Wow! - This stuff is getting better all the time! I can't believe how the barriers are falling - It's like Bob said: "All sorts of doors will open, and all sorts of lights will start to go on" - They are! My right hand fingers are pretty much automatic now, and my performance passable on almost 3 songs. Even the open 6th string Em9 chord at the 7th fret is finally getting tamed as well. It was hard to play that clean at a reasonably fast speed when you're passing through a sequence and combining a finger roll at the same time! lol Still, as with all this stuff, you know EXACTLY what you SHOULD be playing, so the obstacles are only physical and not mental. One particular 'light that's turned on' is that there is absolutely no need to be stressed with any of this - (Yeah Bob I finally GOT that one! lol) When I follow what Bob says on the DVD's "everything else DOES take care of itself" - I know, I've proved it myself. Sorry for hogging the testimonials board, but this stuff is so good I can't keep it to myself. Jules. Awe inspiring tuition from a man at the top of his game.Jules.

Bob Conti spoke about 'the flattening learning curve' on one of his Chord Melody DVD's, and spoke about how significantly easier it gets when the curve starts to flatten out. He was right in spades! The initial CM ('Since I Fell for You')took me a long time to get the grip of, but it's NOT heard to know what you need to practice to 'get it' - as it's demonstrated clearly and simply on the DVD. The second CM I worked on (God Bless The Child) started to recycle a part of the first one song, as Bob stated would start to happen... I only knew a few jazz chords grips before I started, but by this time I had mastered the majority of the common chords Bob uses. Of course I am learning new tricks along the way that will also be recycled in many more songs, but the curve is really starting to flatten now, and my speed of learning songs is rapidly accelerating. Another brilliant tip Bob gave was not to bother learning the names of every chord as 'You will pick them up through using them' - surprisingly, this is absolutely correct!!! lol I am now part way through learning 'Indian Summer' - a really show stopping CM if ever there was one. Bob has got even better in his DVD teaching delivery, by laying out the chords right through the arrangement from start to finish on the chords grip sheets - so people who don't know music don't have to keep moving around the codas etc, it's straight off the layout. The big question is: "How can his teaching GET any better?" lol I would like to say that I am more than satisfied with this world class tuition from a world class player. If any guitarist masters Bob's DVD arrangements then (even if it is one song at a time) he must become a world class guitarist himself in the end. I only spend an hour a day on the DVD's but my progress has been remarkable even if I do say so myself. Another great thing Bob pointed out was that when you have learned 30 to 50 songs, a guitarist develops the ability to'know' where the song is going and play it off the cuff EVEN IF they have never played it before. This must work in the same way that a lead player can play a tune straight off because his ear has developed over playing so many solos. The jazz guitarist can manage to do it because he has developed the lightning fast and accurate jump to hit a harmonising chord to an individual note.So if he's heard the melody he can instantly harmonise it and play embellishments taught in the DVD's. I could write about my discoveries over the last year or two using Bob's DVD's all day - but the bottom line, like Bob says is: "It's all in the playing!". You learn jazz by playing arrangements NOT my knowing every scale and mode known to man. It's like you can memorise all the words in the English language but it won't make you a great writer. Neither will knowing all the rules of grammar make you a great public speaker. My advice (after decades of floundering around with these stupid things) is if you want to play AND really understand jazz get Bob's DVD's and watch the scales (from your eyes) fall away one by one. The byproduct of knowing this stuff spills over into any songwriters bag of tricks as well. Better go, the guitar is calling...... Julian Wilson.

I've been playing guitar since the age of 8, I'm now 50. I studied at Berklee in the early 80's. Never have I learned so much from one person. I have three of the Source Code DVD's and they're great! Maybe next you'll come out with a DVD on business and finance for guitarists. Thank's for the knowledge and inspiration.

Robert Conti is one of the most brilliant guitarists of our time. His musical expression and technical execution is unparalleled. When you see and hear Conti play his eight string guitar, you hear a symphony.

I met Robert Conti by chance in the mid sixties in front of a place called the Beachcomber Lounge in Jacksonville, Florida. A conversation began when he made a comment about a flashy Cadillac that I owned at that time. That night, he sat in with the band and had the place in an uproar. When I heard him play guitar, I could not believe my ears! We have remained lifelong friends since that night sometime in 1965. We have had some great times through the years! In fact, I was involved in the production of a one hour Robert Conti video in 1969. Who knows, it may have been the first music video ever produced? To this day, I think Bob is the ultimate guitarist of our time.

Bob, I am just getting more and more everyday out of the two Chord Solo arrangements I have been practicing for months - and the 'lights' are really starting to turn on jazz wise. I've started zipping around and playing with the bass, and generating my own phrasing as I sing the tunes slightly differently in my head (after listening to different versions on you tube) and still using the chord alternatives you supply in the DVD's. You said it would happen and I would 'take off' - and I am!. I can't thank you enough. Jules

From what I have seen and heard so far I absolutely love Robert Conti`s aproach to Jazz Music.I am especially intersested in his solo chord melody material.

I've just run through the 12-bar blues free lesson. I'm an ancient (66) rock guitarist, still gigging, but I've tried for years to do the modes/scales approach. I've no hesitation in saying that this was a breath of fresh air, and I'll certainly be getting into the DVDs. One small thing - most rockers play in E,A,G,D or C! I know jazz has to be in B or E flat, for the horn players, but maybe a couple of introductory sessions in keys we neanderthals are used to would be nice. That part - brilliant. Dave

This is truly: "One Stop Shopping" for students of Jazz guitar. I own a good deal of Bob's material and found it the most direct way to get playing as that's what his emphasis is on; PLAYING!  Yeah, Bob is a great Great player and teacher. Happy 4th & Good luck at the tables!

Hello good people. I received the "Ticket To Improv" DVD a few days ago. I have invested a lot of money thru the years on guitar lessons and nothing worked, until I got your DVD, and it is wonderful. I cant wait until I have the time to sit and learn from the master. Since I'm 72 years young, I'm sure you can teach an old dog new tricks. Thanks again.

Robert, thank you so much for teaching this. I just finished my first jazz guitar lesson, the free A-Train lesson on this site. I've been playing the guitar for 30 years but never found anyone to teach me jazz. I just played my first jazz licks! WOOHOO! Thank you so much. I can't wait to go through the Ticket-To-Improv stuff (should be here soon...)

Mr. Conti, I've been playing guitar for many years, interested in many different styles. I started studying Jazz in the 70's and briefly in the years to come. . In 2009 I realized Jazz was my passion again and started improvizing with backing tracks and with the knowledge of many scales modes and some theory but I couldn't play Jazz the way i wanted to. Bluesette has been one of my favorite jazz tunes, so i seached the internet for help and came across your Bluesette DVD demo. I ordered it immediately and since then other learning products.  I wanted to let you know that for what I already knew and your learning products  I'm very close to playing jazz the way I want to.  So Mr. Conti you're a great player and I love the way you burn!  Your products are working very well for me! Thank You very much!

Mr Conti...I received your Improv 1 & 2 and I believe they are, for learning to improvise jazz guitar, the best I've ever seen. I sure wish I had learned this stuff years ago, as I would have been a far better guitarist. Well, it's fine. I will dive into study now, and wish to thank you for putting me light years ahead. I expect to order more in the future, and to try to master jazz guitar improvisation. Thanks again!

Thank you so much for your instructional materials! Started taking jazz lessons in Philadelphia in 1957, but detoured into rock, folk, blues. You've got me back to a love of the notes a chord makes, and reduced a mountain of theory into a Whitman's Sampler of tasty steps. May God bless you!

  I learned all the modes , scales , chord theory and arpeggios.  I learned the scales and arpeggios with all four fingerings on the sixth and fifth strings.  I learned many sets of chords, Root position,  first inversion, second inversion, third inversion.  I dazzled many guitarists with my knowledge of the fingerboard.  I still couldn't play. I went for lesson after lesson and was  told to keep practicing the major scales. Learn passing tones and all that kind of nonsense.  I learned this  in 1990 and was not able to solo or use my extensive chord knowledge.

  I ended up studying classical for one year and thought all I need is to learn to read better.  I ended up quitting in 1997 because that did not help.

  I started playing again in December 2008 and took instruction from a Jazz guitarist who showed me how to use my extensive chord knowledge , 2 5 1 etc. I will be forever greatful to him he taught me the necessary chords and to leave the unnecessary ones out. 

    Than I stumbled on to Robert Conti on the internet and purchased the chord melody assembly line.  I realized my chord knowledge was more extensive but for others it would help.  I than ordered Ticket to Improv Volume one and it has changed my life ever since.

     I than started to compare my music  studies to my dental studies and realized why I failed in music.  I was told I was not a natural.  I realized that was  not the case  for I would over come my disadvantages with hard work.  Before Robert Conti I was given what was comparable to anatomy in dental school that is what I would call the modes and scales.  I would compare chord theory to a course in physiology.

     With these courses you would never figure out how to be a dentist.    If we were told to figure out the techniques on our own we all would have failed and would still be there trying to figure it out.  When we were taught dental procedures we were not told to figure it out on our own. Neither are surgeons because these techniques have been tested and passed down through the generations .  This would have been   impossible to figure out on your own. 

That  is where the jazz licks come  in it is impossible for a begginer or intermediate to figure out the licks to a standard on your own.  most jazz standards have over 300 notes to a solo.  The jazz licks have been used over the generations. What Robert Conti does is pass them  on to you and than you get to put your own flavor on them.  Robert I will be forever gratetful to you.  You made it all make sense and showed us that unnaturals like my self can learn what was shared in the clubs years ago.  These clubs do not exist any more except in happening places with a music scene.  I live in the suburbs in central New Jersey and do not want to go out in the late evening in New York City trying to learn some licks. 

     Thank you

   George Likakis D.D.S.

Hi Robert

I very impressed by your DVD lesson and I would like to get it.

Regards

Tony

Robert, you are at the top. Your teaching style is direct and most meaningful. Your playing is fantastic. I have been a student of the guitar since 1959.

I have enjoyed the DVD (The Precision Technique) immensly, and begun putting into practice some of Robert Conti's suggestions.  So glad I found out about this series through Just Jazz Guitar.

Thank you for the recent dispatch of my order, I am delighted that you have enclosed ‘Danny Boy’ for me free of charge.  I know that Mr Conti is a busy man, if possible could you pass on my sincere gratitude and thanks for the gift.  I have a sincere respect for his humility as a tutor and his honesty in what he does.  Thank you all for the attention to detail and excellent customer care you have displayed over the last months.

Some time ago I bought the Ticket to Improv 1 and 2. I was progressing well with the second volume but realised that I would never have the time to play in a band - and so I employed your analytical outlooks to learning some solo fingerstyle Dylan tunes and I just got better and better.

However, the thought came to me about what you said about anyone can "Learn to play in lucrative classy joints" or somesuch with your solo guitar arangements.

Thanks to the good sense of your approach, I now have a fine level of confidence about my playing, so I am returning to jazz solo guitar and have targeted the next 5 years on absorbing how to get those gigs.

I have just received 'Since I Fell For You' and I am over the moon with it!

I (personally) should have opted for these arrangements rather than the 'improv' from the start - but Hey!, - nothing is lost if you learn something new about music right? I have learned persistence and focus from your approach and material - as well as never to give up on a song part way through because it can seem 'too much'. That in itself is a major key to musical success in it's own right.

I have learned more through doing an hour a day with clearly explained material than I did 'messing around' for years before - and I am now determined to become a fine solo jazz player.

