Never knew of Martin Taylor until recently, honed in on his teaching technique, and bought his Beyond Chord Melody jazz instruction book and gotta tell you, it's an eye opener. He gets you playing simple major scale on only the 6th string then adds the 3rd of the chord above the root of each position on the scale, and finally moves the 3rd an octave higher for a better harmony effect calling it a 10th, and voila, you are instantaneously understanding how chords are put together, that some are major and some minor chords. With variations, and using this method in all keys, and then he adds 7ths to the mix, an improvised tune, and you really got your money's worth. Best thing is it opens my mind to create in every key what he's teaching in this book, which should take me a year or two, then ten years to get it right. Recommend. ciao.
This is so useful. I have spent $1000s on lessons over the years and this few minutes of video is worth all of that (almost). Absolutely brilliant. Thanks for posting this
Just another opinion here but informed by over fifty years experience playing classical and jazz. If one definition of "genius" is making the complex appear disarmingly simple, then Martin Taylor is on that list of creative geniuses. His prescription for creating and playing jazz guitar is brilliantly effective. And his teaching is unerringly transparent and succinct. The keys to the kingdom right here. I know he has the goods, because I literally play along note for note. Thank you, Martin! I'll take it one step further. The most important thing to bear in mind is the third interval - major or minor? Knowing where to play that with the root (the tenth Martin refers to) will ultimately be all you need to "think about" as you listen to and play what you hear in your mind. Like George Benson.
I had the exact same thought about the third interval when watching this for the first time. I was trying to understand what he was saying intuitively, and that's what made sense to me. It makes me wonder what intervals can sufficiently substitute the third while still providing a skeleton that allows you to "break away" if you will, from conventional western harmony, in the classical sense. Thank you for sharing.
Love Martin Taylor. Had the pleasure of seeing him perform and attending a workshop. Made me laugh when after playing his opening piece he asked if anyone had bought their guitars and did they want to come up on stage. To which I then saw guitars disappearing under seats..... including mine. Master and Genius!
You probably know this by now but it might help someone else… He plays Peerless guitars, they have a number of models, think he still has a signature guitar with them. Beautiful guitars
Wow! You are an amazing guitar player and a fab musician. Coming from a classical background, I see there is so much more in jazz improvising. Thanks for all the lessons you have shared on the web. All the best. I look forward to hearing more soon. Thanks.
Martin Taylor starts with simple explanations that always lead to a very advanced place. As he gets to the "sixth" step of explanation you can see that what he's doing is "opening the door" to individual "artistry" !
2:29 this video is so informative, ive searched so much videos relating to counterpoint improv and hearing him say that he just focuses on this as sort of sketch or outline to build up on is so helpful
I never heard of M. Taylor until now (maybe because I'm French). But Sylvain LUC, a French genius guitar player, has brought this kind of style to perfection...
Don't take drugs kids... @gamesguy why you so mean bro? were all here to be sexy just chill its ok and no one is a pile of sticks its impossible... unless that's what you identify as which is also cool...
After reading through the comments below, it occurs to me that there are those out there who, without Mr. Taylor’s obvious credentials, seek to disparage his work. For them, I have a suggestion. Do not waste your time (and ours) trolling a recognized success like Mr. Taylor. Post your own video and show us all the truth and the way
Hi Martin Taylor.. Absolutely precise and clear cut in just a couple steps to make a melody magical with jazz and harmony..Looks pretty easy and a simple approach undoubtedly, nevertheless it is a little time consuming to get one's chordal shapes and positions plus the melody to be well projected without the other parts overruling the main melody at any given phrase or line for that matter.. Wow, hats off and thanks a lot for these orderly steps to approach.. Warm cheers..God bless.. siva..gtr..India..(GuitSiva)👍😊🎶🎸
It's a curious phenomenon that the most useful information available, presented by people who actually play music for a living (as opposed to those who spend their lives regurgitating (often misleading) information they have never put into practice themselves), gets such vociferous criticism from the patently ignorant, and such unanimous praise from the obviously informed...
This shows that learning an instrument is all about experimenting with it and being able to learn new ways to approach it, along with theory. Online and private lessons are great, but will not work if the learner is not learning efficiently.
