Comments on: Jazz Part 1

By: Ky

Ky — Tue, 06 May 2025 00:23:06 +0000

thanks sm now i want to go write some jazz ??

By: LJ Cruz

LJ Cruz — Mon, 18 May 2020 13:47:21 +0000

Thank you for this. I would love to compose a Jazz music since I’ve been hooked to this kind of music which sound like an Angel and it is very relaxing. Although I am not a musician but I am willing to try

By: Stephen Koscica

Stephen Koscica — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 23:44:53 +0000

Tim,
It’s great that you recommended Mark Levine’s piano book. (Even totally horrible piano players) like me, can appreciate that book. Not only does it show pianists how to play chord voicing, it really is a clever way to understand arranging. If you do not play jazz or even understand it, you can get jump start understanding how things work (not only in jazz, but every most all present day arranging. thanks,
Steve
http://www.violin-strings.com

By: jedcrouchy

jedcrouchy — Sun, 20 May 2018 21:10:33 +0000

Excellent article! Will follow these steps in future when writing jazz 🙂

By: Leyna

Leyna — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 23:02:41 +0000

Marvelous article, Tim!
I greatly appreciate your way of “unveiling” the mysteries of jazz! Thank you!!

By: Jasil Olabode

Jasil Olabode — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 14:51:33 +0000

Hey Tim,

I am writing a Jazz Christmas album. How should I use this article to make the song “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”? sound jazzier? Do you have any more resources that you can recommend for me? I am just starting out writing jazz music. Thanks!

Jasil

By: radekbaranowski

radekbaranowski — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 10:52:39 +0000

oh my god, it seems what I’m missing in my music skillset, just fear my general musical ability is not enough to fully benefit from this, nor the amount of my free time…

great stuff though! I’ll get as much as possible from it!

By: Roger

Roger — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 17:54:19 +0000

In reply to Tim. I find that doubling the top sax (or trumpet) line on guitar adds needed thickness. I also wish I'd discovered this article a year ago when I was muddling through trying to work this all out for myself!

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 04:35:47 +0000

In reply to keith jenkins. Hi. Sorry for my delay. I find writing for 3 horns much harder than 13, especially in a jazz situation. A lot of unison is good! If you have a good pianist, you can have them cover parts, lower ones with the guide tones and have the 3 horns play the upper structures and keep their parts more melody. Bill Cunliffe is a pianist and arranger who does this very well. But don't over think it. If all the lines are good and you have a good rhythms section outlining the harmony it will all sound fine.

By: keith jenkins

keith jenkins — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 18:35:03 +0000

Hi Tim, just discovered your website, and its been like a lightbulb being turned on…thankyou. I have a question; what happens when you only have 3 front line ( trp, ten sax, trombone) how do I decide the most important chord tones to use? Especially when extensions are used ? Also when are parts 3&4 on jazz writing coming out? Can’t find them!!

Just love your approach to explaining the process, keep it coming please.

Regards,

Keith