Some months ago my Dad passed away. He had a long illness but he was very strong minded. In those months he was listening to some old jazz recordings - He was a pretty useful jazz pianist himself, and I told him what I was doing with country fingerstyle. Well he always was a biased jazz purist - s he told me on his deathbed: "Yes, but you listen to rubbish!"

I don't agree with that and I know you don't from your comments about your respect for top country players - but it certainly made me think about REALLY getting to grips with solo jazz arrangements. So here I am back on the horse, and I will certainly be learning one song after the other for the coming years till I CAN play weddings, restaurants etc! lol

Bless you for your fine work Bob as well as your good sense. I never get tired of hearing you talk as well as play - Honest!!

Respect!

Jules

I've had a lot of instruction books and courses over my many years. The best? Yours (no doubt about it) and the old time-tested Mickey Baker vol. 1 book.

I have played guitar for 20 years and learned jazz guitar, but this is the best learning material that I have ever came up to. I know that it is going to help me improve my paying ability drastically. Please tell Mr. Conti, thank you for this best learning material ever!

Bob, I have been meaning to write you for a long time to tell you about the impact The Jazz Lines is having on my playing. After playing for over 20 years by thinking my way through blocks of scales/modes, your system has helped me to easily play lines that transcend chord structures. Your system has helped me add so much color and texture to my solos. I do not have a core band that I hire for every concert. Instead, I have a list of several players for each instrument who I call as needed. It depends on who is in town. As a result, I may go months or even years between gigs with some of my guys. They really comment about the big improvement in my playing, thanks to you. And it is getting better all the time. Thank you for all that you do for guitar players. I look forward to seeing you at NAMM. 

God Bless You, Scott Detweiler www.detweilermusic.com

I received Ticket to Improv volume 1 and have made it through the first project and am loving it. It's nice to learn some nice, hip sounding lines. I'm intermediate level technically but I seem to have a great deal of trouble "hearing" hip jazz lines, so this DVD is ideal for me. Technically, it's a piece of cake, but in terms of teaching me something that makes me sound like I can play a jazz solo, as opposed to stumbling through a scale, it's invaluable. I am sure I will one day own all of the DVDs. Thanks!

I'd like to express my gratitude. I'm having so much fun with these DVDs! Great lines and Mr. Conti makes it look so easy. Thank you!

Best regards from Munich.

Pete Zinndorf

Of all the various books, DVDs and even live lessons that I have taken, Robert's DVDs and accompanying pdf's are by far the best!

Thanks for proving yet once again, that you guys are a class act, and go above and beyond the call of duty! I have been more than pleased with every lesson I have ordered and can't say enough good things about Robert Conti and his staff. You guys are absolutely the best in product and service!   Musically Yours, Gary Keniston

Hi Robert Conti, i am very happy that i recieve your 5 DVD with PDF. Amazing Playing, i like your dark chords. the moods - and all other ideas from you whit your big Musicality. You are a first class teacher -- before i was by Jimmy Bruno, excellent guitarist, bad as a teacher?? I think, that you can have more students in Europe. I know you only since 1 year.   I work 33 years in a Music Academie in Switzerland as a classical guitar teacher. Now a play since many years only "The great american songbook", because i have a little Arthrose in my left thumb o GOD! it`s call "Rhizarthrose". So i play only 12er Jazz Swing Thomastik. It would bee very nice from you, if you can present in the future a arrangement from "What are you douing with the rest of your life?" from the great composer Michel Legrand? Thank you very much Robert God bless you Dolf Schaller Sitzerland

Dear Maestro, I'm already an happy customer of yours DVDs. I own the complete "Source Code" series as well as the two "Ticket to Impro" disks. Your teachings are peerless, fun and useful, and - even more important - you give students courage and confidence. My deepest thanks!

I'm doing very well with all the DVDs. I have to tell you I have never bought any DVD on any kind of instruction that works like these do, its unbelievable. I've learned more in 3 weeks than in 30 years and have finally played something that sounds the way it should.  I'm going to post a message on the web site but I want to take my time so i dont forget to leave anything I want to say out lol. Please thank everyone there and especially Mr. Conti if you can. Thanks have a great day...

I'm so grateful to you and Mike for your professional advice and assistance. Having started on the first volume of TTI, I'm sure I will order more of your products in future. You will hear from me in due course since I'm looking forward in sending you videos of my progress. Wishing you the best in your business of making Jazz Guitar Stars, the simple way!

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Steve, just wanted to send you a note to say thanks....that was some of the best f**king customer service I have ever received and I want to make sure you get credit for it.  You resolved my problem super quickly and with a minimum of hassle, which is something that is unfortunately, all too rare these days! I'll be sure to spread the word about you guys...be sure to tell your Boss what a great job you did.  If you tell me where to send it, I'd be happy to write a letter myself. Cheers Mate!

Dear Mr.Conti, I don't know if this is the proper place to contact you but in your videos you always say email and let you know about the DVDs...I am just on project 4 in the TTI#2 and just received the TTI#3. I am an older student, 68 to be exact, and have in the past played in a C&W band for nine years. Always wanted to play Jazz and since growing up in Chicago have seen the greats, talked to Wes in a little club called the Wooden Nickel many years ago at a 2 dollar matinee no less and also saw Benson and many others in small clubs before fame came. As to your DVDs, I never knew of you till the last year or so and now I am your Number One fan for sure. I Love to hear you play and your teaching method is The Best without exception I have ever experienced hands down!!!! You are the first to lay it out where I can truly understand, I now use your picks and use the exercise book religiously, and you're the first teacher I have ever had that I believe in 100%. I have struggled to get through these first two CD's and am now working on your chord method and I just got the 12 bar blues book. Wow,,,,your blues feel is great, the lines are fantastic, I am only through the first 12 measures and it's tough but the results are worth it. Don't know if I will ever get to play out again or meet anyone else to play with but just the satisfaction of being able to play these solos is enough. I only wish as a sidebar you would include a simple melody instruction for the heads of the songs, I am still struggling with the backing tracks a bit as to where to come in. In closing I just wanted to thank you, I know this is your living but I truly believe you care about people and it comes across in your videos, I may never get to meet you but your my buddy for at least four hours a day and I feel like I already know you. So once again Thank You Mr. Conti I will continue on and continue with your products, they are the Best! Jerry Martin, Florence Oregon

Robert, wanted to tell you a couple things. I studied for just a few months in 1997-98 with Gary Bruno in Southern California, and he really got me heading in the right direction. Since then I knew I still had issues with my picking, speed, etc. I previously had ordered all your Source Code books except for the Precision Technique. I was actually going to forego ordering it. What a HUGE, HUGE mistake that would have been. I am in a gypsy jazz group, and play some other gigs, but have been so frustrated for years not being able to execute lines accurately at high speeds when it was my time to solo on a chorus. I knew I needed some resource that would take me through all sorts of fingerboard acrobatics for my picking had as well as fretting hand. The Precision Technique is EXACTLY what I needed. I have completed the first 8 exercises and what a difference already. I had started the Jazz Lnes book before this book and am so glad I stopped and ordered this book. Not only are you a monster player, but a monster teacher also. I thank God for your abilities and feel like I have been set free in a way to finally progress. As a test I started to learn your solo on Mister Twister's fanfare just to see what I could do and got the first few measures of it down without too much difficulty. It will be great when I go thru the jazz lines book and can begin creating better lines for myself. For the price of your books, the value is incredible. Thanks so much, and I will definitely come to meet you when I get out that way. God bless and thank you, thank you!!!!

I have ordered many of Robert's lesson materials and and I am VERY pleased! Great instruction and you get your moneys worth and then some! I am finally learning to play Jazz RIGHT NOW without scales, modes and endless lessons from so called music teachers!

I just received Ticket To Improv, Vol 1 Entry Level DVD and I have to say it's the BEST DVD I have ever seen. Thank you so very much. I just ordered 3 more!

Hi Bob,

It is doubtful you would remember much about me, Billy Stanley but I am a former student from back in the mid-seventies when you were in Jacksonville Fla. Because I was in the Navy, I was only able to stay with you for a couple of months before shipping out overseas but I kept virtually everything you ever gave me. I even have an order for two patty melts and a large coke that you wrote in that classic, hand written Conti style on the black of my lesson one night while you were starving to death but refused to stop working. Everyone that knew me back then said they had never seen anyone progress so rapidly on the guitar as I had while studying under you. As one may guess after we lost contact my progress slowed to a lame, geriatric snail pace.

After being discharged from the military and returning to Charlotte N.C. I set out on a futile mission to find another mentor, anyone who could teach me anything about Jazz. This resulted in over fifteen years of frustration and wasted time and money. I will say in my own defense, I became a master at playing scales and modes at blinding speed and precision. At some point, out of frustration I walked away vowing to never touch another guitar for the rest of my life.

In the late nineties, I found myself remarried to a wonderful woman who somehow sensed the sadness I had internalized due to my perceived failures related to music. After several months of prodding, she talked me into taking up the guitar again. Having no real teacher I quickly fell back into the old habits of playing scales and modes believing that somehow, it would all click and I would become the entertainer I always wanted to be. After a few years of rigorous practice, I had acquired some monster chops so I resorted to the needle drop/route memory method. As slow as it was, I was making progress and was steadily becoming the player I always wanted to be.

Just about the time things seemed to be working out, for no apparent reason, on Sept 16, 2004 I suffered a massive stroke that left me near dead and completely paralyzed on my right side. Instantly I had to accept the fact I would never play the guitar again. I was devastated. To this day, it has been the biggest heartbreak of my life. Over the last six years, the recovery process has been challenging, as well as encouraging. I am happy to say, but for the fine motor coordination in my right hand, I have fully recovered.

About a year ago I found myself reminiscing about those flashy lines you use to play in your studio in Jax and I remembered hearing you had released some recordings. I went to the web and goggled, “Robert Conti”. What I found was “Guitar Instruction by Robert Conti” which took me to your current web site. I spent the next two plus hours surfing through every bite of your web site. I was delighted with what I had found and only wished it had been there twenty-five years ago. Staring down at my cripple hand, I said to myself, what the hell. At least I can hold a pick, what do I have to lose? I ordered Cherokee and Satin Doll from the Smoking Lineman collection. After working with them a few weeks, once again it became apparent it was not to be. It was just far too frustrating. None-the-less I had acquired the aftertaste of Jazz Guitar and I wanted more.

For the next six months, I kept a hand written daily journal in hopes that the physical exercise would help me develop the fine motor coordination and strength I needed to control the pick. As the weeks progressed to months, I began to see the results I was looking for. Although it remained weak and slow I was finally able to rotate my wrist at the axis needed to pick the string.

Hello Steve, Just to refresh your memory, I was having trouble handling "The Jazz Lines" & I had put it aside. After contacting you, at your suggestion I purchased "Ticket to Improv" Vol.1, & boy am I glad!!! am enjoying it so much, I had to tell you! It is precisely what I needed, it has fired me up so much I now believe,with effort,I will get the hang of improv. Robert's work is wonderful. His products have helped enormously.

The learning products are excellent, at the moment I am mainly working on the Jazz Lines book, and playing the solos from the different tunes, Big City Blues etc. There is a wealth of material to learn it makes it all very exciting.  If you need a bit of a lift putting on one of Robert's Dvds and listening and watching him gets you fired up again.

I just want to say thank you to Mr. Robert Conti.... His no non-sense approach to teaching has really elevated my playing to a whole new level. I first became aware of him on TrueFire TV. I am a student there as well. This is the 4th or 5th product that I have purchassed from Pinnacle Productions. I really can't thank Mr. Conti enough; he has changed my whole approach to music, especially jazz and solo guitar.... Thank you Bob.....

