Fingerstyle v. Chord Melody

[Gullahboy]

One thing I can say is this I am a folk guitarist but when I stated challenging chord melody I could see how finger style and chord melody style compliment each toher ....One chord melody has made me take a serious look at theory (Somthing that I understand but always ran from) but now since I have started studying chord melody I feel more confident in my playing and ideas that I have seem to materialize quicker.Big ups to chord melody

[wizard3739]

Derek, While I totally agree with most of your comments about sound quality, I would like to ask you to re-think one of your ealier comments.

"What we hear on stage and what is heard in the audience is never the same".

I have been testing a Bose PA System (Bose L1 PA system with a bass module) on various small club gigs and found that the audience and the other musicians in our group hear almost exactly the same thing that we (the musicians) hear on the stage. I know this Bose system is pretty new and kind of expensive but, (IMHO) it really does live up to its reputation. We have been using it with a mic for our vocalist, a jazz guitar, a bass and a keyboard. This system seems to be able to do it all very nicely and due to the nature of the tower speakers, can be heard by the audience and the musicians at the same sound volume and quality. Needless to say, I am saving my money to buy one of these fine systems. It actually out performs my Polytone minibrute!

best wishes,
wiz

[derek]

Mr. Wizard,

Fair enough. With line array technology of the Bose PAS system, that certainly is the current exception to the rule. However, utilizing traditional PA equipment, I would stick to my original viewpoint. I have yet to hear a PAS system live, but have played them in the store, and have been thoroughly impressed.

[Jazz Classic]

Originally Posted by November

For jazz I stopped using a pick. If you read my introduction you'll see I don't know much jazz but...

When I do chord inversions/scale exercises/warmups, I never use a pick. I only use a pick if dictated by appropriate tone.

So how do I do it? Wes montgomery/joe pass style. I pick single notes with my thumb edge (near corner of nail. The fleshy part. Not the part that wes uses but it works for me like a pick. You can up and downstroke) and chord with my fingers and thumb. It's great. It's challenging at first but lose your picks for a month and you'll get it. You kind of have to.

November

I would like to know more about this technique. I sure like Wes's sound, nice and mellow. The pick is a OK, but the tone I get out of my Axe is not as nice and I would sure like to play without it. How long did you take to make the switch? And do you cup your fingers in some special way? Also, is this method accepted by most teachers as an alternative? Thanks for your comments.

[JohnW400]

Wizard,

I had one. Sounded nice but what a pain to port around. plus...no reverb so on top of the $2100 for the bass module and "stick", I had to spend fo a reverb unit plus extra cables tgo connect.

Another point was that when I ran it with an archtop and acoustic bass, no problems , but the minute I hooked up my Yamaha C171 nylon string, well, let's just say that the sound was less than professional.

I wound up selling the system. I haven't replaced it yet (not gigging) but I want to look at that AI corus. I've heard good things

[wizard3739]

Hey guys, I have had my Jim Hall Sadowsky for a few weeks now and can say without a doubt, this is the best sound for jazz I have ever gotten from a guitar. I ended up with a set of GHS half-round pure nickel strings (.013 - .054) and the chords project really nice through my Polytone minibrute. The tone is very much like Jim Hall's sound but perhaps a bit brighter (my preference) and the sustain is incredible. NO MORE FEEDBACK PROBLEMS!!! That fact alone is enough to make me very happy! Also I get more balance from the strings and the wider neck/short scale is much better for my small hands. This guitar is perfect for chord melodies and I really believe my playing is a bit more inspired as a direct result of playing this Sadowsky. The guys I have been working with tell me I have a much better sound than I was getting with my T5. I can highly recommend the Sadowsky Jim Hall model as a great (or even a "perfect") guitar for the serious jazz guitarist. I still love my Stroup (Benedetto copy) but the Sadowsky is better for my needs for jazz gigs. My T5 is on eBay because I really can't see putting it in a closet.
best wishes,
happy wiz