Anyone else use their classical as a jazz box?

[Special B]

I know I am not the first person to do this, nor am I suggesting it is unique.

My classical teacher lived in Brazil for many years to study Brazilian guitar, so his enthusiasm for people like Baden Powell rubbed off on me.

I haven't taken classical guitar lessons in about 5 years, but I still play my classical guitar every single day. However, I play jazz on it about 50% of the time, and classical and flamenco only about 25% each.

Any other AGF members who love classical guitars as jazz boxes rather than purely for flamenco and classical?

I have owned a few electric guitars that I used as jazz guitars, but never ended up "bonding" with them. As a fingerpicker from the start and having some classical and flamenco training, a classical guitar works great for me with jazz.

Sometimes I tell a friend or co-worker that I play classical guitar, but I really mean that I play *on* a classical guitar. If, in a later conversation, they mention that I play classical guitar, I am usually taken aback. "no, I mainly play jazz" which is met by a "but you said...."

I'll take a Torres-style classical guitar any day. But I consider myself a jazz player first. It gets confusing.

But then I listen to Baden Powell, or the guitar work on The Black Saint and Sinner Lady, and I feel okay.

[bfloyd6969]

Not Jazz, but I flatpick on my nylon stringer. I play medieval, renaissance, and celtic solo flatpick tunes and much prefer the tone of nylon strings over steel strings. I know quite a few jazz guitarists are using nylon strung guitars - I think it sounds great.

[frankhond]

Check out Duck Baker if you havent already...

[bohemian]

Duck Baker uses a Takamine "flamenco"

As much as I admire his musical abilities.. he is a sloppy player.

PS I did take a private lesson with him.

[janina74]

Hi, I am still a greenhorn compared to you all here but I first bought an accoustic guitar with nylon strings and then decided to learn and play blues. And my feeling is that some pickings are rather written for nylon than steel strings...

[Roselynne]

I've tried some total noobie-style jazz on both nylon and steel. For me, nylon's definitely the way to go!

[rgregg48]

I play some jazz and country instrumentals on one,

Rick

[mr. beaumont]

Yep! I sure do...I love using nylon string guitars for jazz...I play a lot of nylon and very little classical, actually.

[jmiked0]

I play everything on my Spanish guitars... classical, blues, jazz, Chet Atkins style, etc.

If you want to hear to jazz on nylon strings, look for Charlie Byrd and Earl Klugh on youtube. I'm not sure there are any Joe Pass videos of him with a Spanish guitar, but there are some audio sessions on youtube from the album Unforgettable, and I have the CD of him playing a nylon string guitar.

[Special B]

I love Joe Pass but have never heard him play on a nylon string guitar. I will have to look for that.

Thanks for the replies.

[fitness1]

One of the most talented musicians and vocalists on the forum - Miche Fambro (who may not see this thread). Username Fambroski - do a search for tons of posts of his videos. Many are not "jazz" per se, but he certainly is capable of just about anything he puts his mind to....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sa_6...ature=youtu.be

[softballbryan]

This sounds jazzy.

http://youtu.be/EpNynZ-t84o

Bryan

[Jim Tozier]

Originally Posted by jmiked0

If you want to hear to jazz on nylon strings, look for Charlie Byrd

Was going to mention the same thing. When I was a teenager, I used to go see Charlie perform all the time at the King of France Tavern in Annapolis... and absolutely loved his tone.

Although you would never guess it from my playing, Charlie Byrd was a huge influence on me. Not in terms of trying to emulate what he did... but because of the conversations I used to have with him.

One of my uncles was a friend of his, and would often take me to see him play when I was 14 or 15 years old. When Charlie would take a break, he would often sit down at our table and talk with me about guitar, emphasizing how much dedication and passion are required to become a guitarist. Made quite an impression on me...

[fitness1]

Originally Posted by Jim Tozier

Was going to mention the same thing. When I was a teenager, I used to go see Charlie perform all the time at the King of France Tavern in Annapolis... and absolutely loved his tone.

Although you would never guess it from my playing, Charlie Byrd was a huge influence on me. Not because in terms of trying to emulate what he did... but because of the conversations I used to have with him.

One of my uncles was a friend of his, and would often take me to see him play when I was 14 or 15 years old. When Charlie would take a break, he would often sit down at our table and talk with me about guitar, emphasizing how much dedication and passion are required to become a guitarist. Made quite an impression on me...

Wow, very cool JT. I have/had several of his recordings and always loved the sound he got. It must have been awesome seeing him in a small venue like that!!

[David Eastwood]

Originally Posted by bohemian

Duck Baker uses a Takamine "flamenco"

As much as I admire his musical abilities.. he is a sloppy player.

PS I did take a private lesson with him.

Gratuitous dig of the day. Was that really necessary?