Nice. I wanna try it but what about different tunes with different melodies? Not all tunes are composed so conveniently like "Autumn Leaves" where the melody can alternate with chords. Most tunes you have to play chord melody on strong beats. How to do that?
It's a Martin Taylor Maestro signature guitar made by Peerless. I've always promised myself one when my playing justifies it - but I've got a long, long way to go yet!
+gamesandguitars003 lmao says the 12yo 'gamer' with a RoboCop avatar... This guy has more talent in his pinky than you'll ever have mate. U can only dream of reaching his skill level, and u know it ;) lol
I think this might be fun to play, but as for the listener, the step where he merged the chords with the melody sounded the best. Don't get me wrong, I like to play complex stuff myself, but unless you're a musician (and sometimes even then) you'll just get bored by listening to too much impro and you slowly lose track of the main idea.
You're right it's Bach but this way it's kind hard to hear the original melody.I would just use counterpoint here and there so listeners will guess what kind of tune you're playing.
I like Martin''s playing a lot, however, (leaving aside debate as to whether what he is playing is counterpoint or not) what really upsets me is that he has never-to my knowledge anyway- given credit to Louis Stewart, the guitar player from who he learned so much, and who certainly preceded him in this style of solo playing. Not to mention all the other solo jazz players. To claim inventing the style is really 'a bit rich'. But its so good that he allows us to be the beneficiaries of his knowledge, just as he has been of others...
I don't think many guitarist understand what counterpoint melody is. I will admit this is close to counterpoint but I'm not sure if you can play counterpoint melody on guitar without fretting with both hands.
Actually, I take that back. I believe you can play counterpoint if your using your thumbs as a serpent line. The reason this and almost every counterpoint guitar video fail is because counterpoint is two melodies playing at the same time! You and every other guitarist separate your melodies which make them even easier to distinguish but regardless everything in this video could be broken down to chords and 1 melody line that just jumps octaves. Btw I hate how he mentions how he was watch a piano player play 10th interval broken chords as if that's a fuckin melody! This guy doesn't know shit about music theory just after listening to that. A melody has its own unique rythem and interval line. Not repeating interval jumps that is literally just an extended broke chord.
I play jazz guitar and classical guitar. I understand what you mean about this particular use of the term 'counterpoint' and it might be better to refer to it as something other than counterpoint. However, guitarists can play counterpoint; there is no particular difficulty in playing 'two melodies at the same time' which itself might not be the most accurate definition of counterpoint:)
Recurdos de la Alhambra. = two melodies. The first melody is played with the thumb, the second melody is a tremolo and uses all three fingers of the plucking hand ua-cam.com/video/7iVFncQADvc/v-deo.html
Then, the next step would be playing two melodies at the same time, what counterpoint really is (would be difficult to improvise more than one melody at the same time though). After that, put the melody not in top, but rather at the middle of three melodies or at the bottom. Well, there is so much stuff you can do. You just need to expand your knowledge with imagination.
Consider 1) the bass as the bass melody (w/ embellishments and variations) as melody 1); 2) the melody w/ embellishments and variations as melody 2) and 3) the alto/tenor 3rd to 7th or vice versa (w/ embellishments and variations) as the inner melody 3). ... this is polyphonic and describes MT's style well. And he improvises them all.
![Standards - I'm Old Fashioned - Martin Taylor [SS005]](/img/n.gif)
playing guitar for 35 years but these 5 minutes gave me a completely new idea about playing solo jazz-guitar
Never knew of Martin Taylor until recently, honed in on his teaching technique, and bought his Beyond Chord Melody jazz instruction book and gotta tell you, it's an eye opener. He gets you playing simple major scale on only the 6th string then adds the 3rd of the chord above the root of each position on the scale, and finally moves the 3rd an octave higher for a better harmony effect calling it a 10th, and voila, you are instantaneously understanding how chords are put together, that some are major and some minor chords. With variations, and using this method in all keys, and then he adds 7ths to the mix, an improvised tune, and you really got your money's worth. Best thing is it opens my mind to create in every key what he's teaching in this book, which should take me a year or two, then ten years to get it right. Recommend. ciao.
This is so useful. I have spent $1000s on lessons over the years and this few minutes of video is worth all of that (almost). Absolutely brilliant. Thanks for posting this
Yeah, how great would it be to be a student of his.
