Regarding A Guide to Blues Chord Progressions for Ukulele A to Z

Many thanks for your speedy shipment of my order, received today - now all I have to do is practise!!! I am a humble Sax player so not used to more than one note at a time but now is the time to learn.

Will order more advanced stuff when I am improved:-)) I'm very impressed by your variations on the blues form (Coltrane sequence for instance). Best Wishes, - Pete Cornish

QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele

(from satisfied customer ) CS, Man, I broke the code!!! I'v had you books for quite a while and never understood them. I live on the island of Lanai in Hawaii and a large number of guys can jam and they have tried the help, but could not read or understand the music. A new young guy moved here from Oahu and started teaching lessons. I started taking lessons from him and again, he did not understand what you books were all about. Being a teacher myself I knew there was a great deal of knowledge in your books and I could help him in setting up his lesson plans for his classes. I also told him that you basic books would be great for his students. After my 3rd lesson I broke out you Quickstart Book and it took us about 45 minutes to break the code. The power of reading!?!?!?!?! I will continue to tell lessons just because the local sound is so fresh but, this blue stuff w/ local music will be off the hook. Thank again. I will be buying more books and I will try to get h is contact information. ! His uncle was Bratha "IZ" - Kevin L. Humphrey

(21-Oct-2005 from an online forum ) I might add to all the advice you have been given, learn you Fret Board. See it in your sleep. The better you know where your notes are on the frets, the easier the rest of it falls into place. Check out Curt Sheller's books. They are EXCELLENT for scales and Arpeggios. Good luck. Just keep it so you enjoy it. - JayHawk

A Guide to Ukulele Chords

From Uke Jackson

Curt Sheller is a jazz guitarist with a love for the uke. He has turned his copious and capable knowledge of music theory, and chord theory in particular, and put out some very accessible and worthwhile books. His 'A Guide to Blues Chord Progressions for Ukulele from A to Z' will give you the changes essential to blues and jazz. 'A Guide to Ukulele Chords' is authoritative, concise, direct, and informative.

It is a great primary source for knowledge of chords for someone approaching music theory armed with a uke. James Hill wrote the intro.

I’m finding all sorts of spiffy stuff in 'QUICKSTART Scale Fingerings for Ukulele'.

These and other excellent learning aides can be found on Sheller’s www.ukuleleresources.com

Thanks for the download! For me, however, it's almost as difficult to memorize the rules of chord building as it is to just know where they are on the fretboard. My problem is, I'm not sufficiently knowledgeable where the notes are on the fretboard: I know I have that info from the literature you sent. I appreciate what you are doing.... - Roger

I can highly recommend Curt's Uke books -- I have four of them and they are excelent. - fatveg - Portland (4th Peg Ukulele forum)

Regarding the Ukulele Chord and Scale Books

Folks, if you haven't stopped by Curt's site, do so right now! ..And get his books, they are fantastic. This guy knows his stuff and is able to pass it along too. - - Alan Johnson Proprietor, The 4th Peg

I wanted to pay you a compliment. (Now don't get a big head!). I have purchased many books over the past 15 years I have been playing and none of them come even close to having the detailed and easy to understand information yours have. I really got a chance to get some practicing in and am finding your books to be such a great learning tool. I also purchased a timer like you suggested and my practice sessions the past 4 days have been my best in years. - Take care, - Nick Matty (link)

Regarding the Ukulele Chord and Scale Books

... I was looking for blues chording info but your site came up as jazz chords. I figured soon or later I would need jazzer chords so here I am. Plus nobody else is offering more indepth info on the uke, I liked the scale one the best so far. Thank you - - RDGauthier

(Regarding QUICKSTART Scale Fingerings for Ukulele) The ukulele book arrived, it must have been chatting with some Christmas cards somewhere.

“I agree with everybody about just using guitar chords and dropping 2 strings, but I have found Curt Sheller's book "Scale Fingerings for Tenor and Baritone Ukulele" http://www.jazzguitarresources.com/books/QS1UKES-G.html helpful for practicing scales in different modes.” - - dave (davebough, ezFolk Forums)

Harmonic Anaylsis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution.

