Even the most technically skilled jazz musicians, such as Louis Armstrong and Thelonious Monk, taught themselves how to play their instruments. Self-taught musicians are even more common in rock music. Let's take a look at some of the most famous self-taught musicians who made a huge impact on the world. Is it possible to learn jazz without a teacher? Absolutely! You can learn jazz from the comfort of your own home with the right resources and dedication. To get started, you'll need a collection of jazz albums, your instrument, a plan of action, and some discipline.
Check out this list of the best jazz books of all time or some of the must-see jazz documentaries. Django Reinhardt, a French violinist, combined musette dancehall with jazz and created an entirely new form of improvisational music that was so unique it was simply called “gypsy jazz”. Learning jazz standards can help you become familiar with the basics of jazz harmony since many of these songs from the American songbook share similar chord sequences and cadences. It's especially impressive when you consider that many of the best jazz musicians emerged at a time when there was no formal education about jazz in conservatories or universities. The author of The Making of Jazz called the man who could not read music or study it with traditional fingering “without a doubt, the most important guitarist in the history of jazz.”.