The products I have purchased from you are excellent and I will purchase more later, they have helped me immensely in my playing.

Dear Maestro, I'm already an happy customer of yours DVDs. I own the complete "Source Code" series as well as the two "Ticket to Improv" DVDs. Your teachings are peerless, fun and useful, and - even more important - you give students courage and confidence. My deepest thanks!

Robert wanted to say you are a wonderful gifted teacher (1) A true professional at the top of your craft (2) you are so very positive in all your teaching (3) How lucky the jazz community is to have such a treasure as your self and products (4) Besides all that you have a funny wit and so enjoyable to just listen to regardless Good Job !

I'm a philly guy and jazz lover and always growing guitarist. Bob is just unbelievable in every way - no one compares.. its ridiculous!!

I am really enjoying working through the DVDs and have really improved my ability to play through just about any tune and sound half-way decent. Thanks!

Hi. You have the best lessons anywhere and I have several DVDs so far and I'm playing bebop finally. I just finished Ticket To Improv,  Volume 1 and now starting Vol 2

I am LOVING Ticket To Improv! I can't thank Mr Conti ENOUGH! I am going through the entire system, I have already purchased Ticket 2 and CAN'T WAIT for Ticket 3! Mr Conti would you PLEASE do a jazz fusion series beginner to advanced I don't care if you charge 50 bucks per DVD and there are 10 of em! I WILL get all 10!!! I'm using what you teach to play WORSHIP in CHURCH and people are FREAKIN' OUT! Some of them are lookin' at me kinda sideways lol! and I'm lovin it - Thanks again!

Until I came across Robert Conti's courses, I spent a lot of time in theory/scales/mode books and a few stints with teachers who really weren't providing good value.  For the most part I'm going it alone, lifting licks off records for the most part to get my sound.  This, for me, has been a slow process that seems difficult to work into our shows.  I've discovered Robert's approach and style to be a perfect fit (I'm originally from Allentown, PA so Robert's south Philly ways are like a slice of home to me).  I'm on the seventh solo from the Ticket to Improv series and am going to start Danny Boy today.  Last night I created a chord melody to "There Will Never Be Another You".  It is very apparent that I need "The Formula" next.  My plan is to run through the rest of the DVD and then create several chord melody arrangements of some of my favorite songs before moving on to the Formula.  My goal is to be able to play solo gigs around town within the next year.  Along with that, I will master the eight solos form Ticket to Improv.  I also purchased "Wave" which looks challenging, but I love the song and think I'm up to it as I already took some Ticket to Improve lines to 16th note runs.  I do best when I understand what I'm creating on the guitar so I think the Source Code will be the key to advancing my playing to the next level.  Ironically, that's why I thought theory was so important all these years.

Robert's approach has opened my eyes, (and ears!), to bringing out the bop sound on my axe.  My knowledge of scales/modes/theory has helped me integrate Robert's teaching fairly quickly; however, I completely agree with Robert that I've been approaching my guitar backwards for the past four years.  I ran through the Ticket To Improv Volume 1 just days before a gig and I'm telling you I swung hard at the gig.  My bandmates and the audience were totally digging my playing.  It's not that I played all the lines with perfection, but my playing had that bop sound and feel.  I laid down a hard groove and laid down several Conti licks (along with some harmonic generalization stuff) and BAM! I was tearing up the joint.

What is most clear to me is that The Source Code series, along with several prepared solos/arrangements, is taking my playing where I want it to go quickly.  And that's good because I'm 46 years old and need to hurry up and play!  My plan is to purchase The entire Source Code series.  I'm finishing the Chord Melody Assembly Line and own the Intros Endings and Turnarounds. 

P.S.  Having Robert teach from the DVDs is what brings the books to life.  He forces me to step through the material with patience which is critical to internalizing this stuff...it's like "a walk in the park"!!

I first became aware of you from the JJG magazine on your lick of the month lines. Then came your chord melody solos so I started ordering your material. I have purchased Souce Code The Jazz Lines, Precision Technique, and The Formula, Intros, Endings & Turnarounds.  So I now have 25 of your chord melody songs that I play by memory.  I feel I have gained more in the past five years than I have in the previous thirty.  I think all of the jazz guitarist owe you a debt of gratitude for sharing your knowledge with us. To this I say thanks Robert Conti. In closing I wish you the greatest gift in life, good health. Its priceless.

I can't tell you how much the DVDs have changed my approach to learning music it is SO enjoyable and the stress and worry and pressure of learning scales and theory has gone! Thank you for your willingness to share the REAL way to learn jazz it's changed my life and thats no exageration man!!"

I can't see anyone knowing about your teaching products, checking out these other sites, making a comparison and not coming to the conclusion that you are truly about teaching how to actually play Jazz songs and the others are about taking their money with no real return. I am praying that just the reality of what these different sires are is made totally transparent and your site will shine through like a bright shining guiding light. I sure thank you for your honesty, integrity, teaching gifts and your friendship. God bless.

These 30 last years, I had all kinds of  guitar private lessons professors. Never I met somebody so generous and efficient like Robert Conti. He is honest and sincere. He really teaches you to play music. He also teach you what he knows and how he does everything. I realise that it is only now that I am learning to play the guitar. I thank you all and hope that many others Africans will come to you. Very soon I will give feedback on what I am doing with your courses!

I have the two intro to jazz books and am learning a ton - thanks - I want to take the 12 bar blues lesson and get the free pdf transcript. I am planning on buying some more DVDs. I live Robert Conti - you have a great delivery, ability to teach, talent and magnetism. Keep up the great work!

I would be deeply grateful if you could post my comments to Robert himself to thank him personally.  Honestly he's easily the best guitar instuctor I've encountered on the web and anywhere else and it is a joy to watch his videos and also too see his obvious passion for playing which rubs off on me. Usually you only find scraps of short but useful clips on youtube and the odd helpful tab but nothing solid. I've tried some of the "trendy" sites mentioned on your site and exactly that they are short and too basic for me and basically a waste of money. I have been playing about 20 years since I was 7 but only the last two years have I began studying it seriously, particularly jazz and classical guitar as I am hoping to make it as a professional musician someday. I've been told I have a real talent by anybody who has heard me but most people are unaware of how much I don't know and how pathetic a player I'd look compared to Robert LOL!! So I'm constantly striving to improve myself. In every video I've seen of Robert's it has struck a chord (pardon the pun), discovering new things and seeing progressions from a different perspective and how the lines fit with altered chords etc. What Robert would be pleased to know is that I've taken his lines and often altered them into my own and use them to improvise with other lines in different keys and greatly helping me to build up my jazz vocabulary. I find his "blocks of four" approach extremely effective and useful from a technical viewpoint too and love the way he shows you how to play the lines in measures which is definately the most effective way to learn to see somebody play an impressive passage slowly and to practice it until you get it. I will be purchasing the 4 hours chord DVD and maybe some of the "Smoking Linesman" DVDs in a few weeks. But above all I find Robert's passion for playing infectious and he really motivates me to practice hard and to open up my eyes to new things. I can't thank the man enough for helping me begin my development as a jazz player. Please let him know that.

I spend this day for watching the videos. M. Conti is the best. I have never seen an instructor like him.  He shows and explain everything he is doing. I discover that I have lost 30 years of my life trying to learn how to plat Jazz. And until to day I cannot.

I'm a professional guitarist and music teacher.  I have played classical guitar since I was 8 years old.  Flamenco since I was 21 and Jazz for the last 4 years or so. I'm 31 now. Robert Conti is my Jazz teacher.  He is the only "teacher" I have had that I haven't actually met (that's how good his teaching products are!).  The link below is to my You Tube channel.  The chord-melody-solos are my own arrangements, and I learned how to do this from Rob's instructional DVDs, "The Chord-Melody Assembly Line," and "The Formula."http://www.youtube.com/user/BettieandI

Please keep me informed as I am your loyal patron having purchased all your products thus far. Thank you for the impact that you have made in my music and career since I was connected to your learning products. You are second to none and certainly way ahead in your level. There is no comparison for your virtuosity as Apples must be compared with Apples.  I feel your presence every time I connect with your inimitable products. I look forward to hearing from you. Much appreciated and keep up the sterling commitment.

Thanks everyone, I have received everything..I would have been a way far better musician if I had this 5 yrs ago. The clarity, balance and production quality of the products is way beyond my expectation or anything else on the market. And he is so motivational. I (and my family) am seeing  progress daily - I mean REAL progress!! Any musician who does not have his material are truly missing out. Big Time!! Anyways... Thanks again. I will be buying every other item in the next few weeks (well, the guitar/amp will wait til xmas). Antoine

Hi Robert

I just received my Conti Guitar today August 19th 2010 and i can honestly say it's the best guitar I have ever played and i can understand why you call it your dream guitar and thank you very much for the complimentary DVDs and tuner.

I have been watching the dvds and your teaching methods are second to none and I know I'm going to benefit a lot from your tuition.

It has been a pleasure buying this instument as i have found all the people i have been in contact with most helpful to make this possible--Kind Regards to all

I am officially an old coot. I have enjoyed the guitar for many years and dabble a bit at actually playing. Many barriers to playing have inhibited my progress, most notably I'm a really poor student who hates playing "Silent Night" while learning to read. Your arrangement of "Moon River" in JJG caught my interest. Well, what do you know! After a few weeks of torturing my aching joints I can actually play it! Not well, but recognizable.

Thank you very, very much.

Lou

To be honest with you, I'm 56 and I play since I'm 10. I play in small gigs, and teach a little. So, I'm not exactly a beginner.

I would say, I'm really serious about playing the guitar for maybe the last 15 years. Prior to that, I was too « busy » with my job to play on a regular basis.

During the past 5-6 years, thanks to the internet, I found a lot of information. I was an average player. I had no problem playing the different scores « as is ».

I had a wish though : I wish to be able to improvize more. To be more versatile and fluent. I start looking at different methods and I got trapped in the vicious circle of scales, modes, fingering, etc.

I thought I really need to know all the scales to be able to improvize effectively, to be great so to speak.

I was soooooo wrong.

I now know by heart all the scales; major, melodic minor, harmonic minor, half diminished, pentatonic, blues, along with the fingering, etc.

With all this knowledge and my guitar in my hands, I sat on my stool and said to myself, what I'm gonna do with all these « tools » ?

I had no idea even where to start my solo. I felt so stressed when I had to play a solo during a gig. I felt like I have nodes in my fingers but in fact, I had nodes in my head.

Robert is so right when he says you first need to play and to have all these notes and lines under your fingers. I'm humbly following his method for less than a week and I already gain in speed and also in great ideas on what to play. I also gain in confidence because Robert is such a motivator.

Yesterday nite, I started to play around with Robert's lines and Band-in-a-Box in many different ways and it clicked. It clicked for good. I had so much fun, adding rests, slowing down or speeding up the lines, cutting or adding notes, etc. . For the past two years, except for some gigs, I didn't had that much fun at all. I was too busy learning scales and modes.

But now I have fun and I realized that playing the guitar must first be fun.

Please Steve, pass this on to Robert, along with my virtual shake-hand. Let him know that my next wish is to go in LV to salute this great guy in person. 

Dear Robert Conti: I have been playing guitar for almost fifty years and I am really enjoying the Formula and indeed the Chord Melody Assembly Line. Just the material I have been searching for for years. It is an excellent balance of didactic structure and 'go try it for yourself' tuition. Thank you so such for the key to such good guitar harmonisations. All best wishes!

This is my second learning DVD from Robert Conti and I couldn't ask for a better or more talented instructor.  I have laid off my guitar for a few months due to health reasons, so this is going to take some time--and  I'm sure I will enjoy every minute of it.

