Is 'A Modern Method for Guitar' the Ultimate Jazz Guitar Roadmap?

So here’s the big question:
Is there one book, one single method that can take you all the way from Point A to Z, turning you into a master jazz guitarist?

I’ve heard that question a hundred times over the years, and I want to tackle it head-on by talking about a method book that’s been part of my personal journey for over 20 years:

A Modern Method for Guitar by William Leavitt.

You might already know it—it’s considered the guitar syllabus for Berklee College of Music. But is it right for you? Let’s dig in.

What Is the Modern Method?

This is a series of three books (Volumes 1, 2, and 3) that aim to build strong sight-reading skills, technique, and theoretical understanding. I’ve been using them since my early playing days, and I've taught hundreds of students with them.

The full three volumes take you from “Here’s how to read a staff” all the way to “You’re a pro musician, go crush that pit orchestra gig.”

But—and this is important—it’s not a jazz method per se. It’s a drill book. A set of exercises and études designed to build raw skills. Think scales, reading, arpeggios, duets, chord studies, and more. That’s both the strength and the limitation of this method.

What’s Inside Each Volume?

• Volume 1 starts from scratch. If you’ve never read music before, this book will help you decode the staff from square one. It focuses on open position (with open strings) and eventually moves to closed positions (no open strings).
  ➤ If you're an intermediate rock/blues guitarist like I was, expect to find the technical part easy—but the reading might challenge you.

• Volume 2 and Volume 3 ramp up fast. You get scales in multiple positions, chord solos, and more advanced études. Volume 3 in particular feels a bit like overkill. I’m still on page 88 myself—and going through it slowly and deliberately.

Hot Tip: If you’re serious about this book, skip the giant omnibus edition. It’s a brick. Get the individual volumes—they’re easier to use on a music stand!

How to Use It (Without Losing Your Mind)

Here’s my advice for implementing the method:

• Work on 1–2 pages per day.

• Play exactly what’s written. Don’t rush it.

• Use the index to review tricky concepts.

• Record yourself—it’s a great way to track progress.

• Pair it with actual tunes. More on that below.

This isn’t a magic bullet. It won’t teach you how to swing, comp, or improvise on standards. But it will make you a stronger, more literate player who can take on more advanced work.

My Favorite Analogy: Learning Hockey

I’m Canadian, so here’s a hockey analogy for you.

Imagine I take you to the rink every day and teach you to skate, pass, shoot, and stickhandle.

After a month, you say:
“Hey Marc, I thought you were going to teach me how to play hockey?”

Well… I’ve been teaching you the skills of hockey. But playing an actual game? That’s a different beast.

Same with this method.
It teaches you how to skate, pass, and shoot. But the game? That’s playing tunes, improvising, comping with others. You need both.

Pros of the Berklee Method

Here’s why I still recommend it:

1. Streamlined – It’s linear and progressive. Page 30 is harder than page 29.
2. Simultaneous – You’re developing reading, technique, harmony, and theory all at once.
3. Strong Reputation – It's stood the test of time, and for good reason.

If you stick with it, you’ll build a rock-solid foundation.

The Limitations (And What It’s Not)

Let’s be honest:

• It’s not modern. Don’t expect modal interchange, quartal voicings, or advanced harmony past the 1960s.

• It’s not a songbook. There are no jazz standards.

• It’s very guitar-centric, which means it doesn’t prepare you for reading parts written for horns or piano.

• Volume 3 can feel excessive. Lots of positions, lots of finger-twisters—not always musically useful.

Is This Book for You?

Ask yourself:

• Do you want to develop your reading skills?

• Are you OK with practicing studies and drills, not tunes?

• Will you supplement this with real-world playing and improvisation?

If yes, this book will take you far.
If no, that’s okay too. You might just want to cherry-pick pages or stick to Volumes 1 and 2.

Next Steps & Resources

If you're using the Berklee Method—or thinking about it—I highly recommend pairing it with other learning materials, especially ones that help you play real music:

👉 Step-by-Step Improv Guide (Video)
👉 Chord Comping Mastery (Video)

Both are great supplements to help you “play the game” while doing the drills.

Thanks for reading!

See you in the next post,
Marc 🎸
JazzGuitarLessons.net