Jazz Favorites for Solo Guitar: Chord Melody Arrangements in Standard Notation and Tab Kindle Edition

This collection of tunes is obviously for a rather serious jazz guitar student. Even though I am a beginner, I am serious about learing jazz standards and I am glad that this book is challenging and has in its arrangements 4 or 5 note chords under just about every melody note in the tune. The voicing is rather appealing and I love it. I had started with Mickey Baker's Jazz Guitar book and had worked on some lessone by Jody Fisher, so I thought, what the heck, you learn by playing songs. It was tough going when I first opened this book, but I kept with it. I have noticed that the chords that are used in numerous tunes throughout the book. So, I feel if I get them under my fingers, I should be well on my way. The tablature is very helpful. I've been able to speed up my chord changes playing through a few of these tunes and now, I have a cool repertoire of jazz standards to play to my wife and family. This book is a workout, but very rewarding when I got a tune under my hands.

I agree with the other reviewer who mentioned that these chord melody arrangements are somewhat overworked. These chords are very full and your fingers will get quite the workout. Advanced players can insert their own chord substitutions here or there. The good thing about this book overall is that the songs are tastefully done and you will sound like one sophisticated cat. Gives me a good launching point for my own soloing. Songs are in standard notation and guitar tablature.The 35 Songs included in this book:-Angel Eyes-Autumn in New York-Body and Soul-Call Me Irresponsible-Dancing on the Ceiling-Don't Get Around Much Anymore-Easy to Love (You'd Be So Easy to Love-Fly Me to the Moon-The Gift (Recado Bossa Nova)-Honeysuckle Rose-How Deep Is the Ocean (How High is the Sky)-I Could Write a Book-I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance-I'll Remember April-In a Mellow Tone-In the Wee Small Hours of the morning-Just the Way You Are-The Lady Is a Tramp-Midnight Sun-Mood Indigo-My One and Only Love-My Shining Hour-Nature Boy-On a Clear Day (You can see Forever)-Polka Dots and Moonbeams-Skylark-Solitude-Speak Low-Take the "A" Train-There is no Greater Love-We'll be Together Again-Where or When-Witchcraft-You'd Be So Nice to Come Home to

In this book,in standard notation and in TAB, are very accurate and rich arrangements of the great jazz classics from the 20's through the 50's. The original keys are preserved. The player moves from one 4 or 5 note chord to the next with each melody note and it is not unusual to go from the 3rd position to the 10th in one single measure. However, the chords, once mastered are very guitar player friendly and flow logically in terms of finger position. The arrangements make sense in terms of the music and the guitar and they are not watered down for the novice nor overly difficult for the sake of diffculty. You can always add a few bass notes or drop a chord for a single note run if you wish. The arrangements leave some space for you to do that. Actually, Yelin in the forward says he intends the player to learn from these arrangements and perhaps become inventive. These books are for players whith a lot of playing experience who need some clean no-nonsense arrangements of great golden age jazz tunes to be played by the soloist. Well here they are in a 5 volume series. If you are a guitarist who is comfortable all over the fingerboard and has no issues knotting and unknotting fingers for jazz chords, these books are for you. (ie. Professional Level).

These chord melody arrangements are heavy on the chords and light on the melody. Typically, you’ll be able to distinguish the melody in the arrangement, perhaps even sing along. Not here. The chord changes don’t follow the melody and the harmonic content is so dense that the melody is masked. In the attached pic, you can see this plainly. Not for me.

I agree with the other reviewers - a great collection of standards, well arranged. The songs also have the words, original chords and melody line, as well as the chord solo arrangement in both standard notation and tab - the book also functions as a fake book. Even at full price, this is a great deal.

Thanks!

Fun book for Jazz Guitarists

Greatly overworked arraingments with full chords.If you just play parts of the chords you still sound good. It shows you where the bass notes and melody notes are, this way you can start working out your own fingerstyle arraingements. You can sound like you, not the artist. It is in tab also so any non pro can use it . You might need some good streching for some of the chords but remember you dont need to play the whole chord.

Seems good. Not sure whether they are in the original keys. But a good work out.

The arrangements in all of Robert Yelin’s guitar books are first rate. The songs are jazz classics and translated beautifully for chord melody style. The music appears in standard notation and in tab format, which is a huge help since some of the fingerings are challenging. But be prepared to spend some time working on these arrangements. They’re not easy, but they are doable with practice and patience. Well worth the effort no matter what your skill level.

This a book is full of tasteful arrangements but are not meant to be played as written. The author has used a chord for very note, so when played as written they tend to sound a bit mushy because of the full 6 string chords. As other reviewers have said, and even the author himself is that it outlines the melody and possible harmonies for each tune to give you a place to start to work the arrangements for yourself and introduce the player to some new chord choices and substitution ideas. You'll have many hours of study ahead of you with this book, so a great return on the cover price.

Rather an old friend than a `book` as it goes. Everything is in here whether you solo or join others to `swim in jazz` guitar is a wonderful thing and with this book PLUS Jazz Standards for guitar you can take it to an audience or just enjoy.

非常に判りやすく全冊で好きな曲を自分のジヤズギターソロのレパトリが増えそうです。