpful to you.