If you ask, "When I'm playing a solo over a jazz song, how do I know which notes work at any point in the song?" then you may want to have a look at this book:

more about Harmonic Anaylsis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution

You can glean this information from many sources, but this is a pithy, direct approach to the heart of the answer you're looking for. I would also suggest, for a broad, comprehensive, and beautifully written "Bible" on understanding jazz, Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book." - - James K. Kroger, Ph.D. Department of Psychology, New Mexico State University

Aloha, Curt,   I received your CD in the mail yesterday and it is just great!! WOW!! It is very easy to listen to and your guitar is simply superb!!. Just a neat swinging selection of songs without getting too "complicated" like some performers tend to do. Keep up the great work and hope you have more projects in the future. Good luck and keep swinging!   Sincerely, Dave Alama

I finally got around to listen to your CD and I want you to know how much I like it. I just had to plow through about a dozen "smooth jazz: CD's and I though I was going to barf. I really appreciate how and what you play! - Roger Sadowsky, Sadowsky Guitars Ltd.

I received the CD and picks a couple of days ago. And thanks for including a few extra picks. I've really enjoyed listening tothe CD -- your sound is very pure and clear, and your arrangements are wonderful. - Tom Bloomfield (Derry, NH)

Hi Curt. I really enjoyed checking out your websites. Nice contribution to the jazz guitar community! I checked out your soundbites. "Shadow of Your Smile" sounds reminiscent of early Johnny Smith (one of my favorites). - Mike DeMicco

I stumbled on your website at jazzguitarresources.com and listened to your demo cuts from "Jazz At the Midnight Cafe". You blew me away. Your style is my absolute favorite for listening (and playing). Great stuff!! - Jim Weller

Received your CD just prior to leaving on a trip last week. Listened to it for 600 miles. Please keep me in mind should you EVER do another one of jazz standards. The only thing I'm sorry about is that I don't live close enough to come see you play live or to get lessons from you.

Also thanks for the picks. I've never used that style of pick before, but find that the notes come easier and sound better when using them. They took a bit of getting used to, but now they're all I use.

Best of luck to you. You're a great player. - Jim Weller

The Curt Sheller Trio..Midnight At The Jazz Cafe..CDMJ1 2002

CD Reviews / CD Reviews
Date: Jun 29, 2004 - 08:01 AM

By John Gilbert

Straight ahead jazz that goes right to the heart of hip is what you hear on this solid recording by guitarist Curt Sheller (aided and abetted) by Daoud Shaw on drums ad Steve Beskrone on the bass.

This album contains a mixture of standards, with a couple of original tunes, all of which are done tastefully, and that makes this a most enjoyable listening experience.

Sheller has complete command of his instrument which translates into solos both sensitive and fresh with ideation throughout.

From "There Will Never Be Another You" to the Original "Kelle Belle" Sheller weaves a tapestry of melodic beauty. The latter tune is an impish ode that lopes along in a stylish strut that is made for toe tapping and a smile or two.

For the afficionados of trio jazz, this is as good as it gets...You won't find clutter and dissonance on this CD, only the finest of music arranged to suit the most discriminating tastes. 5 Stars

Visit California Coast Jazz At: http://community-2.webtv.net/johnnyjazz/johnnyjazzsjazzpage

This article comes from eJazzNews.com : The Number One Jazz News Resource On The Net http://www.ejazznews.com/

The URL for this story is: http://www.ejazznews.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=3384

The Curt Sheller Trio: Midnight at the Jazz Cafe

The Curt Sheller Trio's "Midnight at the Jazz Cafe" is a very pleasant and enjoyable CD with an appropriate title because as I sit here listening to the warm tones of Sheller's playing I get a feeling of sitting in some cozy jazz club on a cool rainy night, listening to great tunes played by a small group of friends.

This is not a CD that attempts to assault the listener with ego or insistent playing. Rather, it is an album that clearly realizes the beauty of the melodies of each tune played. Tunes like "There Will Never be Another You", "Black Orpheus", "My Favorite Things", "Milestones", "Autumn Leaves", "So What", "Cute" and other standards, are performed with deference to the musical statements that can be found within the harmonic and melodic content of each tune, as are the two original tunes written by Sheller: "Kelle Belle" and "Midnight Cafe". In other words, there is some nice playing going on here.

Sheller's single line playing is smooth and straightforward with an effortless quality that can only be portrayed by someone who has been playing and listening for some time. And his chordal work is skillful with fat sounding voicings that work very well in this trio setting. Just check out the gorgeous chordal arrangement Sheller comes up with on the original tune "Woman Child" (written by producer Chuck Anderson). Very nice indeed.

The remaining members, Daoud Shaw on drums and Steve Beskrone on electric bass, complement Sheller's playing by providing a strong rhythmic foundation for Sheller to play off of. However, Beskrone gets off some nice solos on a few tunes showing that he can grab the spotlight when need be.

Overall, this is a very nice CD to have in your collection and I look forward to hopefully more Midnight visits to the Jazz Cafe.