This lesson is liquid gold. Very nice.
Then most informative 5mins and 49secs on UA-cam by far right now 😁😁🙌🏿🙌🏿
Glad you liked it! Martin does more video tuition on his site if you ever want to explore it.
I think the 5 mins of Bernstein at Harvard youtube video is FAR more informative, though this is fantastic.
ua-cam.com/video/Gt2zubHcER4/v-deo.html
Can someone tell me what the 7 chords at 1:17 - 1:23 are?
@workeupinapanic More is subjective but very interesting stuff!
wokeupinapanic Two completely different types of informative but I know exactly what you mean :)
Rafeeky I think the 7 chords are Amin7 D7 Gmaj7 Cmaj7 F#min7(b5) B7(b9) Emin7
Just another opinion here but informed by over fifty years experience playing classical and jazz. If one definition of "genius" is making the complex appear disarmingly simple, then Martin Taylor is on that list of creative geniuses. His prescription for creating and playing jazz guitar is brilliantly effective. And his teaching is unerringly transparent and succinct. The keys to the kingdom right here. I know he has the goods, because I literally play along note for note. Thank you, Martin!
I'll take it one step further. The most important thing to bear in mind is the third interval - major or minor? Knowing where to play that with the root (the tenth Martin refers to) will ultimately be all you need to "think about" as you listen to and play what you hear in your mind. Like George Benson.
I had the exact same thought about the third interval when watching this for the first time. I was trying to understand what he was saying intuitively, and that's what made sense to me. It makes me wonder what intervals can sufficiently substitute the third while still providing a skeleton that allows you to "break away" if you will, from conventional western harmony, in the classical sense. Thank you for sharing.
His explanation is so concise!
Martin is a superb natural teacher .He communicates complex ideas succinctly and easily digested by his students.
I just love Martin, and have so for the last 25 years...I discovered him when he was playing with Grappelli....what a combo!
One of the best five minutes of tuition on UA-cam
Wow. Amazing. Just hearing of Martin today. Need to dive deep into his body of work and learn from him.
Martin you are a great guitarist an a great teacher too.Thank you on behalf of all your followers❤
Love Martin Taylor. Had the pleasure of seeing him perform and attending a workshop. Made me laugh when after playing his opening piece he asked if anyone had bought their guitars and did they want to come up on stage. To which I then saw guitars disappearing under seats..... including mine. Master and Genius!
I love that "Martin Taylor" doesnt play a Martin or a Taylor - really messing with UA-cam searches
Do you know what he's playing here? Googling "Martin Taylor Guitar" ain't gonna help me haha
hahaha
Cher hardly ever sits down
You probably know this by now but it might help someone else… He plays Peerless guitars, they have a number of models, think he still has a signature guitar with them. Beautiful guitars
Kind sir, you have just blew my mind! The way you broke it down made it so obvious. Thank you.
beautiful guitar player. and a great lesson thank you.. you make it seem a breeze..
This is seriously worth gold
Wow! You are an amazing guitar player and a fab musician. Coming from a classical background, I see there is so much more in jazz improvising. Thanks for all the lessons you have shared on the web. All the best. I look forward to hearing more soon. Thanks.
really insightful and informative video thanks
That guitar sound is just probably one of the best sounds I ever heard.
This is teaching at its best! WOW! This is some amazing guitar learning method and every step of the way is enriching! WOW!
Martin Taylor starts with simple explanations that always lead to a very advanced place. As he gets to the "sixth" step of explanation you can see that what he's doing is "opening the door" to individual "artistry" !
2:29 this video is so informative, ive searched so much videos relating to counterpoint improv and hearing him say that he just focuses on this as sort of sketch or outline to build up on is so helpful
Excellent video thank you
Thanks John, glad you like it!
I never heard of M. Taylor until now (maybe because I'm French). But Sylvain LUC, a French genius guitar player, has brought this kind of style to perfection...
The album Summertime with Lagrene is insane
Time well spent for U and for me in your breakdown of technique.
Great musician. thanks
I know this isn't what the video is about, but that really is a beautiful guitar.
Jim Hall played the same guitar too, I've seen it in a photo.
