Playing in a Guitar Trio (Stella by Starlight Lesson)

dirkji · #1 07-13-2007, 09:52 AM

This is the lesson we are talking about here: Stella by Starlight
Share your tips for playing in a guitar trio.

pete · #2 07-13-2007, 11:22 AM

VERY nice!

I really like being able to watch you play in these video lessons. One of the striking things about watching you (and other highly accomplished jazzers) is how EASY you make it look. You're just relaxed and breezing right through it - no rushing anywhere. You have time to think and all the time in the world to get where you are heading.

Mastery. Yeah... that's the ticket.

Thank you.

derek · #3 07-13-2007, 11:30 AM

Hey dirk, just got the lesson for Stella. I agree that you make it look easy. Being able to switch between single lines and chords during the song so smoothly is something I am currently working on.

I have a tough time with this as I am either thinking chords, or solo ideas. Thanks for a fine example of playing them both so fluidly. I want to hear you go thru it again soloing off the melody.

I guess that would be another vid. Thanks again for this stuff.

gravyTrain · #4 07-13-2007, 11:39 AM

That was nice! I am curious what guitar you are playing in that video though? It's a nice looking guitar.

derek · #5 07-13-2007, 01:04 PM

If I am not mistaken, that was a Gibson L4, which is just like an ES 175, except it has a solid wood top rather than a laminate like on the 175.

Martin · #6 07-13-2007, 02:11 PM

Hey
I just have a question and would be glad if someone could help me find the answer. For how long will I be able to find the stella video on this site? Is there any posibility to download the video to my hard drive?
Great vid by the way!

Jan · #7 07-14-2007, 05:17 AM

Hi Dirk. Great job! What you do in comparison to other tutorial video-makers is not overwhelming us poor disciples with virtuosity but you make us (me for a start) pick up the instrument and start working on it! Instead of 'OMG I'll never get there!" your videos bring up toughts like 'Hmm, this is worth trying!'. So thanks and ... go on like that!
I have the full legal version of BiaB for Mac but it did not recognize the 'Style' you used for Stella (J SONCE.STY). Can I get it somewhere?

Aaron J. Halpern · #8 07-15-2007, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirkji

This is the lesson we are talking about here: Stella by Starlight
Share your tips for playing in a guitar trio.

Hi dirkji I haven't yet experienced playing in a trio yet but i'm working and studing very hard till that day comes, and when it does i'll still practice very hard, but I have heard trio play in our local clubs in Boston MA. the guitar players doe's have a lot of playing to do the band consists of stand up bass drums and guitar, simple, and sweet,I really enjoy when each musician gets a chance to solo for a few minutes, and then the musics go right back to the song,I do agree with you in what you said about getting away from the original song and start soloing on other feelings from the music , but it's being done,by some musician very well thanks for any follow up on this thread Aaron

BillK · #9 07-15-2007, 02:38 PM

Dirk very tasty version of Stella! Were you using a pick and your 2nd, 3rd and 4th fingers? Or just the pick and 2nd & 3rd fingers?

I find a good way to practice with just bass and drums is to play line for one measure and then chords for one measure. Then maybe a line for two measures and comp for one and so forth.
BillK
California

dirkji · #10 07-16-2007, 10:38 AM

Thanks for the kind feedback guys!

Gravytrain, Derek: I'm playing an Ibanez Super 70s (35 years old) through a Roland Jazz Chorus. It's a copy of a Gibson L5.

Martin: The video will be there for eternity :-)

Jan: See mail

Billk: I think I'm using the 4th finger as well in some places.

derek · #11 07-16-2007, 03:10 PM

Old lawsuit Ibanez? Pretty cool. I thought it was a 16" lower bout. Nice sound.

priscilo · #12 07-17-2007, 09:38 AM

Very usefull lesson. You play it so easy!
I need more stuff!!
Thanks

Aladin111 · #13 07-23-2007, 08:36 AM

Thanks for the video - great arrangement.
It's not that easy, it took me 4 hours of hard sweat before i finally could play the entire song.
Keep them coming
Regards
Alain
Gent Belgium

Ziggs65 · #14 07-30-2007, 12:59 PM

Thanks for the lesson. This has rejuvinated my desire to learn more on this style of playing.

