Jazz Skills: Guitar Book

Fisher doesn't waste time with theory for theory's sake. Instead, he isolates the exact trouble spots that derail guitarists, altered chords, solo construction, technique refinement, and gives you targeted solutions you can apply immediately. Experienced players often discover gaps in their foundation; this book finds and fills them without condescension.

Direct and practical. Fisher writes the way experienced teachers talk: no unnecessary detours, just clear explanations paired with actionable exercises. The focus stays on solving real problems rather than showcasing musical knowledge.

Jazz guitarists who have the fundamentals down but recognize gaps in their knowledge, whether that's understanding chord alterations, constructing solos logically, or smoothing out technical rough patches. Players returning to jazz after time away will find this especially valuable for refreshing and deepening their approach.

• Return to the altered chord section whenever you encounter unfamiliar voicings in a lead sheet. Muscle memory for these shapes builds faster when you connect them to the specific tunes you're playing.
• Work through the solo changes methodically before improvising over them. Fisher's spelling exercises clarify why certain notes work in context, not just what the theoretical rules say.
• Practice the technique exercises at multiple tempos. The difference between sloppy and clean becomes obvious when you slow down first, then gradually increase speed.

Keep this as a reference text alongside whatever method book your jazz guitar students are using. When a student struggles with a specific concept, voicings, improvisation mechanics, hand position, assign the relevant section as supplemental homework rather than reteaching the same ground.

• Understanding and applying altered chord voicings (flat-5, flat-9, sharp-9 extensions)
• Analyzing and spelling chord changes within improvised solos
• Developing consistent right-hand technique and pick control
• Translating jazz theory concepts into muscle memory at practical tempos
• Building independence between hand positions for smoother transitions