I have learned a lot of technique and chords, chord melody,  beautiful chord progressions and scales from Robert Conti. He has made things very plain and easy to understand for me.  I appreciate his "Just get it under your hands" and "Play it and make it your own" philosophy.  I have purchased most of his teachings and have only scratched the surface of what its worth.  My method of learning is to watch, listen, practice over and over and let what he is saying soak in.  sometimes it takes a few days, sometimes a few weeks.  But when I finally get it, I Got it!

I looked accross the Street at the cross walk. I figured if I turned around walked 2 blocks in the other direction...turned left,walked back the 2 blocks, caught a cab ...circled the block a few more times, got left off a mile up the street and caught a subway back...then crossed at the same crosswalk, I could get there. Little did I know I could have just crossed the street. Oh Yeah, that's where the Conti lessons were ...Stop Wasting Time, Play Jazz Now !

Conti's Chord Melody DVD changed my life. I'd been playing & taking chord melody lessons for 15 yrs.  However 1 hour with this sorted it. It's 3 yrs on & everyday I use the concepts he talks about better than any other DVD or book by anyone else & so easy to follow! Thanks Robert

Hi Robert. I have been playing for over 50 years and have always loved chord melody. I have studied other systems and books etc and built up a good repertoire of chords. I recently ordered and received your Chord Melody Assembly Line and must say that it really simplifies things and gets one playing very quickly. Am looking forward to working through it and then on to the more advanced programmes. Keep up the good work - and what about a visit to New Zealand one day for some concerts and workshops?

Dear Mr. Conti, Thanks so much for sharing your talents with the guitar community. I an 77 years young and have enjoyed playing the guitar for some 59 years. Your material purchased over the last three years has taught me more than you can ever imagine. Watching your videos equates to having a personal teacher in the same room...Again many thanks and may God bless.

It all depends on what you want to do .You can study, or you can learn.I'm not putting down studying...it can be fun. I've done both.  I've studied 39 years and learned some. I've LEARNED from Robert Conti, for a little over a year and a half, 20 times more than I learned in the prevoius 39. So it's your choice...I'll take learning, everytime!

Jon Puhl/Student

JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR POSTING EVERY SINGLE CLIP THAT YOU POSTED I AM A GOSPEL ORGANIST AND YOUR AWESOME AMAZING GIFT TO PLAY THE GUITAR HAS BROUGHT MY PLAYIN THE ORGAN TO ANOTHER LEVEL, OUTSIDE OF THINKIN THE NORM IN TERMS OF IMPROV, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU WOULD TAKE THE TIME OUT TO SHARE AND TO POUR INTO THE LIVES OF OTHER MUSICIANS ! MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS, FAVOR & PROSPER YOU EVERY ENDEVOUR, THANK YOU SO MUCH!

I stumbled onto your site from Muriel Andersons All Star Guitar Night page. Thanks for taking the mystery out of music. You should have fun playing it, not struggling with modes and tech talk. Thank you for breaking it down.

Hello Robert! I think I have just about EVERYTHING you have for sale, so keep em' coming! I just wanted to say thanks for your generosity and easy going manner -- it gave me the confidence to realize that I could achieve my goals of playing jazz guitar if I put in the time on my instrument. Your method makes learning fun and enjoyable, because I am playing fantastic sounding lines rather than being stuck in a rut with yet another theory book. Thanks again!

I would like to express my genuine appreciation for your attention and efforts. You are really unique in the e-world! And thanks a lot for the great CDs and DVDs you've added to the order...

You can imagine how glad my son, Alexis Lavrov, is! He'll surely enjoy all the material both as a musician and a teacher.

Thank you so much and all the best.

Kind regards.Mikhail

...Jesse asked me how much had my playing changed since I started your lessons. He knows that I've always played, and has seen me play a lot of stuff outside off jazz. He was curious as to the impact all my work studying your stuff has had on me. I explained it this way. Before I met you I was at about 40% of where I felt I should be on jazz, which means some of the stuff sounded ok, but most doesn't. Since then I've gotten to about 80 to 90% of good playing on jazz,, where I would be fine playing in front of other jazz players. Our house gig for the last season required a huge variety of styles, literally playing from Satin Doll, to 60's rock, classic rock, disco,  80's rock, and all the current stuff (Black Eyed Peas, Lady Antebella, Kesha, etc.). I've forgotten some of what I had learned, yet I can easily flow thru any jazz tune well enough to impress other players, and the entire neck is open to me (which it wasn't when I started with you). It was a good conversation to reflect on the last 2 1/2 years of taking your lessons. We are starting to slow down and I have at least two nights a week off now, so I'll get back on my studies and hopefully retain even more by next season.

Hope all is good for you, Thank you!

Never had time to learn guitar until now. So I bought the improv series (and the Conti guitar) about 6 months ago. It was a little tough at the begining. But like the man says "it's not rocket science.." Thank you Mr. Conti.. All it takes is a will to learn, and a lot of practice. It is a little easier when the teacher is a master player.

My Dad turned me on to your stuff.  I was laboring with one book/DVD that is now lining the cat box when I popped in the Big City Blues DVD. Wasn't going to practice, just preview while waiting for the old lady to come home, but couldn't resist the urge to pick up the plank and in no time had some fresh moves under my fingers.

What I wanted to mention is the information Robert passes on is applicable to many other styles of music. Right now I play in a rock band and I can fully see how his lines and technique are applicable to even a hard rock style. I find his methods more helpful than even a lot of the rock players who teach people rock licks. All you have to do is change the feel of the lines Robert shows you and maybe take out of a couple of notes here and there.  I also find the comping expo helpful for chord ideas in songs.   I use distortion in my band in order to get a hard rock sound.  You may not be able to use the full chords from the comping expo but what you can do is use partials or double stops out of the chords forms in order to create interesting movements within the progressions of the songs.  The Precision Technique DVD is helpful for all styles.  I've believe that the etudes, sweep techniques, and whole step exercises can benefit rock players especially those who play a "shredding" style of rock or heavy metal.  The information Robert passes on is priceless.  I believe those of us in the guitar world are very luck to have Robert pass on his wealth of knowledge.  Robert takes out the frustration from having to learn difficult jazz lines.  All you have to do is put in the time and you will notice a whole lot of progress.

Thanks a million Robert,

James

Yet again, I received flawless serivce from the good people at Pinnacle Production Group! I ordered a Pro Chord Melody DVD on-line Saturday and received it on Monday - this for $3.25!! Did I also mention that Mr. Conti's products are outstanding too? Keep up with the excellent service guys!

Lucky owner of your newest DVD Source Code, "The Comping Expo", and may I say, that I am thrilled once again, and in awe not only with your talent, but the ability for it to come through on my end, to help further develop my skill!

All your DVD's and Books are fantastic, and I would recommend them to anyone that is interested in playing jazz guitar.

Bob and Mike... thanks for everything!

What to say that hasn't already been said about this DVD...? I loved every second of the six hour seminar. As soon as I got it in the mail I canceled all my plans and got ready for some heavy material. Although, it wasn't heavy in the sense of complicated work, it was rather valuable. After you buy this DVD (as I recommend that everyone reading this testimonial buy the DVD) you will gain a stronger command of Jazz harmony. The mystery behind many of those "complex" jazz harmonies will disappear. You will have so many  "Oh, so that's how they do it!" moments you will get sick of yourself. All in all, get the DVD!!!

I am enjoying your DVD on comping.  I am REALLY glad you did one on comping because that's the one I was hoping for all these years.  At this point the only guitar comping material out there is Galbraith's book, which is fantastic as Barry was a nonpareil comp-er; but I am glad there's more now.  One thing I like about it, for a player at my level, is that I know all the chords and voicings you play, but I wasn't always sure the best things to use for those little comping figures you hear guitarist and pianists play.  That is, I know all the inversions, but it's nice to see you play, over a place where one chord is played say for four beats, two different inversions of the same chord say, or a Johnny Smith style chord movement with the descending notes on the D string.  I knew those things before in a vacuum, but seeing it in context is very helpful.

Thanks again also for your amazing generosity to me over the years.  It means a lot to me. I really appreciate it.

I watch the DVD on the TV and use the MIDI files on the computer at the same time. Thank you Robert Conti for these books to learn from. Believe it or not, for years I have been looking for a method like Robert Conti to learn from. I recently found out about it from Steve at Chord Melody. Thank you so, so much.

I have just finished your two Ticket To Improv DVDs. (It took about 3 months of daily work on the tunes). Awesome. They have given me the ability to improvize in jazz, something that I have never been able to do very well. I'm now working on your more advanced solos. I am a small town guitar teacher who mainly plays/teaches Pop, Rock and Blues. Your DVDs are helping me to help a few of my students explore jazz.

Your stuff is straight to the point/no nonsense and it works!

Would you please do a third ticket to improv DVD based on just blues tunes?

I just thought I'd let you know that the Formula DVDs are terrific. Seeing and listening are just so much better than reading for me. I'm ordering the Jazz Lines today.

As you know, I am a great fan of you, your artistry, and your outstanding jazz guitar materials. I ordered this package as soon as it became available and was anxiously watching for it to come in the mail. I was very happy when it arrived today.  In scanning the book, I can already see that there is a virtual life-time of study material represented in this package.   I am slowly going through the DVD right now. Just finished the segment on "Rookie Bookie" (of course I will be revisiting these segments many more times in future). Great stuff. The commentary by Mr. Conti is as valuable as the music. The only problem is that if I'm not practicing, I feel like I'm letting Mr. Conti down!

Over the past 40+ years, I have purchased practically every jazz instructional book/tape/video/DVD available. I can honestly say that your materials have contributed most to my understanding of all aspects of jazz and jazz guitar. Thank you once again for your thoughtfulness and all that you do for aspiring guitarists at all levels.

Dr. Ronald S. LemosProfessor, Information SystemsCalifornia State University, Los Angeles

Man, o man - this is the greatest - I love it! Can't say it enough, but I'll try...I'm the Autumn Leaves-inest, Ipanema-nest, chordally hip guy in this neighborhood - and man, that Equity guitar is SUCH a joy to play - yeah, I've got investment property foreclosures, and being broke at mid life is not what I was planning, but, in the words of Bobby Darin, ala Kevin Spacey, "As long as I'm (sic) swingin'...." and this stuff swings for me...Thanks!!!!

To Ann at RobertConti.com:

I received this order on Wednesday. I wanted to thank you for the Ticket To Improv DVD you threw in at no charge. Your service and customer care is just incredible! And of course, the material itself is just fabulous, but everyone knows that. :-) Between the great service and high quality content, doing business with you is a real pleasure!

Warmest Regards,Dave Gallucci

Thank you so much for retro-fitting my recent guitar instruction order to be included within the 30% discount sale. This was a wonderful act of kindness toward me.  You have a life long customer!  Plus, Mr. Conti's lessons are excellent!

Respectfully,Frank

Bob Conti is an excellent teacher. He holds nothing back. I have completed Ticket To Improv Vol. 1 and have ordered Ticket To Improv Vol. 2 with additional products. I am so appreciative of this man for taking the time to create such great products because it has opened my mind and increased my skill to achieve a higher level of playing for my enjoyment. Thank you Bob Conti, and keep it coming.

Just to say thanks to Robert for 'The Formula' book. I've had a number of his books over the past few months and they are all very good; this one however, did more for me than just about anything. It taught me why I did this or that and simply made things make sense!

And I like the way he always says "fun stuff". Damn right. It certainly is fun, especially when you now understand why it all works.