Go to www.jazzguitarresources.com/cds.html to purchase "Midnight at the Jazz Cafe" or to see what else Curt Sheller has to offer.

Lyle Robinson - www.JazzGuitarLife.com

Midnight At The Jazz Cafe
The Curt Sheller Trio | Curt Sheller

Jazz guitarist Curt Sheller is an instuctor/musician who hails from Pottstown, Pennsylvania and performs in the greater Philadelphia area. On his first album he has provided thirteen tracks that consist of largely the Great American Songbook and jazz standards plus two originals and one composition from his mentor, Chuck Anderson.

Let's give some credit to Curt Sheller for having the sense to select ten songs that are fine examples of musical architecture of the Twentieth Century. It would be hard, in a mainstream setting, to mangle any of these tunes, and in the format of the Curt Sheller Trio, he fully succeeds. From a standpoint of categorization, the album could be placed in a "dinner jazz" setting, either by listening to the CD or imagining the trio performing live in a restaurant environment.

The pleasure of basking in the aural presentation of such songs as "When Sunny Gets Blue," "Black Orpheus" and "There Will Never Be Another You" is the melody itself and one is reminded of the countless times that these tunes have been heard without tiring of them. Sheller's originals, "Kelle Belle" (for his daughter) and "Midnight Cafe," are decent enough to not stand apart from the other tracks.

- Michael P. Gladstone

The URL for this review is: www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=14567

"Chords can not be named out of context. They can only be named in the context of a chord progression or chord sequence and then only when the chord's harmonic function within that progression can be determined." - Curt Sheller(me)

That's the single most sensible statement about music that I've read in months, maybe years. Thanks, Curt. John Kavanagh - The 4th Peg Parlor Room

(From a posting to the jazz guitar newsgroup) Rocco, I took a lesson from a guy named Curt Sheller, who lives in Pottstown, PA area. Depending on where you live in the Philly area, that might be a bit of a drive for you, but he is well worth it. He's an excellent teacher. I took a lesson from him a couple of months ago, and had planned on taking a one-hour lesson per month from him, but then my work required me to travel almost every week since then and so I haven't been able to master the assignments he gave me so far.

I have taken single lessons from a few teachers in the area, and he is by far the best I've seen. He has a web site www.jazzguitarresources.com.

He is the only guy that I could find that is truly flexible in terms of scheduling, and to top it off, he's the best teacher for the guitar I've ever found as well... - Bob

Here is a comment on my UkuleleLessons format from the 4thPeg Uke Forum.

“Very nice. I like the format. It makes it easy to print up for study and practice. As always, great material. Keep up the great work. Your materials and sites are some of the best out there!” - - Ed - 4thPeg Uke Forum

( From www.donmitchell.us ) I could spend a lot of time linking to a lot of the guitarists that I admire, but Curt Sheller has already assembled the most comprehensive list of links to jazz guitarists I've ever seen on the web. You'll find it at www.jazzguitarresources.com

(June 2004) The Jazz Guitar Resources (JGR) web site is appropriately named. What started out as simply collecting information on archtop jazz guitar builders has evolved into probably the best jazz guitar resource on the web. The site contains listings and links to almost 200 "luthiers", over 400 "jazz guitarists", and other areas of interest (major jazz guitar manufactures, amps, speaker cabinets, strings, publishers, online lessons and more...). Jazz Guitar Resources is created and maintained by jazz guitarist Curt Sheller (www.curtsheller.com"). It is a truly the ultimate in jazz guitar sites.

Curt has taken it upon himself to create a database of luthiers, performers, educators and guitar (as well as ukulele) information. A jazz guitarist and author himself, Curt also provides numerous lessons, info on jazz repertoire, as well as links to and excerpts from various jazz books. On-line lessons include harmony, comping and improvisation. Along with the fantastic database, Curt offers publishing and graphic design services as well (a highlight of the site). With over 20 years in the artistic design, advertising and publishing business, Curt can assist any author or publishing company (including small-runs and self-publishers) to create and develop a product that rivals large company's work. His books and designs speak for themselves, as do his prices. Curt specializes in small runs of books at reasonable prices (something larger companies are simply unable to do). Curt can assist with layout and cover designs as well. Just as custom CD duplication services have helped level the playing field for all of the lesser-known performers, Curt's custom publishing can help the myriad of talented (but yet unknown) guitar educators share their resources with the world.

As a jazz guitar enthusiast, check out Curt's site for endless resources. As an instructor, check out Curt's site to help you put together a publication to market or use for your students. Curt Sheller can provide you with a simple and professional way to enter the guitar-publishing marketplace and not spend a fortune.

