Blog • RobertConti.com

Discover Robert Conti by Rik Jonna

May 25, 2017February 23, 2017

In recent weeks, I have had the pleasure of reconnecting and speaking frequently with my friend, Master guitarist- Bob Conti. Bob & I met 15 years or so ago in Vegas where he was performing. I went to the club and introduced myself as a friend of PM’s. It was a memorable night – one I will never forget- great music, some good Italian food and wine, and talking guitar with a humble and generous jazz giant. I should mention that Pat & Bob grew up in Philly together. Both young guitarists hit the jazz circuit playing clubs in their …

The Turning Point

June 27, 2016October 21, 2013

I prepared this narrative in an effort to apprise other aspiring jazz guitarists about my experience with the Ticket To Improv DVD series and The Jazz Lines by Robert Conti. I own all five products (the Ticket To Improv series has four current volumes for those unaware) and have spent several months working through the material and watching the DVDs. I am comfortable enough to share my experiences in a way that can benefit aspiring jazz guitarists. It is also my hope that this narrative will resonate with other aspiring jazz guitarists who are frustrated after struggling with the academic modes/scales …

Vol 4 – Ticket To Improv Review in JJG

July 14, 2019August 2, 2012

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If so, then Robert Conti must feel very flattered these days because he seems to have scores of imitators who have just “discovered” the value of teaching without modes or scales. Not that I have anything against teaching with the best methods available, or changing course when you find something better, but let’s give credit where it’s due. I’ve seen Robert Conti abused for decades for daring to teach lines instead of scales and modes, so I think a little appreciation for his pioneering work is in order. And speaking of …

The Conti Philosophy

June 27, 2016March 14, 2012

The great guitar players learned to play by playing the guitar. That sounds simple and it is but then ask yourself why so many teachers make playing music among their lowest priorities. They assign all sorts of esoteric scales, modes, chord formations, fingerboard patterns, numerical mumbo-jumbo everything except the very music that the learner wants to play. This may build character and it certainly builds the teacher’s bank balance but does it do justice to the learner? Robert Conti is a teacher with a difference. He is a pioneer in jazz guitar teaching who early on discovered that the way …

Jazz Guitarists to the Rescue

June 27, 2016May 5, 2011

An Inspirational (and true!) Tale No jazz musician needs to be told how tight money is in this recession. Budgets are being slashed everywhere, and perhaps most in education.Now imagine that you have a class of eager guitar students but no guitars and no money to buy them. What would you do? Welcome to the world of Bruce Edmiston. Bruce has been teaching his guitar class at Oxnard High School for thirteen years, focused mainly on jazz guitar. He tells us: “I inform everyone from day one that I teach music and that we will be using the guitar as the instrument to bring that music …

Volume 3 – Ticket To Improv Review in JJG

June 27, 2016February 1, 2011

Robert Conti may well be the most successful jazz guitar teacher on the planet, and deservedly so. With over 31 instructional DVD’s ranging from absolute beginner to pro, Mr. Conti seems to barely finish one before his fans and students ask for more. While most other guitarists, including some of the finest players, are finding it difficult to maintain a student base, Mr. Conti has continued to attract more students with each release. His highly successful Ticket To Improv series is Robert Conti’s introduction to jazz improvisation. The first two volumes set the tone for the series with high quality …

2010 Just Jazz Guitar Cover Story

June 27, 2016November 1, 2010

Preface by Paul Getty During a recent conversation with Ed Benson, we were discussing how the economic downturn has affected numerous guitarists who voiced complaints about their substantial loss of income from lessons, gigs etc. Our conversation turned to the success of Robert Conti. In the midst of the punitive economic conditions during the last three years, he recently released his thirty-first full-length DVD, as an obvious result of the ongoing demand for his unique ability to teach effectively. To my knowledge, that level of consistently creative teaching production is unprecedented. On the heels of ongoing DVD production plus a heavy …

