Many years ago Johnny Smith was my favorite guitar player. He played a D’Angelico guitar, and used a Ampeg guitar amp. I liked him so much that I bought the same guitar and amp. Went to see him in person, and bought all his books.

After a short period, I gave his books away. I listened to his records. About four years later I found myself playing his chord voicing, and his jazz lines.

I agree with Diki and Chas, listen, listen, listen.
John C.

Hey Chas, that was a very neat explanation of the origins of Amazing Grace and also the pentatonic scale.

To post a full screen video you have to be in "full screen" mode on your post. Then find the "media tag" box, and select " YouTube" and paste the video there.

Kind of hard to explain but easy to do. I'd make a video tutorial if I could.

Got it. Thanks Paul.

chas

I think the main thing is TOTAL immersion. I find that, as long as you listen to ONLY the genre you wish to get your head around for a considerable length of time (weeks if not months!) you quickly gain an ear for what to play, and more importantly, what NOT to play.

But dilute your immersion by listening to a lot of other stuff, you tend to lose that filter.

To a certain degree, it’s possibly more important to learn what not to play, or at least to recognize the minute you play something that isn’t idiomatic and make a mental note to never play it again, and I think that degree of sensitivity only comes after you steep yourself in a genre to the exclusion of all others.

If you don’t restrict your listening to other genres you get to hear licks or changes that are not idiomatic and they tend to influence you subconsciously.

It’s definitely a PITA to be that focused for a couple of months or weeks, not to mention the effects on those around you who have to put up with your monomania (!) but I honestly feel it’s the best way to absorb a genre you previously didn’t spend much time with…

.....and by all means, don't OVERTHINK it .

chas (loves good-humored sarcasm)

For me, I think that total immersion system bypasses the critical thinking aspect! I hate to admit it, but I learned far more by immersion than I ever did by study…

The goal is to ‘feel’, not think..! The minute I find myself thinking about what to play, it all goes to hell in a handbasket! Develop your instinct, then trust the instinct…

😎🎹