......
u do u bruh
Don't take drugs kids... @gamesguy why you so mean bro? were all here to be sexy just chill its ok and no one is a pile of sticks its impossible... unless that's what you identify as which is also cool...
It's a Peerless, actually not the same guitar Jim Hall was used to play. The late Jim Hall played a Sadowsky.
Brilliantly edited ...top notch!!
best guitarist from Scotland
Outstanding. Thanks very much. Superb.
Thank you Martin, this is so useful -the step breakdown demystifies quite a bit. I want to work on this and apply it to rock.
If you're gonna play guitar with a name like that, you'd better be ridiculously good.
Martin Taylor started his career before Bob Taylor started making guitars, so he hasn't had to live up to the name really.
That guitar tone is gorgeous for an electric guitar....its so woody and rich harmonically
You already got me on the 5th step
After reading through the comments below, it occurs to me that there are those out there who, without Mr. Taylor’s obvious credentials, seek to disparage his work. For them, I have a suggestion. Do not waste your time (and ours) trolling a recognized success like Mr. Taylor. Post your own video and show us all the truth and the way
Just what I was looking for! thanks! ( I am a fingerpicking folk guitarist)
Remarkable insight from a remarkable guitarist
Beautiful lesson !
Wow! Awesome! Thanks!
Martin is a damn good teacher
Great stuff..
That was terrific. In my dreams, that is my style!
That tone is sick!
What a useful lesson! Thank you
This is simply genius
So clear and logical, and you are humble enough to give Bach the credit. Thanks for opening up my ears and fingers.
Awesome! Love it! Thank you.
I saw you playing at the 100 Club in oxford St in 1992... blew my mind. A gig I have never forgotten. Btw...you were ginger then! ;)
Hi Martin Taylor.. Absolutely precise and clear cut in just a couple steps to make a melody magical with jazz and harmony..Looks pretty easy and a simple approach undoubtedly, nevertheless it is a little time consuming to get one's chordal shapes and positions plus the melody to be well projected without the other parts overruling the main melody at any given phrase or line for that matter..
Wow, hats off and thanks a lot for these orderly steps to approach.. Warm cheers..God bless.. siva..gtr..India..(GuitSiva)👍😊🎶🎸
Wow! Awesome!
Wow ….. Martin … Thanks 🙏🏽
It's a curious phenomenon that the most useful information available, presented by people who actually play music for a living (as opposed to those who spend their lives regurgitating (often misleading) information they have never put into practice themselves), gets such vociferous criticism from the patently ignorant, and such unanimous praise from the obviously informed...
Thank you!
Pretty good explanation
excellent-
This is awesome
so much to learn, so little time!
This is great, I just wish one could do this with tremolo picking.
This shows that learning an instrument is all about experimenting with it and being able to learn new ways to approach it, along with theory. Online and private lessons are great, but will not work if the learner is not learning efficiently.
Nice. I wanna try it but what about different tunes with different melodies? Not all tunes are composed so conveniently like "Autumn Leaves" where the melody can alternate with chords. Most tunes you have to play chord melody on strong beats. How to do that?
Some serious finger gymnastics going on there.
What part did he invented?
Would love to hear Martin do a cover of Bluesette 🎸🐕🍒
A great lesson indeed. Reminiscent of the Great Ted Greene.
masterful
It's like getting to walk around in the mind of a genius.
''When I understand the intervals in between...'' That is where so many musicians fail.
In F'g credible... thank you!
What's the make and model of the guitar? Thanks!
Nice
Wonderfull stuff! Aside from the incredible information, I was also struck by how good your guitar sounds. What is it?
It's a Martin Taylor Maestro signature guitar made by Peerless. I've always promised myself one when my playing justifies it - but I've got a long, long way to go yet!
The man is a genius
+gamesandguitars003 lmao says the 12yo 'gamer' with a RoboCop avatar... This guy has more talent in his pinky than you'll ever have mate.
U can only dream of reaching his skill level, and u know it ;) lol
My very eager mother just served us nine pickles, and the pickles is pluto!
Get this guy's book, it is just 9.99 on Amazon and that's the best investment in learning guitar.
Song?
Just wooowww
I think this might be fun to play, but as for the listener, the step where he merged the chords with the melody sounded the best. Don't get me wrong, I like to play complex stuff myself, but unless you're a musician (and sometimes even then) you'll just get bored by listening to too much impro and you slowly lose track of the main idea.
