Vol. 1 Since I Fell For You

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.

These arrangements have played a huge role in plotting my musical landmarks. I got into Berklee College of Music by re-arranging his chart for "Since I Fell For You." I've used his songs on proficiency exams and general showing off ever since. Anyone can strum the chords to a "Let it be" or "Free Fallin," but pulling one of these out of your hat proves you're a full-fledged guitarist.

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 hard 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...

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 some such with your solo guitar arrangements. 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...

...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.

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!!

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

Thank you so much! I am already making great strides with the last one (Since I Fell For You) - The off the cuff comments are really opening doors for me - Keep them coming! Incidentally, I think that you teach at exactly the right speed - it gives me a little time now and then to keep working through the brief passages and catch up. The chord world is really opening up to me now. I've realised that jazz is like any other kind of music - once you get the different (and beautiful) chordsworking for you.Many thanks again Bob,Julian Wilson

After years of wishing I could play something -- anything -- in this style, I finally quit listening to all of the "theory godmothers" out there and put my money down on this arrangement. Let me tell you: Conti does not disappoint. Within minutes, he had me playing lush chords that embellished the melody without ever overpowering it. Not only that, but he showed me variations -- in the form of his priceless "off the sheet tips" -- that were not included in the written material, and which can be used on other tunes, as well. Part of the wisdom behind his approach is that, in teaching you to play a chord over *every* melody note, you become able to play a chord over *any* melody note. I soon realized that, armed with this information -- as well as the types of lines I've learned via the "Ticket To Improv" series -- I am equipped to come up with countless variations on this tune, as long as I am willing to do the work. Right now, I'm using this arrangement as a companion piece to my study in Conti's Source Code book "The Chord Melody Assembly Line," and am finding it to be a very enjoyable and rewarding course of study. Highly recommended!