Thanks again!

I have completed all of Robert's free online lessons and I have just learned his improv for 'Take The A Train.' I have to say that I think I love him! I have been learning classical guitar for 6 years and will take my final grade exam in October. To pass each grade exam you have to learn many scales. I will say, in defense of learning scales, that I now have the dexterity in my right and left hands to play the improv quite easily. BUT, the scales on their own really do mean nothing. When comparing products to Jimmy Bruno and Joe Pass - Robert Conti was recommended as being far superior. Robert's solo improv gives immediate meaning and relevance to them. I really can't wait to go through his Ticket To Improv and Jazz Lines DVD's. I already feel like I have more knowledge under my fingers and am looking forward to trying out my own solos over other standards.

Regarding the DVDs, I'm not sure I can put into words exactly how I feel, but let me try: I love Robert Conti's approach of actually getting students to play music, the step by step approach and the Source Code  explanations, not to mention his warm, caring, and disarming style. And your quick responses and customer support are top notch!

There is a huge emotional component to how I feel about Robert Conti's approach and demeanor. His emphasis on not being afraid and to actually play jazz was amazing. His criticism of academic approaches was so great for me as I've experienced it first hand. He's a big lovable teddy bear with some serious chops! He keeps reiterating about how jazz was born and this is so important and satisfying to hear over and over.

I've been very intimidated and frustrated with learning jazz over the past few years, even having gone to college for 1.5 years to study it at the age of 36. I've been playing rock, blues, metal, neoclassical 80's shredding, Joe Satriani, etc and I teach online as well mostly advanced technique type stuff. I learned how to do this by learning solos so it makes perfect sense.

My youtube vids have over 700,000 views and thousands of subscribers. I got into jazz a few years ago and even quit my job to go to college. But this experience was incredibly intimidating (I'm no slouch to hard work having a master's in civil engineering). And they implied at times like it's my problem. They teach so many things as well outside of jazz (classical history, piano, etc) and all the theory/analysis and exercises, advanced tunes right out of the gate. Everyone sits there fumbling around a scale with no idea what to play, because they're not teaching us lines. They are generally opposed to it because they don't want us to sound like clones.

My college guitar teacher is an incredibly amazing player and had tons of knowledge but I had to do a ton of Berklee books, exercises, even classical stuff. It wasn't turning into jazz music for me. I ended up dropping a few extraneous courses and eventually quit in frustration even with top marks. I'm still bitter about the whole experience!

I then found Jimmy Bruno's site online. However, I noticed once again that everyone who sent in videos was rambling around the shapes without really making music out of them for the most part. So another disappointment not to mention quite a variety of books that I have purchased.

When I see myself and others blasting around the fretboard you realize that there's no way you can do this unless you've practiced the lines ahead of time. Learning a scale, exercise or sequences, etc doesn't turn it into music so this idea should be fairly obvious to us, but for some reason it isn't.  I can see how Mr. Conti's lines work over each chord and how to move them to other keys/chords.

I am a professional guitar, bass player and teacher with extensive knowledge of music theory and it is a great pleasure to discover your instructional DVDs. Your method of teaching is undoubtedly the best approach to filling in the grey areas that prevent so many guitar players from truly mastering their improvisational capabilities. In a world where everyone is telling you to memorize words and definitions it is a breath of fresh air to find someone who shows you how to speak the language. GREAT WORK!!!I look forward to exploring more of your DVDs. You are a blessing to our profession.

Like your pilot friend in Texas, I put down the guitar for 12 years and picked it up back up this past November 10.  I had played for 15 years previously, but had never really played very well; I definitely had not "gotten" soloing.  But I could fake my way through chord solos, played in a big band for two years, gigged a lot, solo and with others, but I always felt like a fraud.  I could trick others into thinking I could actually play, but it was illusion. I'm 62, play an L-5.  I'm one of the "young guys coming up" that you often refer to. My teacher of many years - a man whom I adore - came from the jazz theory/modes/scales school; he would never teach me a line, saying my music had to "come from within me."  So I chased scales and arpeggios and MODES and "play this scale over this chord," all totally meaningless to me.  So I could play a scale fast over a chord...and it sounded just like that, a scale over a chord. And then, after I started playing again, I found you and your teaching approach and it was like some kind of epiphany.  No scales?  No modes?  Just play lines?  Oh my god, wow. I initially found you because I was looking for an arrangement of America the Beautiful to play in front of my local Rotary Club.  Your arrangement was tooo coool, so I took you up on your free offer, printed it, and a week later I had it down, could play it through without stumbling (much), smoooth.  It was the most challenging arrangement I'd ever tackled, and because of it, I'm continuing to challenge myself with material that's over my head and damn, it comes.  I amaze myself. I'm now one of your new DVD students.  Just started Jazz Lines, Source Code; one of my daughters got it for me for Christmas.  It was my "big" present.  I'm all the way through Lesson 2 and have watched through Lesson 4. You're a cool guy (the coolest) and a magnificent player.  You are also my official guitar guru.  I'm going to drop you a line from time to time because you continually say you like hearing from your students, so you'll hear from me (but I will be merciful and not write TOO often). I hope our paths cross one day; I'd love to meet you.  Please let me know if you ever play in California and I'll make a big effort to come see you.

Hello everyone. i was chatting with steve online and I was telling him how happy I am with my playing, I got the first "Ticket To Improv" DVD about 8 months ago, and I never looked back. I have 10 DVDs now, and just trying to figure out which one to get next. And I'm not a rich man. I practice many hours everyday, I remember when I got my first Robert Conti DVD, I practiced 14 hours that day. I don't practice that much now, but most of my free time is playing my guitar. I have been trying to play guitar all my life, and I'm 57. I have had many lessons before, I learned all the scales and forgot 98% of them twice. All I can say is the Robert Conti way of learning guitar is by far the best for me, because it is soo enjoyable, you're playing great jazz lines right away, and playing beautiful chord melodies right away. I highly recommend Robert Conti learning for anyone, and I'm just a regular guy.

Thank you!

Dave Davia

I just completed "The Formula".  The book and DVD unlocked the mystery of arranging/harmonizing to me.  It has so much useful information that I can use.  I'm blown away.

As an experiment, I arranged (what I think is) a really nice version of "Happy Birthday".  It just plain works!

Thanks a billion for making it understandable.Andy

p.s. I've completed "The Jazz Lines" and "Precision Technique".  I'm now starting the "Chord Melody Assembly Line" (which I probably should have done before "The Formula").

As a jazz guitar lover with no musical education who has nowwhere near enough time for practice, I tried working out a Moon River chord-melody, got frustrated and gave up. Consequently, my eyes lit up when I saw your transcription in the lastest Just Jazz Guitar magazine. At my ability level, it's a challenge, a reward and a pleasure to get it under my fingers but with the help of your excellent video on the JJG website, I'm getting there. So, I just wanted to say thank you for what feels like an early Christmas present and to send you my best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.

I've been pursuing Jazz Guitar off and on for 34 years now.  This has included many lessons with accomplished players as well as 5 years of formal Classical Guitar training along with college-level music theory and ear training.  I have purchased many books and other learnings aides from a number of different "Jazz Education" sources. After all of this, I was at best a "mediocre" improviser who could never seem to express the level of what I knew on my instrument.  I'm grateful that my previous studies taught me to read, the fundamentals of harmony, and a decent understanding of the guitar.  However, none of it got me playing Jazz Guitar so directly as Robert's excellent materials. If one looks at the breadth of Conti's materials, everything necessary to mastering the fundamentals of Jazz Guitar is present.  The aspiring guitarists essentially needs three major areas of study. 1) Technique - covered exquisitely by The Precision Technique 2) Fingerboard Harmony - covered by the remaining Source Code DVDs 3) TUNES! - covered by Robert's extensively selection Chord Melody and Improvisational materials Throughout the resources, Robert presents the music and necessary elements as the true gentleman that he is! God bless Robert Conti for making Jazz Guitar so accessible to the masses.

A few months later… We're all different and I see many players on the internet that can nail popular licks and styles but, I've never been good about learning someone's licks - including Robert's.   For me, that's no different than learning more scales.  As I watched the DVD's, I kept saying "Ahh, I get it!"  And, what I learned is 'how to play jazz guitar' along with a simple theory of how to play music without thinking too much.  If you want to learn to play without a lot of fuss and bother - buy the DVD's.  Aside from what you learn, you'll enjoy Robert's warm presentation style.

I just received my first order, Big City Blues. The DVD and accompanying music notation and tab are great. My order was upgraded to faster mailing free of charge and some great bonus lines ( also free ) were included. Mr. Conti's mastery of the jazz and blues guitar is exceptional. And, his approach to teaching is inspired ...concentrating on playing as opposed to dense and tedious music theory. The extended solo he plays has a wealth of super lines and moves the student beyond the sameness of relying on the 5 note blues scale. On the DVD he breaks the solo down into segments of a few measures each and demonstrates how to play that section of the solo. The value far exceeds the "price of admission" and I expect this will be the first of many purchases. Customer service? Superb.  After 50 years of playing and buying various guitar methods, book, DVDs I can say Mr. Conti's products and service are unequalled, virtuosity as a guitarist too.

I don't want to look any place else for Jazz instruction.   Keep the lessons and DVDs coming.  Your approach has really made learning Jazz fun.  Previously, I kept getting frustrasted with the mountain of theory that was given to me.  I really didn't know how to approach Jazz guitar with all that information.  I can tell that my technique and playing have improved since I ordered my first DVD from you.  What I like about your DVDs is that you let the viewer see some of the mistakes that even a top world class player such as yourself can make when executing very difficult passages.  The reason why I find this very important is because for me it lessens the frustration factor when learning difficult passages.  I know that if even one of the best can make a mistake executing a difficult passage, then I can't expect myself to get these new passages down right away.  It really gives me a realistic approach to setting goals for progress.   Thanks for sharing your knowledge with the guitar community.

I am having the most fun practicing that I have ever had. Mr. Conti's comprehension of what we, as much lesser players, need for tools to learn, is a tremendous testament to his genius as not only a player of unparalleled brilliance but also as a teacher on the same level of his incredible playing. For years (I haven't practiced in almost 10 years) I played scales and arpeggios until I could play them at very fast tempos. But when I tried to jam with real jazz players I had no library of lines, to rely on so my solos were just sterile scales which frustrated me to no end.I was not playing music. Just playing rote gymnastics. I can't thank Mr. Conti enough. He has finally shown me that there is a way to learn jazz. BY PLAYING IT! I apologize for being so long winded about this. It's just that I am so excited that I know in a while from now I believe I will finally be able to play music. Play jazz.  Anyway, I could write for hours about how glad I am that I found out about Mr. Conti,  his playing and teaching skills, but I won't bore you any more right now. Thanks (again!)

I've purchased more than 10 of your DVDs Guitar Lesson, I was learning so hard during the last 3 months. Now I know you are the best teacher in the world. Your approach is clear and wonderful sound.  Really now I am more confident when play and Jam session with Jazz musician in town. Your lessons make me a much better player. Thank you so much.

Just to let you know that the DVD arrived intact and that I’ve had a chance to spend some time with it. It is quite different from other things I have seen, and being one of those characters who was brought up on scales and modes – rock player in the 60s but with a love of Wes, classical guitarist from there on as rock was incredibly dull and boring, and jazz player for less than two years – I was slightly dubious. But, I’ve always had an open mind and the way that Robert teaches is clearly superb, not to mention his brilliant ideas. I’m still in the early days of the DVD but there is no question that I will be ordering further "Source Codes" and will probably go on to some of the individual tune DVDs as well.