By Eric Elias

(April 2004) Six months ago, I approached Curt for some advice regarding music book publishing. Little did I know, Curt would end up printing and helping with distribution of my book! After doing quite a bit of research, Curt's prices for printing my book better than the "Big Boys" (and the smaller ones too). Additionally, Curt was very helpful with all kinds of "industry-insider" information regarding the music book publishing business, from the "how-tos" of technical writing to the suggestions of where the best credit card processing deals were.

I can't recommend Curt's printing and design services highly enough!

Jack Zucker
Author, 'Sheets of Sound for Guitar'
www.sheetsofsound.net

...a friend (another jazz guitar player) referred me to you site, told me it was "the best", and that i should check it out and get listed. he was right! i'm impressed! - Doug Simon

l've just been turned on to your fantastic site..an absolute wealth of information!!!! - Aaron Benson

Kudos to you for assembling such a wonderful website. I'll be Bebop....I mean be back! - Mitch Seidman

( November 2004 ) - Keep up the good work, Curt. Your site has gone well beyond everything else out there that I know of. It is both comprehensive and exhaustive. I don't know of a better jazz guitar resource.

Joe Finn

Wow! What a site!

I'd just like to commend you on all the hard work you've done and say keep up the good efforts. You've created a very comprehensive compilation of all kind of useful information. Anyone reading this should bookmark your site.

Thanks again Curt, and nice job. - Joe Finn

I don't get online much anymore, but I still visit the sites that I've saved from folks in this group, when I can.

JazzGuitarResource is an awesome site and a great effort made to get it that way. Thanks Curt... Ivan

Amazing! Simply amazing! What a great site! So cool! - Harris Wolfe

Hi Curt. I really enjoyed checking out your websites. Nice contribution to the jazz guitar community! I checked out your soundbites. "Shadow of Your Smile" sounds reminiscent of early Johnny Smith (one of my favorites). - Mike DeMicco

Man, what a great tool for Jazz guitarists!!! Thanks for doing all the work. - Morris Acevedo

GREAT site, Curt - you're bookmarked! - Clif Kuplen

I think your website is tremendous. I have found a teacher from it and am very impressed with the content that you supply. As well I have done alot of research on specific jazz guitarists wich i have found through youre website, as well as insight. Thanks again and keep up the good work. - Mark Weisbart

I recently was searching on the web for a luthier and your site came up. You've done a great job and must have spent hours putting it together. It looks really good and provides a great list of resources for all jazz guitarists and more! - Alisdair MacRae Birch

I think your site is very well done. Between your site, Harmony Central and a few others, a guy can actually keep up. - Charles Crosman

That's a pretty impressive site you run, man. Congratulations! - Dick Onstenk (Dutch Jazz Guitarist)

Thanks much for putting out a great website. - Mark Kleinhaut

I've checked out the site, Curt, and that is probably the best list of luthiers that I've come across! - Jim Kangas

I really enjoyed spending an hour or so touring your site, especially your Howard Roberts area. I was a student of his in the 60's, and later a friend, and it's good to see his name kept alive.

Thanks for all your hard work. - Larry Bellinger

I have to thank you again - I' ve spent days on your website now - and I'm only a quarter of the way through devouring it all comprehensively. - www.bluesmother.com

I'm glad you had fun and despite being very busy it was a pleasure to meet and hear you. Last night I had a few beers with my "crew" and they were asked who was a standout act , and you won "most technically proficient" player . The audience seemed to have really enjoyed your set and when the audio is ready I'll send it down to you. - Rich "Amazing Dick" Leufstedt - UkeStock 2008

I really enjoyed your set at The Whiskey--your low key intros, mic persona provided a cool contrast with your complex uke technique and ingenious arrangements! - Best wishes, Jared Denhard

I really enjoyed your set at The Whiskey--your low key intros, mic persona provided a cool contrast with your complex uke technique and ingenious arrangements! - Best wishes, Jared Denhard

The first time I heard Curt play, I knew he had talent . I am really enjoying his new album. Beautiful work! - Rich Reazer, President, Reazer's EDGE Custom Cabinets

The music was perfect for the evening and was much enjoyed by all. We wish you great success in your musical career, you surely deserve it. - Donna Taraglione, Fund Raising Coordinator Catholic Charties, Monmouth County, NJ

Great music. Look forward to your playing every year at our banquet. - Isabel O’Donovan-Kelley, President, Shore AC

I listened to your CD twice this week. very melodic. - Steve Roseck, Musician

You guys sound great!!! - The Help, Everyplace I’ve Played