Close Voicings by adding a finger

[McCap]

Here's a little idea to make otherwise unplayable chords playable.
Just add one finger of your picking hand to fret notes:

YouTube Video

Hope you liked this!

[FatJeff]

Cool stuff, but I think you are going to get in trouble with the Jazz Police for spreading unorthodox ideas like this. :-)

[hot ford coupe]

Not bad. Not bad at all. That does give me a few ideas. He makes that guitar really harplike.

[FatJeff]

I kept thinking it sounded like a music box. Really cool sound.

[McCap]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.

He makes that guitar really harplike.

I played through compressor directly into the PC. The guitar gets very clear tones with the q-tuner pickups already.
Add to that the playing position. Plus, as your playing on the fretboard there's not much space to dig under the strings. So, there more "nail" to the sound than usual.
I was surprised myself, but it really sounds a little harp-like.

(...and I'm of to escape the jazz police )

[andyhoey1]

Very nice stuff. I like the idea a lot. Here's another idea a la Stanley Jordan. "Simply" play 2 separate guitars at the same time:
YouTube - ‪Autumn Leaves - Stanley Jordan‬‏

[Marcel]

Originally Posted by andyhoey1

Very nice stuff. I like the idea a lot. Here's another idea a la Stanley Jordan. "Simply" play 2 separate guitars at the same time:
YouTube - ‪Autumn Leaves - Stanley Jordan‬‏

Yea but thats the easy way. I like what Joe Pass said. "if I can't play it, I just leave it out."

[amhabz]

Always liked Stanley Jordan since I "discovered" a cassette by him years ago. Never did figure out how he played a fretboard like a keyboard.

[colduc]

I think I've seen Tal Farlow do stuff like this. Very fun, unconventional technique. I've also messed around with this idea by moving my right hand finger around the fretboard to create basslines on the sixth and fifth strings while grabbing voicings on above that with my left hand. Being able to pick the strings makes the sound much more defined than the Jordan-style tapping approach.

[McCap]

Being able to pick the strings makes the sound much more defined than the Jordan-style tapping approach.

Yep, definitely.
With al due respect, I never liked that stanley jordan approach. For me it always felt like "why doesn't he play the piano?". That being said, again no disrespect meant. The stuff he does is incredible!!

I've also messed around with this idea by moving my right hand finger around the fretboard to create basslines on the sixth and fifth strings while grabbing voicings on above that with my left hand.

On my blog somebody pointed out a guy named Sean McGowan. Look him up!
Besides using the same technique he is an awesome player.

[mangotango]

Originally Posted by FatJeff

Cool stuff, but I think you are going to get in trouble with the Jazz Police for spreading unorthodox ideas like this. :-)

....not to mention playing a non-archtop (that isn't a Tele!) on a jazz guitar site, which is apparently a crime against nature,,,,,,,,,,,


,,,,,,,,

[kambor]

Originally Posted by McCap

Yep, definitely.
With al due respect, I never liked that stanley jordan approach. For me it always felt like "why doesn't he play the piano?"

He does. I've seen him live playing piano on one hand, guitar on the other, and then switch parts.

About the technique, I' not against it but I wouldn't use it, it limits the way I would have to play and the speed...

[brwnhornet59]

Originally Posted by kambor

He does. I've seen him live playing piano on one hand, guitar on the other, and then switch parts.

About the technique, I' not against it but I wouldn't use it, it limits the way I would have to play and the speed...

I have seen Stanley play guitar and piano in tandem. Interesting, but not my thing. He has a really cool style but i never felt that certain umphh from it. But incredible none the less.

[guelda]

Thank you for this very clear lesson man !
Great idea one can expand from, and the example is very musical and describe accurately.