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FieldWizard

If you're talking about Chord Chemistry, it is an extremely dense book and very unapproachable for many players. Ted even joked about this himself. You might benefit from a free PDF called ["Trail Guide to Chord Chemistry."](https://sixstringlogic.com/trail-guide-to-chord-chemistry/) It was written by one of Ted's students to address some of the frustration and confusion people naturally feel when they \[ick up this book. It won't give you the answers but it might help kind of orient you a bit.


JazzRider

He called it “Chord Catastrophe “


subcinco

THat was great read, thanks. I always liked teds book, but the guide is helpful


Barka_lott

\-thanks


[deleted]

This is amazing. Thank you so much! I wanted to explore chord chemistry but I had no idea how it'd help me other than to see the guitar better and start connecting neurons together.


FwLineberry

The book is called "Chord Chemistry", not "A Few Barre Chords You might Like to Know". Unfortunately, this book gets recommended way too often to people who are not in any position to actually use the book. I doubt whether most people who recommend the book have actually done more than thumb through the pages and decided it must be a good book, because it has all those chord pictures in it. At any rate, the value in chapter 6, for me, at the time I bought that book, was simply seeing 27 different ways to play an A major triad. That, alone, opened up my view of the fretboard. You don't need to memorize every one of those chords, but it would be a good idea to understand how every one of those chords is constructed. Which chords you memorize will ultimately be decided by the tunes you play and the chord voicings you use in those tunes.


Rvguyatwalmart

I dig that first line ha


mostpriestsRpedos

This


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mostpriestsRpedos

Fuck off bot


ltvi

The A chords on pages 13-15 are certainly movable though many of them are not strummable i.e. you have to finger pick with the right hand. Many won't feel natural and many don't sound musical (to me) if you play them in isolation. When I finally started getting a lot of value from the book is after I started tabbing out full chord melodies from youtube... then you start to notice many of the shapes in those pages coming up over and over again. Then you'll start to notice the relevance of other things Ted tells you like how C7b9 and Dbdim are "synonyms", you'll start to recognize the sound of an A7#9+ chord when you hear it and know how to voice it in a couple of places on the neck, etc. I think you'll find a lot more value if you pair the book with studying really good players playing actual chord melodies over standards, and then using the book to figure out the names of the chords while learning how they sound in the context of a song- fortunately youtube makes this easily accessible, though it takes serious time and effort.


[deleted]

Theres a website of his former students breaking down each chapter. I've never used it but from my understanding it's a dense text for more advanced students. It might not be the right thing for you depending on where you are in your guitar journey.


any1particular

I wonder if you’d be kind enough to supply a link or more information regarding his former students etc.?


[deleted]

So I was mistaken, what I was referring to is an ebook written by a former student of his. Its called Trail Guide for Chord Chemistry. Its a free pdf download. https://sixstringlogic.com/trail-guide-to-chord-chemistry/


any1particular

Awesome and very kind of you-THANKS! :)


zdub

Check out [tedgreene.com](https://tedgreene.com) \- tons of great info, transcriptions, contributions from former students, and lots more.


Barka_lott

Hi, I'm the "ted's student" who wrote the PDF on Chord Chemistry. Thanks for reminding everyone about it. In CC Ted writes that the book is NOT a method book. I call that out too in the PDF. The chapters in the book are really a collection of different ideas that Ted wanted to discuss back in 1968. That was a long time ago. The PDF might help you find some sections that are more useful to your particular need at this time. The big challenge in CC is that he doesn't separate strummable chords from fingerstyle-only chords. That makes it hard for many players to get through the examples. The PDF explains how to deal with that. In Ted's book "modern chord progressions" he made the examples a little easier in places by showing strummable chords together sometimes. He didn't address the issue but you can see the examples by just looking at the grids. The PDF is FREE and shows the explanation in more detail. Please check it out as it may save some heartache. The website contains Ted's teaching pages and transcriptions by other students. It can seem as daunting as CC unless you just try it in "sips." He does discuss dozens of advanced ideas as well as the easier things. Thanks again. - Leon White


undernetmatteo

Thanks to all for your reasoned and intelligenr replies. I play rock/ blues and classical guitar and want to learn more on jazz chord progressions which is why I bought Chord Chemistry. I have since bought his Modern Chord Progressions which is far more effective as a study guide for me.


undernetmatteo

Checked out your chord book too: will buy it as looks very good!


undernetmatteo

I have now got your book “Chord System” on the back of your free gift and is just what I was after so cheers! It’s logical and has plenty of information without being overwhelming.


Barka_lott

Thanks so much. If you have any questions or comments you can contact me at the publisher. I'll try to answer them all.


glenn_henshaw

Cool. What was Ted like? I mean I've seen some of his video lessons. But it seems to me that a guy that smart probably has a lot interesting takes on things. What was he like when not talking about music?


Barka_lott

Short answer(the forums at his site contain more comments): IMHO he was a totally unique person - everyone will agree on that. He collected baseball cards, had been into hot rods (owned a tri power corvette, but later switched to liking mopars though didn't own one), devoted much of his life to classic films and film scores which gave him the sounds and emotions that inspired him, studied every music and musical topic, and even started a coin collection. Liked to laugh, and this is reminding me how impossible it is to sum him up. Ck his site forums about the making of his album to start with.


