For musicians exploring the Barry Harris approach to jazz theory, harmony, and improvisation, a selection of method books and instructional DVDs can be a valuable companion. This article highlights five relevant titles, including comprehensive harmony guides and Barry Harris instructional material ranging from workbook-style texts to visual learning via DVDs. Each pick emphasizes practical chord progressions, tonal concepts, and improvisational frameworks that align with Harris’s distinctive style.
| Product | Key Focus |
|---|---|
| The Berklee Book of Jazz Harmony | Comprehensive harmony and chord progressions with online audio access |
| The Jazz Harmony Book | Jazz harmony concepts from a Berkman perspective for improvisation |
| The Barry Harris Harmonic Method for Guitar | Barry Harris harmonic approach tailored for guitar |
| The Barry Harris Workshop DVD – Part One | Foundational Barry Harris concepts with workbook |
| The Barry Harris Workshop DVD – Part Two | Advanced Barry Harris concepts with workbook |
The selections below are organized to help students, educators, and players assess resources that reflect the Barry Harris method and related jazz harmony concepts. Each entry provides a concise overview and practical angles for study, enabling learners to compare approaches and choose based on instrument focus, learning style, and progression level.
The Berklee Book Of Jazz Harmony
The Berklee Book Of Jazz Harmony is a comprehensive guide to music theory and chord progressions intended for all instruments. Authored by Joe Mulholland and Tom Hojnacki, this workbook-style resource includes practical exercises and opportunities for students and teachers to build a solid foundation in jazz harmony. The book emphasizes scalable concepts, making it useful for both beginners and more experienced players seeking structure for improvisation and composition. Its online audio access enhances listening and implementation of harmonic ideas in real-world playing scenarios.
The Jazz Harmony Book
The Jazz Harmony Book presents a thorough examination of jazz harmony concepts crafted for improvisers and composers. Authored by David Berkman, this resource provides accessible explanations and practical applications for building harmonic vocabulary, chord substitutions, and melodic derivation. It serves as a versatile reference for ensemble playing, solo performance, and educational settings, helping players bridge theory with on-the-spot creativity in improvisation.
The Barry Harris Harmonic Method For Guitar
The Barry Harris Harmonic Method For Guitar presents a guitar-oriented view of Harris’s harmonic concepts. This resource translates Barry Harris’s jazz language into guitar-friendly voicings, progressions, and phrasing strategies. It is suited for guitarists looking to incorporate Harris’s bebop-centric approach into chordal work and improvisation, with emphasis on voice-leading, scales, and harmonic substitutions that align with Harris’s teaching philosophy.
The Barry Harris Workshop DVD – Part One
The Barry Harris Workshop DVD – Part One combines video instruction with a workbook to introduce essential elements of the Barry Harris method. Viewers can gain exposure to the core harmonic concepts, melodic approach, and improvisational ideas that Harris emphasizes. This component offers a structured, visual learning pathway for students who benefit from seeing demonstrations and following written exercises to reinforce concepts.
The Barry Harris Workshop DVD – Part Two
The Barry Harris Workshop DVD – Part Two builds on Part One by expanding on harmony, terminology, and improvisational strategies central to the Harris method. This volume provides advanced exercises, additional voicings, and practical examples designed to deepen understanding of harmonic movement, bebop language, and ear training. It is especially useful for players seeking further refinement in Harris-style improvisation and ensemble interplay.
Buying Guide: Key Purchase Considerations
Instrument focus and goal alignment: Decide whether you want a broad theory foundation (The Berklee Book Of Jazz Harmony or The Jazz Harmony Book) or a guitar- or videography-centric approach (The Barry Harris Harmonic Method For Guitar, Barry Harris Workshop DVDs).
Learning style: If you prefer reading and exercises, select the workbook-style titles. If you learn better through visual demonstrations, the Barry Harris Workshop DVDs are suitable companions.
Progression and depth: For beginners, starting with general harmony books helps establish a base. For intermediate to advanced players, the Barry Harris materials offer practice in bebop language and improvisational nuance aligned with Harris’s teaching.
Audio and listening support: Books with online audio access can reinforce concept comprehension and practical application. Audio resources aid in hearing voicings, rhythm, and phrasing patterns described in text.
Instrumentation: Guitar-focused resources tailor the voicings and progressions to guitar technique, while the general harmony books are instrument-agnostic and applicable to piano, jazz ensemble work, or composition.
Educational use: Consider whether the material is better suited for self-study, private instruction, or classroom use, especially for teachers who want structured exercises and reproducible lesson plans.