Looking for jazz guitar lessons in Toronto? At Leaside Music School you can learn jazz guitar one-on-one with working musicians in East York, whether you are picking up the guitar for the first time or you want to add jazz to what you already play. Here is what jazz guitar lessons involve, who teaches them, and how to get started.
What will I learn in jazz guitar lessons?
Jazz guitar rests on a handful of core skills that you build week by week. Every program is tailored to the student, but lessons typically include:
- Chords and voicings. From open and barre chords to the seventh chords and richer voicings that give jazz its sound.
- Scales and arpeggios. Pentatonic and blues scales first, then the scales and chord tones used to improvise over jazz harmony.
- Common progressions. The 12-bar blues and the ii-V-I, the building blocks of countless jazz standards.
- Comping. Playing chords and rhythm behind a melody or another soloist.
- Melody and improvisation. Learning tunes, then creating your own lines over them.
- Ear training and reading. Working tunes out by ear and reading lead sheets, chord charts, tab or notation.
- Swing feel and phrasing. How jazz rhythm and articulation work.
Do I need to be an advanced guitarist to start jazz?
No. If you know a few chords, you can start. Complete beginners build fundamentals first, such as holding the guitar, basic chords and rhythm, then bring in jazz ideas as their skills grow. Players coming from rock, blues or classical backgrounds often find jazz the most rewarding way to deepen what they already know. Almost any guitar will do to begin with, and your teacher can advise on an instrument and amp as you progress. Not sure where you stand? A free trial lesson is a good way to find out.
What kind of guitar do I need for jazz, and who should I listen to?
Jazz is traditionally played on a hollow-body or semi-hollow electric guitar with a warm, rounded tone, but you can begin on whatever guitar you have, including an acoustic or a classical guitar. As you progress, your teacher can help you choose an instrument and amp that suit the sound you are after.
Listening is part of learning. Wes Montgomery shows how melody and octaves can sing, Joe Pass shows how a single guitar can play chords and melody together, Charlie Christian helped bring the electric guitar to the front of swing, and Django Reinhardt created a whole style of fast, expressive jazz. Pick a few recordings you love and bring them to your lesson.
Who teaches guitar at Leaside Music School?
Our guitar faculty includes Kevin McCloskey, who has 30 years of professional playing behind him, has taught guitar and bass since 2001 and has explored styles beyond rock and country, past blues and jazz, including swing. Tim Stokes-Rees is a working musician of 30+ years who moves between pop, classic rock, jazz trio and modern cover bands. Melissa Paju, a multi-instrumentalist and composer, also teaches guitar. Tell us about the jazz you want to play when you book and we will match you with the right teacher. If piano is your instrument, see our jazz piano lessons.
How are jazz guitar lessons structured?
Lessons are weekly, one-on-one and 30, 45 or 60 minutes long. For jazz, 45 or 60 minutes gives you time to work on technique, learn part of a tune and try improvising in the same session. Short, regular practice, such as 15 to 30 minutes most days, will take you further than one long session before your lesson.
How long does it take to learn jazz guitar?
It depends on where you start and how much you practice. Many students are comfortable with basic jazz chords and a blues within a few months, while fluent improvisation over standards takes longer, often a year or more of steady work. Our post on how long it takes to learn guitar gives realistic timelines for the basics.
Where can I perform what I learn?
The school holds casual monthly recitals where students play solo or with others. The music has included rock, pop, jazz and folk, so it is a friendly way to try out a tune in front of a live audience. See the recitals page for details.
How much do jazz guitar lessons cost?
Lessons are $40 for 30 minutes, $55 for 45 minutes and $70 for 60 minutes, billed in four-lesson cycles. There are no registration or administration fees, and music lessons are not subject to tax. Your first lesson is a free trial. See our prices page for details.
How do I get started with jazz guitar lessons in Toronto?
Book a free trial lesson through our contact page or call 416 483 9117. The studio is at 214 Laird Drive, 2nd Floor, in East York, a few minutes' walk from Bayview and Eglinton. We are open Monday to Friday from noon to 10:00pm and on weekends from 10:00am to 6:00pm. You can also learn more about our guitar and bass lessons, bass lessons and teachers.