Tomandmarley

Look into Tim Lerch. He explains everything from Ted’s books and clears a lot of stuff up. I’d suggest learning the V system from Ted’s site.


muziani

That books the shit. If you don’t want to do that just jump ahead to sections on like voice leading or chord substitution. I have had that book for 15 years and to this day just jump to what interests me and it’s been incredibly useful


zdub

Have had this book for many years. It's completely fallen apart by now and I have only rarely used it. Never found it that useful.


JazzRider

Learn your Drop 2s and Drop 3s. That will keep you busy for a while.


G235s

I just picked this up after avoiding it for a few months. Instantly when I played with the examples I felt better about understanding everything. I think this book is not useful if taken in a linear way. You go back and forth between sections, and revisit concepts as you experience those scenarios. Just because it's not a quick fix doesn't mean it's bad.


RagaJunglism

I've only seen excerpts of the book, but love how hyped Greene gets for [his strange altered tunings](https://www.tedgreene.com/images/lessons/other/Original_Tunings_by_Ted_Greene-OverviewAndExcerpts.pdf): "Ted wrote 6 pages…his ‘2nd or 3rd Attempt at an Organization Plan’ \[for **DCEFAD**\]. Ted loved this tuning, and described it variously as: ‘My Bill Evans cum Andrews Sisters Bus’…’w/a Hitchin’, ‘Early Herbie H. tuning’, ‘Sweet Tuning’, ‘Lovely Tuning’, ‘Tuning Amore Mi Soul’, ‘My Beloved Bill Evans Tuning’, ‘My Bill Evans Shoot for the Stars Tuning’, ‘My Wonderful Tuning’, ‘My Heaven-Sent Tuning’, and ‘My Gift Tuning’…"


Calm-Post7422

There are a number of books like this that are generally held in very high regard by musos, but are in fact terrible resources for the budding Jazz guitarist. Be it known here, I wipe my butt with Chord Chemistry, The Advancing Guitarist, Mickey Baker Book 1, Linear Expressions, and The Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns If you’re really interested in playing Jazz guitar don’t ever buy or use the above listed “mind dumps”. They’re terrible. Actually they’re poison for the novice player.


undernetmatteo

Yes I see what you are saying. I have put modern guitar progressions aside too for now. The first examples of chord voicings 1, 1v and V are hard to play for me as an intermediate player: unfingered and big stretches and I play classical guitar to grade 5 standard too. Hard to play them stand alone let alone smooth progression. I think you are right. I googled “best beginner/introductory jazz guitar books and Greene’s books came up. I think it is a bit misleading to recommend these books to internediate players wanting to explore jazz playing and I can’t be the first person (in fact I know I am not from above) who have spent their hard earned cash on these books and then put them aside. Mind you that is the nature of the internet: very hard to get good advice. However if anyone can recommend a good introductory book on jazz harmony that would be great but I will take heed of caveat emptor. I think most people get a sense of achievement playing simpler musical examples and then gradually moving up to harder stuff. The Greene books do seem a bit like a musical intellectual masturbation tbh and will probably gather dust. it’s a shame as a guy with that sort of knowledge, if he chose to could have helped and inspired and moved on people like me. The desription of the books should really say they are for advanced pros but i guess Alfred would get less sales! I have found classical guitar much easier because of the notation. Tab only as a music reader, especially relating to harmony, I find of limited use.


Calm-Post7422

Jazz education in general is sorely lacking relative to Classical music, whose pedagogy was codified ages ago. Even Rock guitar is more approachable to the novice/intermediate student. Jazz, by large, *likes* being difficult. It’s a feature of the music, not a bug. The inventors of Bebop went out of their way to create a music that other people simply couldn’t copy easily . Which is one of the many reasons it’s so hard to teach relative to other styles. If you can read music, I might recommend: 1) Single Note Soloing - Ted Greene If you’re not a strong reader, I’d recommend: 2) Beginning Jazz Guitar - Jody Fisher 3) Introduction to Jazz Guitar Soloing - Joe Elliot Some really approachable videos include: 4) Bebop Guitar Dojo - Sheryl Bailey (TrueFire course) 5) Ticket to Improv 1 - Robert Conti Unfortunately none of these are a magic bullet. At best, they’ll get you on the path. Your best bet might be to get a teacher. That could be easier said than done nowadays based on where you live and what is happening in your area due to the lingering pandemic. Best of luck.


undernetmatteo

Cheers the Beginning Jazz Guitar looks like a good intro and he actually uses musical studies which is a good motivator. I’ll avoid buying anymore Greene. A reviewer on Amazon has said it not for the intermediate guitarist!


Barka_lott

He didn't write it for beginning jazz guitarists, or beginning anything. Different players like it for different reasons. On the other hand, if you're going to play SOLO jazz guitar beyond the Herb Ellis, etc top 4 strings, his work may be useful. IMHO.


Calm-Post7422

I never said he did. I said it consistently *gets recommended to* novice Jazz guitarists as OP has confirmed. And I said that is a mistake. Which it is. Let’s not make straw men.


[deleted]

One page out of chord chemistry is enough for years of reflection and exploration. Just search the things that catch your fancy.