by Doc Dosco
http://www.docdosco.com

This week we feature jazz guitarist Jody Fisher. Jody has written a lot
of jazz guitar methods. I find his Guitar Chord and Scale Finder
extremely useful as a reference book as it catalogs scales and modes
rarely covered in other books. He says of this book: “The purpose
of this book is to give you a single source to refer to when looking for
information regarding the use of scales for improvisation. This is not a
method. Rather, it is a reference book. You can look up any chord to
learn what scales will work with it. You can also look up any scale to
learn every chord it works with. You will find two fingering diagrams
for every scale and several voicings for the chords. Standard notation
and TAB.” This book is a real gem, and it’s only .95.

Online Bio

Jody Fisher was born in South Bend, Indiana and spent most of his
childhood years moving throughout the country. His father, a successful
radio broadcasting figure, and his mother an actress, provided the
creative environment that allowed him to pursue his avid interest in
both music and the guitar. By age eleven, Jody was taking lessons in the
Chicago area. During this time, he also studied with his uncle, jazz
guitarist Sid Fisher who had spent many years as an RCA recording
artist. After moving to the West Coast as a teenager, Jody continued
taking lessons with some of the top players living in the Los Angeles
area, including, Herb Ellis, John Collins, and Louis Speigner. It was
during these years that he also attended The Stan Kenton Music Clinics.
Jody eventually began studing with guitarist/bassist, George Stanley,
who started bringing him to gigs and introducing him to other players.
From this point on, Jody made a steady living playing the guitar.

As a performer, Jody has played virtually every style of music
professionally. He has played many important venues such as the
Hollywood Bowl and Universal Amphitheater. Today, he is primarily known
as a jazz artist living in the Southern California area and has recently
worked all over the United States, Canada, England and Germany. His
newest CD, Impromptu, has received critical acclaim.

Jody has published over twenty instructional books about jazz guitar
with Alfred Publishing, Workshop Arts Publications, and Mel Bay
Publications. Four of his books have appeared in the Smithsonian
Institute’s Folkways Exhibition in Washington, DC. In addition Jody has
written for most of the major guitar magazines, including Guitar Player,
Just Jazz Guitar and Fingerstyle Guitar.

As an educator, Jody has held the positions of Professor of Jazz and
Studio Guitar at the University of Redlands, in Redlands, CA, the
University of La Verne, in La Verne, CA, and the Idyllwild School of
Music and the Arts (ISOMATA), in Idyllwild, CA. In addition, he has also
served as Associate Director of the National Guitar Workshop as well as
Director of the Workshop’s Jazz Summit in the early years of that
program. Jody continues to conduct seminars and clinics all over the
country.

See Jody’s website at http://www.jodyfisher.com

Doc Dosco is a jazz guitarist, composer and audio consultant living in
Los Angeles, CA. His website is located at http://www.docdosco.com,
where you can find more information on the ‘What’s Hot in Jazz Guitar’
columns, audio clips of Doc’s playing, and many additional features. Doc
plays Heritage guitars and endorses the new Pignose Valve Tube
Amps — great for jazz (and anything else!)