Hello Mr. Conti. It is a thrill for me to be learning jazz from you. I have been playing for about 30 years and don't play or read too badly but with all of the studying I have done in music school and privately, you are the first teacher to teach by having your students play actual jazz guitar lines. It may seem simple but even with the great teachers I have had, none have shown me lines that I could use.

I just got the first 6 lessons to the Outrageous Blues Lessons By Mail, yesterday.  I had accidentally ordered the Advanced Jazz Lines, and so you sent me the Blues Lines for a nice price.  Thanks.  After looking through them and learning the first two I can tell that this is an extremely productive (and simple) way to master the Jazz-Blues vocabulary.  Again I must say, "What a great teacher, Robert!"  I can't wait to add the entire series of lines to my toolbox of guitar tricks.  Please Let me know the next time you guys have one of those BIG 30% off sales.  Also looking forward to the next Source Code DVD, "The Comping Expo."Joel Pipkin, PresidentChild Play Music Co.

I have TTI Volumes 1 and 2-what a revelation. This stuff is the real deal. Robert cracks me up when he talks about modes and scales 'insanity.' I can just see Muddy Waters, BB King and Buddy Guy sitting around talking about pentatonic scales and which mode they blew the audience away with that night. It really is nonsense and you wonder who came up with that crap. Anyway, don't hesitate to buy Robert's stuff. Even if you are still a rocker at heart (like me) you will love playing this material.

The material is great and I'll tell you why-Robert's friendly but no bullshit approach to playing-he is obviously very honest and upfront. Also, this is almost like a lost art form that has been brought back from the dead. Its long been established that guitar players don't know how to play anymore and haven't since the early 70's. I feel quite fortunate to have access to this stuff.

I have had the Ticket To Improv DVDs for a while now and am just blown away by them. Just wanted to say that these DVDs are a revelation to me ..been playing for 20 years and have never heard some one make so much sense...If possible please pass on my gratitude to Mr. Conti

I am doing well with the lessons, it's like having a friend that is a top notch player and being able to ask him (Hey, How did you do that?)and he tells you how. Mr. Conti's stuff is incredible!!!

Thanks again,
Joey......

Just received the two DVDs I ordered last week.  Thanks for the quick shipment of those DVDs.  I didn't expect them to get to my place until later this week.  I've been working on the Precision Technique DVD.  Its really improved my playing.  I also have your Jazz Lines Source Code DVD.  Your approach to constructing jazz lines in an improv setting is so logical.  Its really opened my eyes.  The two new DVDs I just received are excellent.  I'm really having fun with the Pro Chord Melody Today.  Its just so logical and its just really easy to follow.  I'm using the Jazz Lines DVD alongside with the Ticket to Improv DVD.

Hallo Mr. Conti,

One of the amazing things of You Tube is that you get to know artists that one has never heard of before. Being 51, I started to listen to jazz-guitarists when I was 15, with Barney Kessel and Joe Pass being my first heros. I saw Barney twice in Holland, still being one of my favourite jazz guitar players. Later on I started to buy records from Wes Montgomery, Martin Taylor and Kenny Burrel, and later on also Mike Stern and Bireli Lagrene. Few weeks ago I saw Bireli Lagrene playing in Paris and coming weekend I will see him again playing at a fstival in France. Just wanted to say that since I heard you for the first time (on You Tube) a few weeks ago, I am listening to you several times a day; you are truly an amazing jazz guitarist; the way you combine musicality with an incredible virtuoso speed of playing (which I sofar only saw with Bireli Lagrene and Joe Pass) is just superb.

Best regards,Jos Vesters

I printed out the Amazing Grace music sheet from JJG's website, followed Mr. Conti's tutorial and, after much practice, I was incredibly satisfied with the results! I'm simultaneously studying Mickey Baker's classic Jazz book I (which is a good start for me). However, Robert Conti's approach elevated me to a stratospheric level compared to the progressions that I was studying in Baker's book. I'm looking foward to receiving Play Pro Chord Melody Today Instructional DVD Series Vol I and Signature Chord Melody Arrangement, Vol I!!

All the Best,Alex Robatto

I enjoy your playing. I found your site in an interesting way. I Ebayed for "7 string guitar" and a jazz 7 string guitar popped up amidst all the Ibanez metal guitars. It got my attention so I Googled it and your YouTube video on the 7 string came up as one of the top results. You just never know how you'll be found online, huh?!? Anyway, Thanks for the videos. You're inspirational to me, a beginning jazz guitarist (after 23 years of having a guitar in my hands on and off again, mostly off until this year. I'm making a concerted effort to learn consistently and ultimately to perform regularly.)

Dear Mr. Conti,

Just a few days after ordering some Volumes of your "Signature Chord Melody Arrangements" I found the complete Order in my letterbox. Which is amazing, since it is a quite long way to Germany...

The arrangements are really great. Your way of presenting harmonic variations and chord substitutes are easy to read - and a true source of inspiration. Some parts are challenging, but not out of reach. That's the best way to  learn new things without being frustrated. My Chord Melody playing is improving constantly every day.

Your Chord-Melody Books are to me the most helpful instructions since I started playing guitar 25 years ago. Thank you very much for your great work.

Yours,
Gereo

Hi Robert,I’m one of your students. I have all of the Source Code Book/DVDs and all of the CD’s you offer on your site. I’m a big fan!I’ve been playing for 30 years (I’m 45). I was never serious until 11  years ago when a friend asked me to help him put a wedding band together. Since then I’ve been doing 60-100 gigs in the NJ/NYC/Long Island area. We go through a booking agent (Hank Lane) and most of the gigs are high-profile, big money. You know the deal..I can play rock/dance/ballads in my sleep. My big weakness surfaces when I’m booked on a  hour and/or a ceremony. In the last year or two after we changed agencies I started getting booked on more of these kinds of things,    as we call it. It’s great because I get more work but I’m very limited in terms of skill and material in this particular area.I can’t tell you how happy I am to have found your site and your courses. What you are teaching is exactly what I needed. You do such a great job with these videos. You’re a real guy, and a wealth of experience and information. Your teaching products are the best I’ve ever had. I feel and hear them working all the time.I’ve been studying your stuff for 4 months now and I’ve made more improvement than in the past 25 years. I wish you all the best and I want to say thanks for going to the trouble to make these videos.Dave

July 14, 2009

I just finished Project 2 in Ticket To Improv, Vol. 1.

This is wonderful, I've been playing for 42 years and finally!!

I love you Robert Conti!!

I've already gone through the Assembly Line (just finished a moment ago) - I can play and understand the examples (remembering them is something else) - been doing it a long time.  Have you any idea how many times I've played Satin Doll but I still have to look at the lead sheet (LOL)!  Of course, the exercises are 'show and tell' of how to apply it to a tune.

I always learn something from doing this and I have no problem spending the money (as you may have guessed) if there is value in the material - And, there is a TON of value in these materials.  For example, even though I can play chord melody (and know all the grips, all the theory....etc) what I learned from this book/DVD are 'Bob's groupings of chords with the melody notes on top'.

What I learned from going just a little-bit into The Formula is a far better approach to using the Tritone and minor 3rd sub - that absolutely made my day!  I've always understood and used it but always with a lot of thinking - it simply never dawned on me how to use it in chord melody.

Thanks again!

Great material and instruction. It makes you feel like playing the guitar! You always know where you are and where you go with this method.

Thank You,
Martin Chamizo
Rincón de la Victoria, Málaga

I wanted to let you know that I have posted my review of Mr. Conti's DVD's on my web site at: http://davewalkermusic.com/page4/TicketToImprov_Review.html and also featured it on my blog at: http://blog.davewalkermusic.com/ It will also be my featured review in the fingerstyleguitar.ca newsletter due out July 2009.

In short, I found these DVD's to be a fantastic teaching resource. I think that every aspiring jazz player should have these in their collection. You will see that in my review I suggest that players buy both because I am sure that after the first they will want to go on to Volume 2 immediately.

Once again these DVD's have shown me what a great, unaffected teacher Mr. Conti is. It feels like having an old friend over whenever I put one of his DVD's on. His constant focus on the progress of the student is teaching at its finest. Please pass on my best wishes to him for his continued success.

I see that he has a comping DVD upcoming. I would be glad to review it, and I am expecting it to be of the same high calibre as all of Mr. Conti's educational resources.

Best wishes,
Dave Walker
blog.davewalkermusic.com
www.davewalkermusic.com
Grimsby, ON Canada

Hi Robert and Team,

A while back, I ordered and received your; “Ticket to Improv”, Big City Blues”, and “The Formula”…All three are fantastic! After starting to use all three products, I am especially pleased with the abundance of “musical meat”, versus the traditional scale/chord rehash that is present on many other competing products. In addition, your teaching approach on the video really clarifies any difficult note transitions.

I also recently contacted you about obtaining the corresponding backing tracks on CD, since I do not have MIDI capability, and you promptly sent them to me free of charge. I have really enjoyed doing business with you, I can't say enough good things your product selection, and I look forward to placing another order soon.

All the best,

G. Primiano

Atlanta, Georgia

Hey Robert,

Seasons Greetings! I recently started working through Ticket to Improv Vol. 1. Yikes! I can't remember when I have had so much fun! You really are a truly gifted teacher. Hope '09 treats you right. peace. b.

Robert Conti,

Thank you SO much for the extremely nice comment. You will never realize how much it meant to me. Really got my heart pumping, man.

I idolize you as a player, and as an instructor. Your instructional videos and chord melody collections have changed the way I look at and play guitar. You are truly gifted, and the material in your instructional is always creative and mind blowing.

I'm slowly trying to work my way through your videos and the results have been pleasing to say they least.

Thanks so much for all of your great work. It has made a difference in my life and playing. And thank you more for being a remarkable person by taking the time to leave me such a nice comment. You aspire me greatly.

Greg Conlin

Robert, I have listened to a lot of jazz players and grew up with Jazz playing parents and a cousin Don Lanphere(Sax with Woody Herman among others) and I LOVE THE WAY YOU PLAY. You have that bebop,swing,jazz,makes sense style, that I can follow and understand. You crack me up in your lessons when you chat. I feel ya! LOL! It is exactly like sitting around with some buddies trading licks. And it is fun. YOU ARE THE BEST! Thanks for offering the rest of us an insight to learning how you do it.

Best always,Ms.ADDITUDE (ADDIE)

Thanks for the MIDI files. The DVD it's great and I'm studying the phrases and practicing in all tones. Mr. Conti has a lot of swing and he is a great musician and teacher; please say to Mr. Conti that, here in Madrid, has a fan!

Thanks and best regards,Nicolas

Mr. Conti,  I just wanted to express my gratitude for your excellent DVDs. They are helping me very much to get started in improvisation The quality of your products are perfect.

Sincerely, Steve Gordon

Sounds good! I'm very excited! Robert's teaching is really helping me. I make my living as a musician right now; but it's been more rock, pop etc. I love jazz though. I went to University for a while and my brain exploded from all the information about how to play jazz. Robert is just the ticket! I am truly grateful for his teaching. It is a blessing in my life. I thought I could never master jazz, but now I truly feel it is possible. Thanks!

Have a great day,Davidson Yeager

Hello Robert,

I think you will not receive many messages from "the ancient world", this time from Holland! Today I, (again!), ordered some of your books. The ones I already have are of great inspiration. I'm not a pro, not even a gifted amateur, but.....one with a good ear for chords and embellishing melodies, mostly the famous standards of The Great American Songbook, which I perform with a female singer with a clear sensitive voice and a bass-player. As you take many of these songs as vehicles for showing beautiful chord melody playing, I'm in the right place with your books. so ...to say it in one word: THANKS!

