27m here. I just bought a Real Book (sixth edition) from Amazon and I'm stuck. First of all, I don't know all my jazz chords from memory. And second, I can't read sheet music. What must I do to be able to play a tune from a Real Book? Must I learn Music Theory? Should I learn all the notes on the guitar fretboard? I figured I'd start with "Autumn Leaves" but I don't think I'm playing it right. I also have a Mickey Baker book "Jazz Guitar Book 1" and I'm stuck on lesson 2. I practice for 30 minutes every day, but my chord transitions are still so slow!!! I also have an 88 key piano if that helps. I say that because I learned to read sheet music on the piano but never on the guitar. However, I haven't used sheet music in months so I'm very rusty.
Please help, I would really like to learn Jazz but it just seems too hard. I can't afford a teacher at the moment so I'm using Youtube videos.
Submitted May 15, 2021 at 10:24PM by YHG_Music01 https://www.reddit.com/r/Learnmusic/comments/nddehv/just_bought_a_real_book/?utm_source=ifttt