Jazz Guitar

The Jazz guitar has had a surprisingly long role in the history of jazz music, used as a solo instrument as well as being used as an ensemble instrument.

The earliest jazz guitars used within the jazz music scene were acoustic models and are still used in jazz to this day, however a number of jazz guitarists since the forties have decided to opt for an amplified electric guitar for their jazz guitar choice, typically using an archtop and soundbox, as well as violin-style f-holes, a floating bridge and magnetic pick up. This gives the jazz guitar a stand-alone, recognisable sound clearly identified with the jazz genre.

The main reason that musicians decided to choose the electric jazz guitar rather than the acoustic guitar was due to the acoustic jazz guitar sound in ensemble music being drowned out by drums and trombones to the point where it could not be heard, whereas using an amplifier with an electric guitar ensures the music is heard. Styles of jazz guitar playing cam include comping, chords beneath a song's melody and blowing, a term for improvising, over chord progressions.

This improvisation in jazz guitar playing results in the guitarist using scales, modes and arpeggios associated with chords in a tune as well as chord progression.

Jazz guitar is not the most popular instrument within the jazz music genres, rather brass and reed instruments appear to be the popular choice, however musicians such as John McLaughlin and Leadbelly popularised the jazz guitar within the genre, to an extent where it is becoming increasingly more favourable amongst jazz musicians and fans.