Ultimate Play-Along for Guitar: Guitar Book & 2 CDs

Playing alongside a working band. The rhythm section sits in the pocket with authentic jazz swing and responsiveness, creating a sandbox where you can experiment with comping ideas, take solos without rushing, and hear yourself grow more musical with each playthrough.

Guitarists with basic chord vocabulary and single-note facility who want to move beyond isolated exercises and play in a real jazz ensemble context. This works equally well for self-taught players building independence and for students transitioning from method books into style-based repertoire.

• Start with disc one to absorb the arrangement and phrasing before attempting to replace the guitar part on disc two.
• Use the roadmap charts to mark your solo sections clearly, noting any time signature or tempo changes that might trip you up in the rhythm-only context.
• Focus on locking in with the bass line during comping passages; John Patitucci's work here teaches you how to voice chords responsively rather than statically.
• Record yourself playing along with disc two, then compare your tone and timing choices to Stern's performance on disc one.

Assign this as supplementary material for intermediate students working toward their first jazz ensemble experience, or use it in group guitar classes to introduce jazz language and ensemble listening skills. It also serves as a bridge between classical or rock foundations and applied jazz playing.

• Chord comping in jazz idioms
• Solo construction over blues and jazz standards
• Rhythmic precision and pocket playing alongside a rhythm section
• Reading and interpreting lead sheet notation and roadmaps
• Listening and responding to bass and drum accompaniment