But...I have some qustions: On your website you're announcing a "Robert Conti" guitar which will be available in the near future. My questions are: -where can I find the specs of this guitar? When will it be available? Can you give an rough indication of the price?

Let me know! I'm a serious fan of good music and...good guitars!

Best regards, LOUIS FREDERIX

Hi Bob,

You say in the DVD's to let you know how we are coming along?... Man you must have the worlds biggest email box!

Anyway, I am getting near half way through the first Ticket now (I'm on bar 16 of Autumn Leaves) and I can feel the progress all the time. I generally only have an hour a day free, so I play what I know for 15 minutes, then spend 45 minutes learning what I don't on the next section of the DVD.

I am really getting into the 'flattening of the learning curve' thing now. The double stops are really sweet, and the 'extended chromatic runs' sound great on their own. I picked up a friends guitar at work last week and played the first two projects straight off and I can tell you that they were really impressed.  I DID tell them where I learned it from and recommended your site.

I've come to realise that really, jazz is like all other styles of improvising - in that you learn tasteful riffs (of course a jazzer calls them RUNS because a lot of them run away to the next chord or whatever?) and you get very familiar with the song.

The more you get familiar with both song and runs, the thing then takes on a life of it's own when the finger memory is well ingrained enough.

I am now into the chord 'shape' that is under your hand at the time, being a basis of things you can play automatically after a while..(e.g. the 'cowboy major 7ths' on Bobspeak! lol). I expect there are many more ways to think about things regarding jazz, and I shall no doubt discover what they are in the coming days.

I hope you are going to produce ticket 3 in the next couple of months because I should be ready for it by then! Thanks for all your hard work in helping the musically downtrodden and deprived!

Jules

It is now six months since I became a Bob Conti disciple.  Have I learned much? Many things. Have I improved? Definitely Learning how to re arrange chord melodies via the Formula and chord /melody books has been a godsend.  Not having a computer I get all the DVD's put onto my iPod and find this a great way to watch the lines and play along via earphones and play acoustically or just watch listen and learn. Since having the DVD's "Big City Blues" Vol.1 "Ticket to Imrov"vol 1 and 2 many of the lines manifest themselves on their own without me  thinking. .My playing friends are wondering where all these great lines are coming from especially the younger players. My sight reading has improved so much that where I have been using the "tab"my eyes are now drifting to the written music.I use the old trick of playing the chord first followed by the line/lines(depending if the chord change is over one or two measures)then the chord again.It can be laborious but the line/chord and chord shape per line really sticks.Have the lights come on? Like many lighthouses! Finally its nice to learn that there is life beyond the 8th fret!

Cheers,

Peter(a recycled teenager

I'm actually a semi professional classical guitarist but I grew up playing Jazz. I played Jimmy Raney, Joe Pass, Django Rienhart solos but I always felt like I was missing something.  IMPROV!  Right away when I saw Robert play I knew his approach was right.  Frankly, I like his no "BS" approach at teaching.

When I did my masters degree I took some Jazz guitar lessons for 3 college credits. What I spent on that one class was close to twelve times what I spent on all the Source Code books.  Let me tell you that in the first half hour of the Jazz Lines video, I learned more then all those classes.  This summer I plan to really work all the books, but I still practice classical for three to four hours a day also (I teach in a public school so the summer is my time.)

Anyway, I really respect  Robert's teaching pedagogy and I encourage all my serious guitar students to purchase them.

Thanks again for the picks!!Andrew

Hi Robert, 

My name is Brian. I am a semi-professional jazz guitarist - meaning that a good portion of my income comes from playing, performing and teaching, while the rest comes from being a publicist for a local jazz club called Kuumbwa Jazz (my boss, the guy that runs Kuumbwa also runs a little festival 40 miles south of here called Monterey Jazz Fest. ). Along with having gone to school for  music, I have spent a good deal of time on the road performing in various bands and projects. I bring this up in the way of introduction simply to establish that I am pretty well immersed and am fortunate to see a lot of really good people. 

That said, I purchased several of your books/DVD's about a year ago and have been absolutley blown away. The presentation is excellent and the concepts and material are outstanding. I can honsetly say that your methods have taken my playing to new levels, and I am having a ton of fun in the process! I must apologize for not writing to thank you sooner. 

Thank you and keep it up! I am going to try to get to Vegas at some point as I understand from your site that lessons are available. I would love the opportunity to get into the 'mooch' mode and take some lessons, as well as meet you and tell you about some of my (funny) experiences with the chordal approach vs scales and modes while in college. 

Thanks again.  I gotta get back to practicing.  

Cheers,
=Brian=

I had the pleasure of meeting you at the '09 NAMM show and listening to you play at the Peerless booth. I just wanted to tell you how much I'm enjoying your books (Ticket to Improv, Precision Technique and Chord Melody Assembly Line).

Your music and your teaching method have gotten me so motivated that I've been practicing till all hours. While I consider myself an intermediate player, I am totally new to jazz so I'm still getting used to the nuances (I played Classical for many years).

I recorded my playing the improv to Satin Doll. I enjoyed learning and recording it so much, I hope you don't mind my sending it. FYI, I used my Peerless Contessa archtop (bought at the NAMM show) with Band-in-the-Box for the backing track.

Thanks again for the great instruction and keep em coming. I'm getting the newest Ticket to Improv (I'm especially interested in Latin songs like One Note Samba).

Bob, Thanks SO MUCH for the fantastic materials and DVDs you produce.  At 45, I have been trying to “get it under my fingers” for a LONG time.  Your DVDs put me on the right track the first time I popped them in.  You’re a great teacher and I feel like I have a new buddy as well (although it’s one-way)!  I have all Robert Conti DVDs and I look forward to becoming a great player because of them. Best to you!Dave Parker Park City, UT

Excellent player and Great teacher!! Mr. Conti knows how to TEACH which a lot of great players don't know how to do.  I'm sold.  If I had these lessons as a kid, I'd never have become a lawyer!!

Mike Woolen, Esq.

Just received the Ticket to Improv Vol 2.  I have been a "Mature" student now for six months so you please let Bob Conti know that at 78 yrs I've never had so much fun learning the instruction from all the DVD's Ive purchased so far.  It is such a joy to look forward to each day to be able to practice and play material that is so easy on the ear.  He is just such a brilliant guitarist but an even more outstanding educator.  I can't put this testimonial on his website as no computer but I would!

Cheers, Peter S.

I am at measure 16 in DVD Ticket to Improv Volume 1 and seem to be moving forward pretty good so far. (taken about 5 days so far) But it's one thing playing the notes and quite another getting the groove and feel.  I know this will come in time. When Robert looks down the lens of that camera, even though I am on the West Coast of Australia I do feel that he is talking to me. Also I am very much enjoying Robert's humorous bits here and there. I am finding Robert's lessons clear and understandable and loving every minute (hanging on every new riff or run)

Regards, Steve Summers

Love the Source Code DVDs.  Great explanations and easy to follow.  Why pay an instructor when you can get the real deal?  Robert Conti is my source for guitar knowledge and improvement.

James MacNeil

I'd just like to thank you for doing it right! I've been chasing the Chord Melody style since my dad took me to hear Cal Collins here in Cincinnati over 30years ago.  I took lessons from Cal and his approach was just like yours!  He wrote the arrangements on staff paper and I still play them for solo gigs. I got your Intros & Endings (Cal called them, "The Smazz" and I knew I had finally hit pay dirt! Thanks again!

Respectfully, Frank

These DVDs are truly exceptional. The best jazz guitar instructions I have ever come across! Thanks a lot!

Cheers,
Gunnar Saelen
Bergen, Norway

Hi! My name is Moises, I'm a great Mr. Robert Conti's fan and I think he's a great musician and a great teacher too.  The DVDs are very interesting and Mr. Conti open a door and if you work hard, you can get into jazz world. I'm working now in the second DVD and it's wonderful (Georgia) Thank you again for the files, you're a good professional team.

Moisés Frias Infante

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am doing very well with the DVDs, they are one of the best products I have ever purchased, not just because of the DVD style teaching but also because the guitar licks/lines are really great - they are timeless jazz lines that Conti has learned over many years of experience and street playing - that you really can't get anywhere else. I will probably wait for another sale and purchase the rest of the improv series.

Regards,Steve Byron

Mr. Conti,

I have much of your lesson material and it is suberb. I am slowly catching on.

I heard/saw your youtube performance of Jobim's  "Someone to Light up my Life" and it was unbelievable, the hair stood up on my neck. If God wanted to play guitar through someone's hands they would be yours. Maybe he already made that choice. I can't believe I didn't hear about you before 2 years ago.

I wish you could put the "Living Legends" DVD on your site for sale.

Thanks for the great material,

Tom Steinke

I'm very pleased with Conti's approach to jazz guitar and I have seen improvement within a short period of time.  I have been playing for a few years and got caught in the academic approach, got discouraged with my progress, and recently came back with enthusiasm due to the Conti videos.  I will be purchasing other material over the course of my learning and playing.

Thanks,
Dennis

Hi Robert,I have been looking for material such as yours for a long time...I regret not purchasing your products earlier when I first saw them 2 years ago!!!.  I think that your approach of learning to play stuff first and then the theory will come along really works for me and I am really happy with the progress I am making. Can't recommend your products enough to anyone who who  wants to learn Jazz Guitar. Thanks again!! Arthur

Hi Robert,

I have been compelled to send you this email for sometime to let you know how you and your products have drastically changed my thought process in looking for that "secret" in playing great jazz guitar.  This email is going to be a long on, so you may want to get a cup of coffee while you digest this!  I'm not trying to bore you with this info, but I think it is necessary that you know a bit about my guitar background prior to discovering you and your products and how much impact they have made on my playing as opposed to my past history and experience.

I started playing guitar in the mid 60's, took lessons from the local music store and became a product of rock 'n roll.  Later, I hooked up with some college guys who turned me on to learning to play standards and let me join their group.  Well, I was hooked and off I went wanting to be the best player I could.  During my search for that "elusive sound" I bought every book I could and picked every guitar player's mind that I could find, but living in a small town didn't offer much hope.  

These guys that I started to play with took me to a Wes Montgomery concert in Columbus, Ohio in about '67.  I was blown away.  I snuck behind the stage and got to meet Wes.  He took the time to talk to me and give me encouragement, and also gave me the same advice that he gave you - "Just play your instrument".  I then went on a harder search to play better.  My local teacher did do a great job on teaching me, but I don't think he really knew the "answer", but here is what he accomplished with me.

I won the "North American Invitational Championship" for guitar sponsored by the American Guild of Music.  In 1970 I won the Down Beat Instrumental Award and got a Scholarship to Berklee, was accepted at Wittenburg University to major in classic guitar, so I must have been doing something right (but could I really play?)

Still striving to get better and sound better, my journey took me to Howard Roberts Classes, Herb Ellis, a Joe Pass master class, studied with George Barnes for quite a bit and then spent some time with Barney Kessel.  I probably got the most info from Barney, but it just still wasn't happening.  These guys could do it, show you a lick or two, give you some ideas, but there was never any instruction on how to really apply it or what they exactly did to get that "sound" or how they got the idea or concept.  In retrospect, they could surely play, knew where to go on the guitar, get that sound, but I'm not sure that they really knew the inner workings of why or how it worked.  They just knew it sounded right and worked.  I then discovered a "Schillinger Expert".  I took some lessons from this fella for a short time, and this system appears to be similar to your DVD "The Formula!."  I would be curious if you are familiar with this system.  This Schillinger System did turn me on to some better sounds, but still didn't do the trick and still didn't know why it worked and not always sure how it could be applied.  The search continued for many, many years until I accidently found your web site.  

