Reviews

Worldwide Students Speak

4955 reviews
91%
(4507)
9%
(448)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
S
Entrada Archtop Guitar
Scott Tarulli
Berklee Professor Reviews Lefty Entrada

See Attached Video Review by Scott Tarulli of Boston, MA

Judge.me YouTube video placeholder
g
Vol. 4 - Ticket To Improv
gerald mckinnon
volume four

Super excellent

J
The Jazz Lines
Jack Marchewka
Just getting started

Worked though the first two lessons of the Jazz Lines book (more to go), but it opened a door for me. I’ve come to understand there is a difference between theory and harmony. This is about learning harmony. If you want to play jazz learn harmony.

M
Vol. 4 Wave
Mike Sanders - Las Vegas, NV
One of Conti's Best Solo Lessons

All of the Robert Conti DVDs are top-notch, but this one takes the cake. He takes what some consider to be a harmonically complex tune and breaks it done into the simplest of terms. From here, the viewer is taken through the lesson a few measures at a time, with each concept explained in detail and with care. Once you have the lesson under your hands, you not only have an impressive solo but an increased vocabulary of lines to use on other songs and a better understanding of how to approve improvisation over any song. Great fun and well worth the effort. If you are new to improvisation, I recommend learning from a few of Conti’s “Ticket to Improv” DVDs first as you will internalize the lesson much faster and have a greater understanding of the concepts presented.

Preferred Gauge Strings

J
Preferred Gauge Strings
Jack Marchewka
My choice of strings

For my Entradas. These strings came with my Entradas so I’m sticking with them. Live the wound 3rd string. Great tone and playability!

Chord Melody at Its Best!

This is a great DVD to start building your chord melody repertoire. Mr. Conti walks you thru the classic “Since I Fell for You” and provides you with several ways to approach the tune using a series of different chordal harmonic arrangements. Besides learning to play the song several different ways, Mr. Conti is at the ready with his famous “Off the Sheet” tips. These are items that not part of the regular lesson plan, but are sure to help take your chord melody playing to an even higher level. Of the Chord Melody arrangements, this is my personal favorite, but after finishing the DVD, I purchased ALL the other Chord Melody DVDs as I was so inspired to learn more.

Vol. 1 12 Bar Blues

$14.95

The first and best seller in the Big City Blues DVD series. Conti walks you through a complete solo over the standard 12 bar blues progression.

Or

Streaming Video Options (Info About Streaming Video)

Description

Lesson solo over chord progression to:
Standard 12 Bar Blues

INCLUDED:

  • Printable PDF of lesson solo in notation & tablature
  • MIDI & MP3 files of single note solo & rhythm section
  • Extra Bonus Lines!

DVD Running Time: 1 Hour, 8 Minutes

Originally released on VHS in 2001 as the “Only The Blues” series

Conti plays a pro level (more challenging than the Ticket To Improv series) solo over the chord changes to an in-demand jazz tune. Then, in his straight-forward approach, he teaches you to duplicate the entire solo, close-up, measure-by-measure, note-by-note. As documented by scores students in written testimonials, and their performance videos, you learn to play jazz, by playing jazz, not talking about modes or scales.

You must get the idea out of your head that you’re “just learning someone else’s solo.”  When a child learns to speak, he/she emulates words that they have heard before. No one says to the child, “you’re just learning someone else’s words.” The child learns a word, then another word.  The pattern continues until the child can speak in complete sentences (and without knowing the “theory” behind the language.)  As you develop your jazz vocabulary, you’ll soon reshape the ideas for applications over other tunes.  These DVDs are for you if you’ve got serious chops, but don’t know what to do with them.  If you practice modes and scales all the time, that’s what your solos will sound like – boring and uninteresting to say the least.  Learn hip jazz lines, and have lots of fun doing it.

Customer Reviews

Based on 10 reviews
100%
(10)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
R
Robert Morales - Whittier, CA
One the greatest guitar players of all time

Just got the video - as a performance piece, it's worth the money. As a tutorial...Wow! Those are some great blues and jazz lines that Robert goes through in detail. Tell Robert he's one of the greatest guitar players of all time (I am writing this as I listen to Coming on Strong.

J
Jerry Martin - Florence, OR
Best without exception I have ever experienced... (Pt. 2)

...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!

J
Jerry Martin - Florence, OR
Best without exception I have ever experienced... (Pt. 1)

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 CW 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...

D
Dave Wiltshire - United Kingdom
First impressions

I've just run through the 12 Bar Blues 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

P
Paul Dempsey - Asheville, NC
Dedicated to passing on his knowledge

I'm a semi-pro who lives in NC and plays in the NC, VA, TN triad. Just ran through the two disks I ordered. The lines in the 12 bar blues disk are nicely laid out. I already know a lot of licks similar to these, but Bobs approach to finger positions, finger efficiency, and this straight forward approach to teaching the lines is great, and a big help in learning new stuff. I can always come back and study the underlying theory later, but I can still benefit from what he has to teach! Take care, and condone to Mr. Conti my appreciation for his efforts. Some of the better players I know are pretty proprietary about their chops, and don't like to share this openly. Its great to see someone this good who is so open and seemingly dedicated to passing on his knowledge to others.Peace,Paul

M
Michael Halstrum - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Learn the material with much greater ease and speed

Mr. Conti, A friend of mine plays guitar and is pretty good. One day He lent me a VHS tape of you. Its the 12 bar blues one. Anyway, I watched it and was impressed with your obvious talent and love for music. The way in which you teach makes it possible to learn the material with much greater ease and speed compared to using just books. I returned your tape to my friend. That same day I came home, went online and bought your 12 bar blues video. I can't wait till I get it. I'm going to learn all of it. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. I can play, but I haven't mastered it yet. Someday... Thanks again.

R
Roy Briggs - Wendover, NV
Expand my knowledge of the guitar.

After many years of playing keyboard, I have recently wanted to study guitar. I presently live in a small, remote section of Nevada with no access in a reasonable distance to a teacher. Am looking forward to learning tools that will expand my knowledge of the guitar.

Streaming Video Option

DVDs are now available in an affordable, instantly available streaming video format. Videos may be watched on any device with an internet connection. Printable PDF download file is included.

Upon clicking the Streaming Video Options button, you will be directed to a checkout with two options:

  1. Streaming + PDF
  2. Streaming + PDF + Ship DVD

Note: You will be asked to create an account at checkout. The account to access your streaming video purchases is different than your RobertConti.com account. Please view our FAQ for additional information.

black friday sale Details

Take advantage of this great opportunity to save big on the most effective jazz guitar learning resources on the planet – as verified by nearly 5000 reviews.

Through November 30, 2023, use coupon code BFCM23 at checkout (be sure to click the apply button!) to save 30% on all learning resources, both shipped and streaming. Please note that Conti Guitars are not included in this sale event, but we still have a couple of the heavily discounted Entrada prototypes available!