Comping Expo Review in Gitarist Magazine

June 27, 2016October 1, 2010

The Comping Expo Robert Conti? A jazz guitar virtuoso who likes to keep things simple. As complicated as his bebop licks and chord melodies may sound, Conti constantly stresses that you can learn all of it without spending years and years being bogged down by chords, scales and arpeggio’s. Conti rightfully thinks that the the was he learned to play is most natural; you hear somebody play something that you like and you go and find out what he did. The next step is to try and use that new information in your playing, and finding variations on it, too. …

Conti Thinline Archtop – Equity Model

February 23, 2018May 5, 2010

A Player’s Perspective

I just bought a new guitar. I don’t do this very often, but when I do, I need it to have two main characteristics: it must have a beautiful sound and it must facilitate the expression of my music. On both accounts, the Conti Archtop hits a home run. I had been wanting to move up to an archtop that has a solid spruce top and a wonderful sound. But, for me, price was a consideration.

The instruments ranging in price from $3,000 to $10,000 are way out of my range. So, I was intrigued when I saw Robert Conti playing and endorsing his new Conti Guitar. I had experienced the sound of this archtop from Conti’s terrific instructional DVD’s and the YouTube videos from the recent 2010 NAMM Show, and I was duly impressed. But, again, I figured that the street price on this guitar would be in the $3000 – $4000 range. Man, I was really surprised to see the guitar on his website at the current introductory price of $1,949.00 plus shipping.

I seldom buy a guitar sight unseen, but due to Conti’s exemplary customer service record, I decided to give it a try. It arrived via FedEx overnight, and I couldn’t wait to try it out. I was so impressed that I could play the Conti Thinline Archtop right out of the box – it was set up perfectly. So, I put the rest of my life on a two-hour hold, and commenced exploring my new guitar. It exceeded all of my expectations.

The guitar has a beautiful “singing” sound, the action plays like butter, and I couldn’t believe how light and balanced the guitar was in my playing position. I have never had easy access to 24 frets before and loved exploring that new range. The appointments on the guitar are beautiful: Spruce Top, Ebony Fingerboard, Rosewood Tailpiece, High Quality Grover tuners, Florentine cutaway, etc. When plugged in, the single pickup with the ’57 Alnico specs delivers a bright (yet, warm) sound and is very even throughout the range of the guitar.

That night I did something unusual – I took this brand-new, out of the box guitar on a gig. It was a quintet gig with trumpet, tenor, guitar bass and drums. The Conti fit right in, played effortlessly and really allowed me to focus on the music. I love it when the guitar just “disappears” from the equation, and it is just me and the music. The Conti really facilitated the flow of ideas.

The next day, I recorded some solo guitar stuff in a studio. After laying down a few tracks, the engineer came out and just had to see the guitar making such a beautiful sound. Needless to say, he was very impressed (as was I) with the recorded sound of the Conti Archtop.

I have found no weaknesses with the Conti. Prior to my purchase, some of my “gear-head” buddies told me that the fixed bridge would alter the sound of the natural wood top. I have not found that to be the case. The unplugged sound of the axe sings and sustains, as does the amplified sound. The resonant sound quality of the solid spruce top Conti is far superior to other guitars I own with laminated tops.

I am extremely happy with my purchase, as it is certainly a great value at the current introductory price of $1,949.00. I strongly encourage other archtop players to check out the Conti Archtop at www.RobertConti.com . Thanks again, to Robert Conti for making this sweet guitar readily available to the public. Just like the motivational bang in each of his DVDs, the Conti Archtop is a six string stimulus package that really delivers!

Mike Irish
Director of Jazz Studies
Michigan Technological University
For Just Jazz Guitar Magazine

Comping Expo Review in JJG

June 27, 2016May 1, 2010

Well Robert Conti has done it again. Having produced dozens of quality DVDs on the art of single note soloing and chord melody jazz guitar, he has set his instructional sights on that nemesis of so many guitarists: comping. It is easy to understand how soloing makes up the lion’s share of instructional material. All guitarists want those moments to shine on stage, and there is nothing for the ego quite like peeling off a terrific solo when called on. Very fulfilling, but the mundane fact is that if you are pursuing a career in jazz guitar you are most …