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03-30-2008, 10:22 PM
| | | | Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 3
| |  Big Band Guitar
Hi, I've only recently begun playing Jazz Guitar and so I figured that a logical step would be to join the school Big Band, in order to gain some experience.
I'm not especially sure of what the bandmaster wants, as he is a trumpet player and has only really given generic advice (ie. tacets), so I've been exploring some Freddie Green style 3 note voicings with the fifth or root in bass, and the 3rd and 7th degrees higher up.
Can anyone help me expand my knowledge of what big band guitar is about? |
02-06-2010, 06:16 PM
| | | | Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 8
| | 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fripod  Hi, I've only recently begun playing Jazz Guitar and so I figured that a logical step would be to join the school Big Band, in order to gain some experience.
I'm not especially sure of what the bandmaster wants, as he is a trumpet player and has only really given generic advice (ie. tacets), so I've been exploring some Freddie Green style 3 note voicings with the fifth or root in bass, and the 3rd and 7th degrees higher up.
Can anyone help me expand my knowledge of what big band guitar is about? | Hi there. I'm new to jazz as well, but i love it. Well my comping is almost only those freddie green chords that I love, some sincopation, cromatic walking bass lines and sometimes I just do chords anticipation 1/2 step above or below. And is preety much it right now. Then I think we start to trying do things more complex and more "tastefull" in a natural way (I hope).
Solists tell me that freddie green chords are nice 'cos they have the most important notes for a chord, we can easly do some modulations, some cool fifth invertions and at the same time give a lot of freedom to soiling improv. And we can easly add some extensions as well.
But I really don't know if it is right to think in terms of those tryads and not in terms of bar chords. I do it, 'cos I really don't give alot about the fifth in bar chords. (Is it wrong?)  |
02-06-2010, 07:06 PM
| | | | Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,335
| | Bid band guitar
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fripod Hi, I've only recently begun playing Jazz Guitar and so I figured that a logical step would be to join the school Big Band, in order to gain some experience.
I'm not especially sure of what the bandmaster wants, as he is a trumpet player and has only really given generic advice (ie. tacets), so I've been exploring some Freddie Green style 3 note voicings with the fifth or root in bass, and the 3rd and 7th degrees higher up.
Can anyone help me expand my knowledge of what big band guitar is about? | Hey Fripod... I've played and recorded with Big Bands for years, college bands and pros, written a ton of charts etc... Are you in High School or college? Sounds like HS, if so, most of the parts are written out in all the old charts. Sometimes you'll double with saxes, single note lines. Check out the Piano part, the trick in big bands is for the guitar and the piano to work together. One guy or gal lays down the chords, usually full root position style, while the other player rhythmic punches, or accents the groove or feel of the chart. Try not to play the same thing as piano, it gets to thick. The Freddie Green style of short punches on the quarter notes with full chords works great. Keep the chords short, staccato like. Bass note should be root, other chord tones work but usually make things muddy. The top or voice leading leading note should work with melody, the inner notes aren't as important. In big bands don't play to much and watch your volume. It's a ton of fun, and there's nothing like soloing over a groovin BB. If you want more info. let me know... have fun Reg |
02-06-2010, 07:29 PM
| | | | Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,206
| | Big Band
Yeah...more Reg! I, Too am interested primarily in Big Band type of guitar playing. Love any info or input you have.
Thanks, Sailor |
02-06-2010, 08:25 PM
| | | | Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 8
| |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailor Yeah...more Reg! I, Too am interested primarily in Big Band type of guitar playing. Love any info or input you have.
Thanks, Sailor | Same here. Anything about big bands, jazz guitar comping. I'll also search arround the forum.
Stay cool  |
02-07-2010, 09:50 PM
| | | | Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,335
| | Big Bands eyc..
Quote:
Originally Posted by fep | Hey site look cool... some good basic information, organized well. It's pretty hard to start writing big band charts with out a pretty good understanding of music. I would suggest writing basic two horns, usually Tpt. and Ten. and rhythm section, charts of standards you already know well. Come up with an outline of your arrangement. Example; "Have You Meet Miss Jones", The form is AABA. Come up with an intro, usually something from the tune or that sets up the tune. For the tune maybe 1st A unison, 2nd A write a counter line that works with the melodie, B section give to the rhythm section with horns out or playing background harmonies, last A double the melodie with gui. or Pn. down 8vb or unison. Solos, practice writing background lines on last chorus of solos. A lot of times the same AABA is used again with minor changes. Add an ending and theirs one chart.
Add trombone to your next chart, add try writing two counterlines. It doesn't need to be counterpoint all the time, use call and answer styles. Listen to BBs and try to copy their outline of a chart and use it but with three horns. The hardest part is finding different melodic ideas that work together with some sort of balance. Filling out the voicings for each section is pretty mechanical, depending on style of chart. You can also use a music program, Finale etc... and trial and error your way through, but at some point you need to understand Music, all aspects... Music is not a short journey...Good luck Reg |
02-07-2010, 10:31 PM
| | | | Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,335
| | Big Band Comping
Quote:
Originally Posted by rabbit | Great stuff...you need to be able cover that style for sure, but there's quite a few other styles. You need to be able to read exceptionally well, in latin charts, guitar is used to cover melodies on top or with horn sections, usually saxes. Or you play montunos with piano, and they need to lock or groove with rhythm section. you're almost a percussion player. There's a few different rhythms you need; claves, five note,two measure patterns for salsa. Rumbas mambos, cha-cha... there's a bunch, but main thing you need as a guitar player is the feel...of latin music, not just a bossa nova or samba. Look at Sher's "The Latin Real Book", in back there's some basic patterns and examples. There are a lot of Blues Charts, not just Freddie style. Nowadays there are a lot of contemporary rock or fusion style charts. And the new funk styles are different from the 70's and 80's, Tower of Towers influence, that's a good thing, at least to me. Again the most important thing is for the rhythm section to work together and groove, less is usually more, the chart usually doesn't spell that out. A good rhythm section can make up for a lot of, lets just say not so great horn players. Good luck Reg | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
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