What chords is he playing?
How did he know that these chords will go with the melody?
Autumn Leaves, a common jazz standard
I'm guessing Steps 5, 6, and 7 take years. Surely worth it if you get to any level close to Martin's.
It must be really cold in that room.
Awesome. Somehow it reminds a lot of classical guitar.
whats is the name of the song?
@gamesand could you fuck off mate... ya pile of stick hating turd sandwich.
Not every professional musician can teach. Some that get involved in teaching really shouldn't be.
Martin is clearly a natural tutor.
What music is he playing?
Trap Jazz
We called it "Melody & Accompaniment"?
What's with the heavy coat? Is it cold in there?
WysteriaGuitar he's playing cool jazz...bdum tshh
I'm interested to use that theme in a composition
tenth?
2:58
Martin Taylor, or Ibanez Seagull, or Takimine Alvarez... all good people
Obviously he should turn on heat.
I'm guessing it's cold in that room. Ha ha.
Title says 'counterpoint'. Not sure if that's presented but great lesson anyway.
Haha i hope this is a joke lol
1:17
Sounds like Bach. He is amazing. Wow.
Oh should have watched the rest of the video. Ha
You're right it's Bach but this way it's kind hard to hear the original melody.I would just use counterpoint here and there so listeners will guess what kind of tune you're playing.
Martin Taylor, sponsored by Martin Guitars and Taylor Guitars...
andsalomoni as i thought Man.. lol
I like Martin''s playing a lot, however, (leaving aside debate as to whether what he is playing is counterpoint or not) what really upsets me is that he has never-to my knowledge anyway- given credit to Louis Stewart, the guitar player from who he learned so much, and who certainly preceded him in this style of solo playing. Not to mention all the other solo jazz players. To claim inventing the style is really 'a bit rich'. But its so good that he allows us to be the beneficiaries of his knowledge, just as he has been of others...
They recorded together(oh,for a re-issuse).They also had a row.
"I started playing the guitar in 1960" he was born in 1956 so he was 4 years old when he started playing....
I was born in 1956. Started playing in 1968. Not sure of your maths.
Yes,he was playing at 4 years old.
His middle name is Takamine
I don't think many guitarist understand what counterpoint melody is. I will admit this is close to counterpoint but I'm not sure if you can play counterpoint melody on guitar without fretting with both hands.
Actually, I take that back. I believe you can play counterpoint if your using your thumbs as a serpent line. The reason this and almost every counterpoint guitar video fail is because counterpoint is two melodies playing at the same time! You and every other guitarist separate your melodies which make them even easier to distinguish but regardless everything in this video could be broken down to chords and 1 melody line that just jumps octaves. Btw I hate how he mentions how he was watch a piano player play 10th interval broken chords as if that's a fuckin melody! This guy doesn't know shit about music theory just after listening to that. A melody has its own unique rythem and interval line. Not repeating interval jumps that is literally just an extended broke chord.
I play jazz guitar and classical guitar. I understand what you mean about this particular use of the term 'counterpoint' and it might be better to refer to it as something other than counterpoint. However, guitarists can play counterpoint; there is no particular difficulty in playing 'two melodies at the same time' which itself might not be the most accurate definition of counterpoint:)
BTW listened to your performance of 'Love the One You're With'.
@Irish Muso Lol so did I. He sure knows how to talk a big game doesn't he
Recurdos de la Alhambra. = two melodies. The first melody is played with the thumb, the second melody is a tremolo and uses all three fingers of the plucking hand ua-cam.com/video/7iVFncQADvc/v-deo.html
Then, the next step would be playing two melodies at the same time, what counterpoint really is (would be difficult to improvise more than one melody at the same time though). After that, put the melody not in top, but rather at the middle of three melodies or at the bottom. Well, there is so much stuff you can do. You just need to expand your knowledge with imagination.
Consider 1) the bass as the bass melody (w/ embellishments and variations) as melody 1); 2) the melody w/ embellishments and variations as melody 2) and 3) the alto/tenor 3rd to 7th or vice versa (w/ embellishments and variations) as the inner melody 3). ... this is polyphonic and describes MT's style well. And he improvises them all.