Any knowledgable musicians out there knowing a thing or two about jazz?

Question

I am a guitarist, I am technically very proficient and know my theory and scales and modes rather well. I just have a few problems here and there with remembering their shapes on the spur of the moment but for the most part I think I'm pretty good at application.
But the part where I fluster and fumble big time is when I am given a jazz type progression with multiple lightning fast changes happening and key changes happening and when I have to solo on them. I just freeze I panic and I don't think I am ready to apply my knowledge to Jazz music as of now.

Can someone PLEASE tell me how to go about in a structured way and start playing jazz guitar. Its so demanding. Please tell me how I can be a good jazz musician. Can someone please tell me a thing or two about complex harmonies and tri-tone subsitutions. How are modes or scales applied over various chord progressions. The priniciple of jazz soloing and stuff. I HOPE some able muscian reads this. thanks

Answer 1

I am still a beginner at this myself, but what I was taught was to figure out what scale you are in by translating the chords to numbers. e.g., Dm to G7 to C equals II, V, I, and therefore you are soloing in the key of C through that whole progression. So you practice by playing the notes in a C scale over that progression. Then you try to play a more interesting solo using those same notes. Most songs don't change scales that much, but the more complicated ones do force you to play in different scales for only a bar or two. Maybe the melody of the song helps you find an interesting solo. You have to experiment to see when it sounds good to throw in some "wrong notes." You also always have to think about where you are going, in addition to where you are.

Answer 2

Jazz isn't about memorizing stuff and then releasing it all in the right places. Jazz is about feeling the music and going with it. If you make a mistake, remember that there is no such thing as a mistake in jazz. How good a musician you are depends on how well you keep going. If you recognize a cool pattern you've played (while you're playing), then build on it within the rest of the song. If not, try something else, and keep trying. This is all about letting go of what you've learned and letting the music take you over.

Answer 3

Look, knowing all the theory in the world won't help you become a better musician. I know many many people who are very knowledgable in music theory, but they can't play worth a crap. And if they are good "skillfully", they either sound mechanical, or they look like statues playing. Jazz is appreciate by people because it is a free form of expressing one's self through their instrument. Practice. Play what feels right. Play would sounds right. Remember that playing jazz is not about following strict rules, but playing what you feel.

The best jazz players didn't give a rats **** about theory because jazz was who they were and it was their life.