Jazz guitars first appeared in the 1930s because musicians felt the need to amplify the guitar's sound so it can be heard more clearly during a live performance. These guitars has influenced music in the 20th century more than any other instrument. Early guitars were acoustic but lacked the volume necessary to compete with other instrumentation, but by the 40s guitarists began to play semi-acoustic, hollowbody electric guitars and solid body electric guitars combined with a jazz guitar amp.
Probably the most recognisable type of guitars used for this type of music is the archtop. It has a large hollow sound box, magnetic pickups, floating bridge and violin style f shaped sound holes. These guitars are also known as hollow body guitars and have been available to purchase since the 1950s from famous manufacturers.
Jazz guitar involves several ways of playing, including comping and blowing. Comping involves the playing of jazzy chords beneath a song's melody or a jazzy solo; it often incorporates a walking bassline. Blowing refers to the use of improvisation over the top of a chord progression with jazzy phrases and ornaments. Scales, modes and arpeggios are used within a tune's chord progression when improvising and soloing.
In reality, this type of music can be played successfully on any type of guitar whether acoustic, hollow body or solid body. However, the guitar of choice is often the hollow body archtop. The most popular archtop guitars are made by Epiphone, Gretch, D'Angelico and Stromberg. These guitars enjoyed a resurgence of interest in the 1990s among the jazz guitarists of the day, as well with popular musicians. The archtop is usually made from a solid piece of wood that has been carved into an arch, Spruce is usually the wood of choice for the top and maple for the back.
Archtops or hollowbody guitars may be responsible for the famous "warm" jazzy tone, but the amplifier also plays a major part. Tube amps are usually the most popular form of amp for guitarists and there are many amplifiers that are dedicated to helping create the classic jazzy tone.
Tube amplifiers are usually favoured to produce a warm tone, and they also have a more musical overdrive sound compared to solid state amplifiers. However, tube amps are harder to maintain and valves need to be replaced. They are also heavier and more expensive than solid state amps.
One of the most popular amps that produce jazzy tones is the superb Roland JC120 Chorus. It was introduced in 1975 and has been used by legendary musicians, such as George Benson, Larry Coryell, Pat Matino and many others. This beautiful amp is the first to have special effects built into it, including delay, reverb and overdrive.
There are also several excellent amps that are manufactured by Fender. These are the Fender Jazzmaster Ultralight Speaker Cabinet combined with Amp Head, Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, Fender King and Fender Blues JR. All of these are a popular jazz guitar amp of choice for those looking for that classic jazzy tone. There are several other excellent amps on the market and it is possible to get the jazzy tone with digital modelling software or hardware and a standard amp, although purists tend to prefer the classic tube amps.
Probably the most recognisable type of guitars used for this type of music is the archtop. It has a large hollow sound box, magnetic pickups, floating bridge and violin style f shaped sound holes. These guitars are also known as hollow body guitars and have been available to purchase since the 1950s from famous manufacturers.
Jazz guitar involves several ways of playing, including comping and blowing. Comping involves the playing of jazzy chords beneath a song's melody or a jazzy solo; it often incorporates a walking bassline. Blowing refers to the use of improvisation over the top of a chord progression with jazzy phrases and ornaments. Scales, modes and arpeggios are used within a tune's chord progression when improvising and soloing.
In reality, this type of music can be played successfully on any type of guitar whether acoustic, hollow body or solid body. However, the guitar of choice is often the hollow body archtop. The most popular archtop guitars are made by Epiphone, Gretch, D'Angelico and Stromberg. These guitars enjoyed a resurgence of interest in the 1990s among the jazz guitarists of the day, as well with popular musicians. The archtop is usually made from a solid piece of wood that has been carved into an arch, Spruce is usually the wood of choice for the top and maple for the back.
Archtops or hollowbody guitars may be responsible for the famous "warm" jazzy tone, but the amplifier also plays a major part. Tube amps are usually the most popular form of amp for guitarists and there are many amplifiers that are dedicated to helping create the classic jazzy tone.
Tube amplifiers are usually favoured to produce a warm tone, and they also have a more musical overdrive sound compared to solid state amplifiers. However, tube amps are harder to maintain and valves need to be replaced. They are also heavier and more expensive than solid state amps.
One of the most popular amps that produce jazzy tones is the superb Roland JC120 Chorus. It was introduced in 1975 and has been used by legendary musicians, such as George Benson, Larry Coryell, Pat Matino and many others. This beautiful amp is the first to have special effects built into it, including delay, reverb and overdrive.
There are also several excellent amps that are manufactured by Fender. These are the Fender Jazzmaster Ultralight Speaker Cabinet combined with Amp Head, Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, Fender King and Fender Blues JR. All of these are a popular jazz guitar amp of choice for those looking for that classic jazzy tone. There are several other excellent amps on the market and it is possible to get the jazzy tone with digital modelling software or hardware and a standard amp, although purists tend to prefer the classic tube amps.
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