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I'm interested in knowing more about early jazz guitar pedagogy - basically what books were available for people learning jazz guitar in the 50s/60s?
The one that comes to mind is Mickey Baker's book from 1959, but I'm curious if there are others. Thanks
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09-24-2016 04:24 PM
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The George Barnes Electric Guitar method book came out in 1943.
There's a bit about it here:
https://bucknerguitar.wordpress.com/...r-method-1943/
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Not much as I recall, but then there wasn't much of anything available. The closest record store was 100 miles away, and we got there maybe twice a year, at most. No bookstores at all, just the county and school libraries. We couldn't even get watchable TV because the stations were so far away. We learned from each other and the radio.
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Here's one someone gave me years ago - published 1952:
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And this one from 1946:
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This one from 1950 is interesting, it has a whole section on major and minor 6th chords using exactly the same chords as the Barry Harris method.
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Thanks for the replies everybody, very interesting. I forgot to mention George Van Eps' first method book, which is the other book m familiar with.
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A method book (maybe two) was published under the name of Eddie Lang in 1935. Back cover advertises a collection of guitar solos by Lang, Harry Volpe, Carl Kress.
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Don't forget the two Eddie Lang books (1935 & 1936). They're similar to the early Van Eps method book in that the main topic is voice-leading between basic major, minor and dominant chord forms.
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Pretty pricy for the mid '30s. $2 was more than a day's pay for many. If they could find a job at all, doing anything.
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I'm investigating the Eddie Lang books (really interesting material in there) and see that they were published in 1935, two years after his death. I found a blog post that implied the books were not written by Eddie but rather with his "input" and the contents therein were based on his on style rather than being his own writing. Seems to make sense but does anyone know if this is true?
https://bucknerguitar.wordpress.com/...ethod-in-1935/
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When Monk discovers this thread, I'm sure he'll have things to add. He's a collector of early guitar method books.
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Quite likely. They were put together by David Berend, a banjo/guitar player who worked in the studios and ran his own music school in NY.
Originally Posted by EDS
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Here is a partial list of books and sheet music that were availble in the 1930s through 1960s. There were also books and sheet music by Roy Smeck, Nick Lucas, Ned Cosmo, Nick Manoloff, Mickey Baker, Harry Volpe and Al Valenti to name a few others.
George M. Smith Guitar Method
George M. Smith Guitar Solos Vol. 1 & 2
Guitar Patterns for Improvisation by William Fowler
The Guitar Magic of Les Paul
Oscar Moore Guitaristics
George Van Eps Guitar Method
George Van Eps Guitar Solos
Johnny Smith Aids to Technique
Johnny Smith Guitar Originals Vol 1 & 2
George Barnes Electric Guitar Method
George Barnes Guitar Solos
Ten Duets for Two Guitars by George Barnes & Carl Kress
Kenny Burrell Jazz Guitar Solos
Charlie Christian The Art of Jazz Guitar by Dan Fox
Harlem Uptown Jazz Guitar-Charlie Christian
Herb Ellis Jazz Guitar Style
Jazz Duets by Herb Ellis & Joe Pass
Guitar Moods by Ike Isaacs
Jazz Guitar School by Ike Isaacs
Glenn Miller for Guitar by Ike Isaacs
The Guitar by Barney Kessel
Personal Manuscripts 1-6 by Barney Kessel
Classical/Country by Jimmy Wyble
Carl Kress Sheet Music
Dick McDounough & Carl Kress Duets Sheet Muisc
Eddie Lang Sheet Music
Blues for Guitar by Nappy Lamare
Eddie Lang Seven Compositions
West Coast Guitar by Jack Marshall
Bossa Nova Guitar by Jack Marshall
20 Popular Introductions and Endings by Jack Marshall
Allan Reuss Guitar Solos
Carmen Mastren Twenty Choruses
Magic of Django Vol 1 & 2
U.S. School of Music-Home Study Course for Spanish Guitar-96 Lessons by Harry Volpe
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Without a copyright, some have scanned their copies and made them available:
Guitar eBooks - DjangoBooks.com
Vintage Music Folios and Out Of Print Methods in PDF Format
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I want Harlem Uptown Jazz Guitar, just for the name....
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The book by Johnny Rector (was that his real name?) is excellent for chord work. Recommended.
Basically, anyone who used Brylcreem could play the guitar really well...
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Les Paul also had a few books.
Monk, that list is impressive!
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Typical page from the Johnny Rector book - try them:
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That particular book was published by Charles Colin Publications and was a collection of CC's solos from the Minton's recordings. Originally Posted by christianm77
FACE PALM! How could I forget Johnny????? I have his books! Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop
The book by Johnny Rector (was that his real name?) is excellent for chord work. Recommended.
Basically, anyone who used Brylcreem could play the guitar really well...
I met Johnny at one of the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Conventions about 20 years ago. He lived in Chicago and was a nice guy. We became friends and had many great conversations about music and guitar. He really knew a boatload about chords from playing in orchestras and on the radio. He reminded me somewhat of Johnny Smith when he played.
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That first grip, the Am7, is killing me. Are you supposed to do a mini barre with the ring finger or use the fingertip to play two strings at once? Neither comes out clean for me. Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop
Typical page from the Johnny Rector book - try them:
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Why double the root? I say double the 7th.
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575588? Doubled 7th and 3rd?! Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
If I wanted to keep the bottom and top notes I'd play it 5x7788. They probably took you to see a doctor if you stacked fourths, back then.
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Monk - I'm glad I jogged your memory. I looked on YouTube for evidence of Johnny's playing, but all I found were some country tracks, with a very trebly Telecaster - a world away from Johnny Smith. Any recommendations?
Big Daddy - I guess the width of your fingerboard comes into play, as well as the thickness of your fingers. Sometimes I can play that fingering quite easily, but not so on every guitar.
Jeff - I guess in orchestral playing the subtlety would be lost. Just today I thought I'd start the book at the first page, see how I got on. There are some great sequences, but with the oddity here and there. He seems to have had no interest in voice leading the top note, though the example page shown above is a little better in that regard. I haven't seen Volume 1, and this Volume 2 starts on page 38, jumping straight in with tritone subs. It gave me a couple of ideas I had missed. Enjoying it.
Now, where to buy some brylcreem...?
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Rob, Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop
The videos you found were another Johnny Rector, a country singer. "Our" Johnny never mentioned any recordings in conversation. He did talk about playing in dance orchestras, with singers, teaching and arranging. He was a working musician who wrote a couple of well-known instruction books and worked for a time at Chicago Musical Instruments. He did mentioned working some with Art Van Damme. The last time I saw Johnny was in 2005 in Nashville.
Regards,
Jerome
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