Just wondering how intensive Jazz 101 is, I've finished Classic Rock Guitar workshop, but haven't done scales 101 or chords 101.
Would I be hard??

Thanks

Hi Clark,

Thanks for your post. This is Liam McCormack - I am a Student Advisor here at Berkleemusic.

I can understand you are looking for some direct student feedback with regard to your forum post, but I just wanted to add my thoughts from an Advisor perspective as well.

I do consider the Jazz Guitar 101 course to be one of our more advanced guitar courses - as jazz harmony in general is rather complex and playing jazz certainly presents its own unique challenges, when compared to playing in other styles.

The prerequisite information for the Jazz Guitar 101 course reads:

"Completion of the Berkleemusic online courses Guitar Chords 101 and Guitar Scales 101, or equivalent knowledge, is required. Guitarists should have at least two years of playing experience and the ability to play various scales and chords on the guitar. Guitar tablature and some chord blocks, in addition to traditional notation, will be used throughout the course."

I would encourage you to check out the Syllabus for the Chords and Scales courses here:
www.berkleemusic.com/school/course?cours...7&program=guitar

www.berkleemusic.com/school/course?cours...7&program=guitar

If you are already familiar with many of those topics, comfortable playing in many positions on your fretboard, familiar with jazz theory and advanced chord shapes -- then I would say you are ready for the Jazz Guitar 101 course.

If you review all of that information and feel like there are some gaps in your knowledge, I would then recommend preparing for the Jazz course and taking a look at those other guitar course options.

Hope that information is helpful to you.

Please feel free to contact your direct Advisor, Leigh McLaren, at 617 747 6010 or advisors@berkleemusic.com - for any further questions!

Thanks Clark.

All the best,

Liam McCormack
Berkleemusic Student Advisor

Hi Liam, are you familiar with the 4 note jazz method from the late 70s at Berklee. I studied in Dallas under a student on the road and we got through 13 songs (1-13: Satin Doll, Blue Moon, Anniversary Song, April Showers, Cross Your Heart, But Beautiful, As Time Goes By, Moonlight In Vermont, Georgia, Darn That Dream, By The Light Of The Silvery Moon, Don't Blame Me and Embraceable You.) We played each chord using 4 notes on 4 strings with the bass notes on either 6th or 5th strings and the other 3 notes on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings, and then did crossover chords moving those chords up a perfect 4th with the bass notes on either the 5th or 4th strings and the other 3 notes on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd strings. For lead work he taught me the C scale about 30 ways using one octave, two octave and three octave scales. 6 + 1, 6a + 2, 6a + 2a, 7 + 2, 7 + 3 etc are some two octave scales.

He told me it was the Berklee Jazz 4-note Method as taught by ??? I don't know who. I think my teacher's name was Richard. It's been 30 years and I lost his contact info when he left Dallas. But someone there surely knows the method. I think it's time I got those 9th, 11th and 13 chords and advanced arpegio work down. Some of these maj 7th chords are killers, taking up 6 frets man. But I'm working on the toughest ones getting them down at the 1st position where it's hardest. I recently mapped out the chords up the neck through 7th and flat/sharp 5ths and the crossover chords too, so I can try to teach it. But I need to learn more and he said there was more. I know the chords by name and by note. The scales and chord work has done all that for me.

I've been writing a lot of music and let this go a fair while and I'm tired of regretting it, hence I'm here now. What can you advise me/tell me? You must know the system I speak of. I sure hope somebody does.

Greg Newman