Was I skeptical at first? You bet, I was a guy that has bought every guitar book known to man, and was usually very disappointed.  Robert, you have been a great inspiration and you have pulled me back into playing my guitar again.  I put it down several years ago and gave up playing due to hitting a dead wall.  I was disappointed in being stuck at a dead end and felt that I would never find what I was looking for in the instrument that gave me my living for over 30 years.  

After I purchased my first product from you, I knew that I had hit gold.  I am very grateful to you for what you have now enabled me to do with my guitar and wish I could repay you in some way.  I think it's important for you to know some of my past history to give you a better idea of where I was at with my instrument prior to discovering your concepts (this is not a brag list, but for a better understanding of my ability prior to giving it all up.  With this list and a couple of bucks, we could both have a Starbucks coffee)

Toured & performed with: The Platters, The Drifters, The Coasters, The Marvelettes, Bobby Lewis, Tommy Roe, Shelia Ray Charles ( Ray's daughter), Candy Johnson (Ellington Band), Madeline Vegari (Fox's Are you smarter then a 5th grader-does all the vocals), Dom Famularo (Mapex clinician) Roy Smeck (wizard of the strings) Art Van Damme, and many others.
 
Taught guitar for 30 + years, music retail for 25 years, did clinics for J.B. player guitars, Aria Pro II guitars, and D'Aquisto strings
 
A Sincere Thank You Again for what you have done.
 
Regards,
Mike McWilliams
PS The Jazz Lines book is tremendous!!
 

Mr. Conti,

I recently ordered the Formula-DVD and the Chord Melody Assembly Line-DVD. I want to thank you for your prompt response and for the complimentary upgrade to Priority Class Mail. I received the books in only two days. I also want to thank you for the complimentary two video lessons and chord melody arrangements.

I've been playing guitar for a number of years and am now just starting with Chord Melody. I must say that your Chord Melody Assembly Line book with DVD has broken the code for me. Your straight forward approach to presenting the material has answered my numerous questions and unleashed the mystery of Chord Melody. The videos are outstanding and makes the information easier to understand by watching and hearing you go through the material. The added side notes not covered in the book are also invaluable. Your books have given me the confidence that I can learn Chord Melody by getting it under my fingers.

Thank you again and I look forward to going through both books.

Mike Setunsky

I have bought alllllllol the source code books and 2 big city blues DvDs.  I think I am making a good progress. I have play the guitar for 10 years. Thank you so much Mr. Conti.

George Cheng

Robert,

Your instructional DVD's are so good, it's almost like you're a personal friend in my house ! :)  Looking forward to seeing you at NAMM 2009!

Geoffrey E. Stich

Mr. Conti, As an instructor in both avaition and electronics for many years, I surely appreciate your no nonsense direct approach to jazz guitar...Ive been playing for over 40 years and have decided to go back to jazz... dig into it heavy and enjoy it now that Im retired. Your program was so impressive that I'v ordered my first $200.00 worth of DVD's and can't wait to get started....again, thanks so much for all your professional expertise and no non-sense approach. Sincerely, Jerry Padgett, Black Canyon City, Arizona

Musical education has become lame.  We need Robert and others like him to rescue our youth and enlighten them (as Robert does), rather than intimidate them with meaningless rhetoric.

Robert's teachings should be in every university guitar curriculum. I mean it! Jazz improv on the guitar has been a big secret until you came along. You are the Dr. Suzuki of the jazz guitar. Your comment about scales, modes -(nonsense) is great.  You really care about people.

David Schnerr  

hello, its been 2 years now since i got my first robert conti dvd. i just played the long version of green dolphin pretty well, and it keeps getting better. lots of chord melody and other solos as well. im very happy with my playing. thanks for everything

Dear Bob, I just had to write and tell you how much I am progressing AND understanding what's actually going on in Jazz Guitar Chord Melody. You are (as always as far as I can see) absolutely right in the way you go about teaching things. I am also REALLY getting deeper and deeper into 'SINCE I FELL FOR YOU'- I just get better and better at it everyday!. I have just started on 'GOD BLESS THE CHILD'. The wonderful application of the 'falling' diminished chords was SO beautiful that I actually had to stop I was so touched by the way they felt to me. As a lyricist, such songs make me stop in my tracks on all fronts - I'm stunned at how good the music and lyrics really are.I now listen to Billie Holiday's version of it in my car as I drive to work and I am now a fully converted jazz guitarist thanks to your opening of doors. I have also got the ASSEMBLY LINE DVD - and YES I did watch it all the way through without the book!(I felt you slap me from here!!) lol It's really allowed me to piece everything together, and I perceive WHY and HOW to 'get there'. Not quite a 'walk in the park' yet - but well on the way... Bless you my friend (and now favourite musical Uncle!) Keep them coming, another 3 - 5 years and I will be worth listening to and on a musical level I never dreamed I could attain to. Love and respect Bob, Jules

Hello there,  I am in my sixties and have played guitar for some years mainly ragtime finger picking. I have taken to jazz guitar in the last twelve months and learned scales and arpeggios as well as some simplified Django tunes. I became so proficient that you could call out Am and I  could play you the scale and the arpeggio instantly. This, of course, was totally useless and so boring that I kept reverting back to learning rags.

After subscribing to JJG I began to follow Robert's philosophy and with the free video of the A-Train solo spent the last week studying this and nothing else. I loved it, felt I was achieving something at last. I then found that my fluidity and relaxed playing I HAD DEVELOPED IN ONLY A WEEK had transferred to my playing of other tunes.  I found myself adding some runs I had learned into Nuages (almost without thinking). I will be ordering the Entry level DVD shortly and the Source Code DVDs.

Many thanks for the free lesson which really has transformed my playing and put back the joy of playing the guitar, which was rapidly diminishing with every arpeggio and modal scale I learned.  Brilliant!!

Yours sincerely, Rodney Buckle Scarborough, England

I have known Robert Conti for almost 10 years. My friend Mark Stefani told Mr. Conti about me when I was injured at the WTC on 9/11/2001. Mr. Conti sent me an email wishing me a speedy recovery and well wishes. I will never forget that he took time out from his busy schedule to write me. I have been using Mr. Conti's teaching methods for a long time and they have helped me improve my guitar technique tremendously. I highly recommend his teaching products. Thank you.

Just wanted to thank you for the great job you did with writing "The Formula". I can't tell you how much that information helps me to arrange and thereby get a better understanding of how music is "created." It has got to be the most instructional piece of work I have ever read.

Years ago I knew because of my schedule I would not be able to join a group.  Chord melody compositions and composing was the only option left to me. I listened to guys like Joe Pass and some of Bob Conti's music and realize that it is possible to play by yourself and create very pleasing and " professional sounding music.  I am an amateur and enjoy learning more than actually playing with a group. Your courses have radically increased my music knowledge and appreciation.

Many Thanks, Gregg Gawel

Am amazed at your methodology about jazz and I love it!
bless you

I contacted Carol Kaye and she referred me to Robert Conti. I watched all the videos on the web site. Bob Conti is truly a phenomenal player. His speed, articulation, melody, harmony, taste and warmth are truly amazing and gifted. He also comes across as very humble and friendly. For him to also be such a great teacher is extraordinary. What a blessing. Playing jazz is the way to learn jazz and after 45 years he is the first to actually give me jazz to learn. I buy 100% into Mr. Conti's philosophy and teaching methods. So I am thrilled with my purchases, this the absolute best material I have ever purchased.

Michael G. Marks

I am really impressed with Robert Conti's ability and teaching. I wish I had discovered him some time ago. I will certainly be ordering more improv DVDs and chord melody books in the coming weeks.

Michael Nesbitt

Robert - such a treat to watch you and hear the musicality, feeling, and precision with which you play. So nice. I am a guitarist with some 40+yrs of playing... still learning new stuff and will likely contact you for lessons. Thank you for making yourself available!

Bill Fulbright

I learned more about chord melody and reharmonization from this one book and DVD set (The Formula) than all the many books and DVDs I have purchased before. I really enjoy Mr. Conti's straight-forward no fluff approach. I found I already knew the answers to my questions I just didn’t know I already knew. Thanks again for all your help. Perhaps sometime I can meet Robert, but until then his lessons by DVD have changed my guitar playing forever.

Kevin Wilkerson

Robert, I have played guitar since 1977, when I was 10. I also know music theory inside and out, however, I learned more in one weekend last week than I have in the last 5 years! I am not joking. I really learned how to put a lot of things together for the first time. Thanks a million!

John Sullivan

I recently bought The Formula! and I just want to say Thank you. I'm a pretty smart guy, but I have been wondering for years howmusicians that I love (Wes, Grant Green, George Benson, Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, Horace Silver, Tommy Flanagan, Dianna Krall, and on and on and on) have been able to so freely and colorfully fill out the harmonies of standard tunes.

You showed me in a way I can digest, internalize and incorporate into my playing, and I am forever grateful.

Jonathan L.
Middle-aged white guy who loves jazz and blues

May I say all materials I have purchased so far are invaluable and Robert Conti has become my favourite teacher and player of all time!
Paul Morgan, Great Britain

Robert, I really enjoyed the show on Monday night at Rocco's. Sorry I had to leave early, but as you know, I have a little son I like to tuck in every night. I was astonished by your virtuosity and obvious joy in playing. It was a real treat. Hope to see you soon.

Dear Mr. Conti,
I recently purchased a couple of your instructional DVDs and I am thrilled with them. All my life I have been intrigued by jazz lines,­ they seemed magical to me, probably because I couldn't figure out what they were or how to play them. Now, thanks to you, I am finally beginning to understand. The DVDs are exactly at my skill level and I am sure I will be playing jazz in a few months. Could you please send the rhythm section for Summertime? I plan to purchase the rest of your programs in the near future. Thank you. And, where have you been all my life?
Sincerely,
Roger W. Trammell

I just wanted to drop a quick line to say the Chord Melody arrangements are FANTASTIC! The tunes are so lush and full, I actually had a listener come up to me on a break at gig to tell me he thought there were two guitars playing! I can't wait to receive the sourcebooks I've recently ordered. If I can play 1100th the speed of Bob, I'll die a happy man! Keep up the great work.

I feel I've been cheated of not being introduced to you until after 20 years of playing. Just goes to show how screwed up the music industry is for keeping such a talent unexposed to the public. Shame on Guitar Player Magazine and all the other so-called guitar publications, that don't put you on their covers at least once every other year. Can't wait to saturate my mind with all your musical ideas. P.S. Please take care of yourself and stay alive so we can continue to
experience your genius for years to come.

I recently purchased three of your chord melody books. Along with that I received your CD Comin' on Strong, DAMN!!!! Excellent!! I'm a huge fan of Jonny Smith. Jimmy Bruno also. Their playing is so clean. Johnny is spotless. So are you. That's quite an elite group you are in. I'm in China for the next three weeks. When I get home to Georgia I will spred the word to my friends about you. (I think you may also have picked up some fans over here in China.)  Now to your books. I'm having a blast playing with your arrangements of Skylark and Willow Weep for Me. I have been transcribing and playing Johnny's solos for quite some time. Your style is altogether different yet just as good. I particularly enjoy the way you move tones between changes. I am learning much from working with your arrangements. It's a whole new perspective for me. That is the most I have received for my money in a L O N G time. It really helps pass the time in hotel rooms as I travel allot.  Thank you.

THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR TALENT AND KNOWLEDGE . GOD BLESS.