Needing advice on studing latin

[Raven]

Hi to everybody. Im in need of some good advice so im hoping somebody can help me. Ive been playing guitar for about 7 years now and have decided that i would like to play latin as a career as i am far more comfortable with nylon strings and that particular style. I started off playing metal and after a few years got interested in other styles because of my bass player who was studing music. I listen to fusion, metal, jazz, latin, rock, some pop, classical and funk. But like i said am thinking of going down the latin path, i need advice on what techniques i should concentrate on and what latin guitar players i should look out for. Dvds, books anything! I am able to put in 5 hours practice everyday but am not too sure how to manage my shedule. How many hours should i concentrate on technique, theory, and on studing other styles? And keeping in mind i play in a metal band and looking to start/join a fusion band. Hope someone can help. :confused:

[Raven]

Oh yes before i forget, im also needing advice on best ear training method. I have also decided that from today im going to start working out all the instruments from chick corea's light years. A few weeks ago i attempted to work out greg howe's version of giant steps soon to realize that it was way past my playing ability, so im thinking of getting the tabs and just built up my speed with a metranome, but i also think it would be better to learn the chord progressions before attempting the lead parts.

[Raven]

Okay i guess this is a really bad question!

[JonR]

Not a bad question, really, just a complicated one...
Hi to everybody. Im in need of some good advice so im hoping somebody can help me. Ive been playing guitar for about 7 years now and have decided that i would like to play latin as a career as i am far more comfortable with nylon strings and that particular style.What kind of "Latin" do you mean?
In the main, there's Brazilian - samba, bossa nova, Jobim (nylon-string guitars) - and there's Cuban - salsa, etc, inspired Santana, Chick Corea, etc.
They have some things in common (esp "clave" rhythms), but also important differences.
Then there's Mexican and Central American styles...
I started off playing metal and after a few years got interested in other styles because of my bass player who was studing music. I listen to fusion, metal, jazz, latin, rock, some pop, classical and funk. But like i said am thinking of going down the latin path, i need advice on what techniques i should concentrate on and what latin guitar players i should look out for. Dvds, books anything! I am able to put in 5 hours practice everyday but am not too sure how to manage my shedule. How many hours should i concentrate on technique, theory, and on studing other styles? And keeping in mind i play in a metal band and looking to start/join a fusion band. Hope someone can help. :confused:Hmm, confused question. Fusion is different from Latin - although Chick Corea kind of bridged the two. And both very different from metal of course!
But I don't know Chick Corea's material that well (only played one or two of his tunes), so can't offer specific advice there.

You're certainly right you should learn the chord sequences before anything else. Like any form of jazz, Latin jazz (of whatever style) means knowing your harmony really well. That will be the biggest difference from the music you're used to. Chick Corea's music is highly advanced, and builds on all previous styles of jazz, as well as Cuban inspirations.
Jazz fusion was initially a combination of post-bop, modal and Latin jazz with rock sounds, rhythms and instrumentation. Listen to Miles Davis early fusion albums, which more or less defined the genre: Filles de Kilimanjaro, In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew all feature Chick Corea. This is heavy stuff! - so it might be helpful to trace the influences back to more simple kinds of jazz.

The main point is there's no specific guitar techniques, and no special scales either (no different from other jazz). Mostly it's down to rhythm, and certain kinds of chord sequences.

Some hints here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_jazz

[Raven]

Thank you so much that really helps alot! Im looking to study all latin styles which will be my long term goal. I have made a decision today that im going to concentrate on finger style playing only!! Because in my honest opinion ive progressed faster in one year with fingerstyles then i have in seven years playing with a plectrum and I have greater control over dynamics and speed . So i think im going to call it quits playing metal and maybe hold off the fusion band idea, for now. Because 5 hours isnt enough for what i want to achieve if im trying to to master 7 styles, but just enough to concentrate on one style. Thanks again for the helpfull info!!

[bluesking]

i need advice on what techniques i should concentrate on and what latin guitar players i should look out for.

Dare I suggest that, if you need to ask for influences, you are not ready to commit to a certain style? Not that anyone should have to commit to a single style (especially if they intend to make a career from music).

I really hope you actually love latin guitar music as a listener already. Hopefully its not just because you find yourself most "comfortable with nylon strings and that particular style". Otherwise you are setting yourself up for either failure or misery.

[Raven]

Well, i have always loved the sound of latin music. And i never had influences even when i was playing metal, sure i listened to music and enjoyed it but just used to play the notes i used to hear in my head. And honestly never felt good about what i was playing until now! Since i picked up the nylon string. Im even able to improvise without having to think about it, i just know where to go by listening to the chords. My theory is very limited so when i want to play my electric i always end up thinking and not listening and it ends up being very bland. I do own a paco de lucia album but not too fond of him yet, but i really enjoy R y G!!! Its really difficult and expensive to buy albums where i come from, and the guitar driven latin im into is rare! So im thinking of buying new albums, but dont want to purchase just anything. But im looking for very good guitar players to study for the first time in my playing career. Im really inspired!!! I know it might be hard to understand what im trying to say, but its truly how i feel. And the easiest way to explain it would be that when im playing all the other styles its all about patterns, and when i play latin its all about sounds.:)a

[JonR]

Well, when it comes to fingerstyle nylon-string, that goes back to classical guitar! ;)

There are a few jazz players you could check out though:

Charlie Byrd:
playing Brazilian composer Antonio Jobim's "Wave":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAmeBBfzBBs&feature=related
er, you might like the pics on this one too.... :rolleyes: :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcQQ3_pE_Ko&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_qFpB8gFjE&feature=related

Ralph Towner (more classical-influenced)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b3ioveZK9k&feature=related
on 12-string:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_13j5GoNDU&feature=related

Earl Klugh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7fF_eRYM5k

Laurindo Almeida (genuine Brazilian):
classical-style intro leading into "One Note Samba":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-9OrHd6QdM
(dig that sniffy BBC presenter... hehe...who CAN he be slagging off??)

The other famous Brazilian, Joao Gilberto, known for his interpretation of Jobim tunes. You don't get more mellow than this... (might be a shock to the system for a metal fan... ;) )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6w3a2v_50U


Lastly, getting a bit more up-to-date - Lionel Loueke (who's played with Herbie Hancock). I guess this is African jazz, rather than Latin jazz!
(I think you'll like this one... impossibly cool, IMO....)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXzgWTZ2NW0

check out this thread too (where I discovered Loueke!):
http://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/players/1755-jazz-nylon-string-classical.html

[Raven]

Thats great!!! Im getting exited. The you tube videos should give me a good introduction. You have been more then helpful. Thanks jonr