Ed Bickert's chords?

TommyD · #1 02-16-2010, 01:43 AM

We all love Ed Bickert. I've been trying to dope out some of the chord forms he favors. I especially like the close-voiced chords. Does anybody have a line on some of them?
TommyD/

#2 02-16-2010, 06:39 AM

There are a couple of nice transcriptions done by Nick Stasinos over at the Ted Forum. Link below. Enough in those pages to keep a normal human busy for a while!

..:: The Ted Greene Forums ::..

AndyV · #3 09-07-2011, 11:50 AM

Does anyone have any other examples of the specific voicings Ed used?

Drumbler · #4 09-07-2011, 03:27 PM

He plays a lot of chord fragments.

Take a 5 or 4 note chord grip and grab only 3 notes of it. Leave out the bass note if it's a root for example.

Bickert plays with a pick and fingers. He grabs only 2 or 3 notes of the chord with his fingers.

He "infers" the underlying chord. Try it.

dmorash · #5 09-08-2011, 09:17 AM

Is it possible for anybody to post the transcriptions here that are on the Ted Green site. I'd like to have a look at them and they won't open for me. I'm surprised there is not more info on Ed's playing out there. He's a master of improvised chordal melody.

I'm working on one of his solos now (The Best Thing For You Would Be Me with Rosemary Clooney). It's almost all single note lines with a few 2 note chords (like Drumbler mentioned he uses small pieces of chords alot).

TruthHertz · #6 09-08-2011, 09:22 AM

YouTube Video

YouTube Video

Is this helpful? Lorne played with Ed, they share a similar vibe. I love Ed's playing too.
David

AndyV · #7 09-08-2011, 10:07 PM

Bickert is amazing in the way he improvises harmonized counter melodies behind a soloist using impeccable voice leading. I've copped a few things by ear and tried to make them my own. The Lofsky clips are interesting, thanks for linking. Here's a chord sequence I play from cribbing a few ideas from Ed.

jseaberry · #8 09-09-2011, 10:11 AM

Something is wrong with the link, Andy; there is nothing there???

AndyV · #9 09-09-2011, 11:00 AM

Also ... just came across this FYI ...

Jim Hall's site offers a rare recording of Ed accompanying Jim's vocalist wife Jane for download.

http://www.artistshare.com/projects/...&salesTypeID=6

gersdal · #10 09-09-2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyV

I changed the earlier jpg that wouldn't display to a pdf. It now displays and I did a successful test download. If it doesn't work still - email me and I'll send it. aevolk AT comcast DOT net.

Still doesn't work

AndyV · #11 09-09-2011, 02:33 PM

Here's an external link:

https://home.comcast.net/~aevolk/ima...red_chords.pdf

Jazzaluk · #12 09-09-2011, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyD

We all love Ed Bickert. I've been trying to dope out some of the chord forms he favors. I especially like the close-voiced chords. Does anybody have a line on some of them?
TommyD/

I've been studying Ed Bickert allot over the years and I think that you will find the chord forms are not that special. It is really the chord phrasing that define his sound and the moving lines that often create the most interesting and tasty chords. The vibe seems to be in the rhythm of the phrases. Its all very mysterious.

It would be fun to share some transcripts of favorite Ed chord phrases from different tunes. Turnarounds are a good start.

AndyV · #13 09-09-2011, 02:42 PM

It's also the way he subs chords that give him that sound and the fact that he's unafraid to simply sustain a chord for several beats. He plays all sorts of cool little connecting melodies, voice leading dyads, low register stabs and grace note flourishes that are more like a pianist might think than the way a typical guitar player thinks. While his single line playing is fluid and creative, it somehow seems like a something of a let down compared to the majesty of his chord work.

BigDaddyLoveHandles · #14 09-09-2011, 04:27 PM

From watching youtube videos of Ed, he seems to have an extremely light touch. Do you think so, too?

Jazzaluk · #15 09-09-2011, 05:44 PM

I agree. Definitely a light touch. I attended a Lorne Lofsky workshop last year and tried to squeeze some Bickert tips out of him. He demonstrated a few things, but I remember him saying, to get that "Ed" sound, he spent allot of time practicing chordal technique so that each note had the same volume. For what it's worth.

hot ford coupe · #16 09-09-2011, 06:56 PM

Thanks guys. I've been trying to tear Bickert's chords apart since I first heard him but I've never been successful. I'll try some of the suggestions and see how they work.

AndyV · #17 09-09-2011, 06:58 PM

He played with pick and fingers. Mysteriously, he doesn't appear to use nails yet his sound is very even with notes played by the pick - as you noted - all at the same volume as the fingers.

AndyV · #18 09-20-2011, 10:00 AM

You can read a complete Bickert Interview here:
Voices in Jazz Guitar: Great ... - Google Books

It's very illuminating. Sadly, he seems to be a bit depressed, a common problem with aging folks in our society.

There's a fantastic real time transcription of Ed's performance of Lolipops & Roses on YouTube:

performance: Ed Bickert Trio - "Lollipops and Roses" - YouTube

transcription:Ed Bickert Trio - Lollipops and Roses - Guitar Transcription - YouTube

The clanging interval in the chord in bar 13 is really cool. I'm amazed that anyone who's not Tal Farlow could grab that chord on the fly. I had to move it to the inside string set to finger it. The tendon in my pinky still hurts from practicing it for 30 mins on Sunday! What would you name that voicing?

BigDaddyLoveHandles · #19 09-20-2011, 12:06 PM

Voicing -- C (add 4). (C sus4 would usually imply no third)

I would even cheat and finger it xxx560, but that's just me.

AndyV · #20 09-20-2011, 12:17 PM

Close but not quite the same level of clang. It becomes a moveable form if you finger it: xx10.9.6.x

Makes a nice voice led change to the Bb chord xx876xx ....

or extend to this progression in F ...

xx10.9.6.x

xx876xx

xx555x

(hammer on the F note )
xx556x

PaulD · #21 09-20-2011, 06:30 PM

Thanks a lot for those links Andy!!

Paul

dmorash · #22 09-21-2011, 01:11 PM

A friend of mine showed me this . This is a 1 - 6 - 2 - 5 in F:

XX1234 (F13#9)

XX556X (Dmin11)

XX444X (Btriad)

XX334X (C11#9)

XX001X (F6/9)

XX441X (D13)

XX331X (Gmin11)

XX231X (C7)

Someone more technically inclined might be able to name those better than I did. The first four especially. Playing a B triad for the 2 chord in F is different, but it's voice lead really well. The last part of the phrase (the last 4 chords) is one Ed used many times. Interesting that there are no roots in this.