Ziggs65 · #15 07-30-2007, 01:33 PM

Any tips on how to improvise over these changes? Fairly confident with single note soloing, but not chord/melody style.

Gramps · #16 10-03-2007, 10:41 AM

I hadn't heard this song before and love the changes and melody. The arrangment is very nice too.

This is the type of song that can be played for years and still find something new in/through it.

Thanks for shareing.

saxguy · #17 10-21-2007, 02:08 AM

Hi everyone,

I'd like to know what style Dirk uses in BB to get that swingin' sound? I downloaded the Stella SGU file which has all the chords but it's using a different style that has nothing to do with jazz. I like the one Dirk uses.

Any help appreciated.

BB looks really old development-wise and could really use a new face lift for getting around and using it's features I think.

sinister_81 · #18 10-26-2007, 05:39 AM

I will soon post my reharmonization of Stella BS, which is extremely cool!

saxguy · #19 10-26-2007, 04:47 PM

I'll be watching for it

benthamman · #20 11-28-2007, 11:23 AM

could you send the 'Style' you used for Stella (J SONCE.STY)? Thanks in advance! and yes, motivating lesson for jazz beginners :-)

Stumpy · #21 12-09-2007, 11:19 AM

Hi, very nice video and a great lesson.

I'm also having the same problem with locating the correct style. I would really appreciate any suggestions.

All the best,

Nick.

Stephan · #22 12-12-2007, 08:31 AM

thanks for this lesson
great video

Steph - France

rpagnotta56 · #23 01-07-2008, 04:49 PM

Bravo!!

I really enjoyed it.....very good feeling.

Why you do not create another sweet arrangement for ESTATE of Bruno Martino?

LuisR · #24 01-21-2008, 01:32 PM

That's great!
Thanks

mississippi · #25 01-24-2008, 07:25 AM

dirkji, I just got done listening to your "Stella by Starlight". It was so wonderful. As a beginner I can only dream about playing like that. Thanks so much.

mississippi

andrewC · #26 02-27-2008, 08:25 AM

Dirk,
I love this arrangement and is the first good piece I have leant to play where I am more or less self sufficient. It makes you want to improvise effortlessly - if only I could! I tried to figure out where the the chords were coming from in the key of Bb. I can see Cm11 is the 2nd diatonic chord, F7 is the dominant and Ebmaj7 is the 4th. But what about the first 2 chords for example, Em7b5 and A7b9 for example? Am I right is saying that these are substitutions for Bb6 and Bm6 respectively and correspond to the former chords when the base notes are included? They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing so apologies if I am talking rubbish!

Yours lessons and this forum are great - thanks!

m78w · #27 02-27-2008, 09:13 AM

Hey AndrewC

The first two bars are a substitution for the original chords. The original change on the first two bars of Stella was Bbdim7, or Bbdimmaj7. This is what is called a Tonic Diminished chord. This chord is also found within the A7b9 chord, A C# E G Bb = A7b9, Bb C# E G = Bbdim7, and when you add the A you get Bbdimmaj7. So what someone did along the way when playing this tune was substitute the A7b9 for the Bbdim7, basicaly the same chord with a different bass note, then someone added the Em7b5 because it is the related iim7b5 chord to the A7b9 V chord.
So here is the process in a chart:

Original Chord: Bbdim7

Bbdim7=A7b9

First two bars become A7b9

If A7b9=V in Dm, then Em7b5 = iim7b5

So the first bar becomes Em7b5 and the second bar becomes A7b9.

hope that isn't too "heady", basically just think of The first two bars as a substitute for Bbdim7.

Another cool thing to do when blowing on the first four bars of Stella is to play Bb melodic minor over the first two bars, producing an A7alt sound, then play Bb major over top of Cm7 and F7, then if you want to keep the pattern going play Bb mixolydian over top of the Fm7 Bb7 and Ebmaj7.

So you can keep the same root and only change one note every two bars to make the changes like so:

First 2 bars Em7b5 A7b9: Bb C Db Eb F G A

Second 2 Bars Cm7 F7: Bb C D Eb F G A

Next 3 bars Fm7 Bb7 Ebmaj7: Bb C D Eb F G Ab

MW

andrewC · #28 02-27-2008, 05:18 PM

Hi MW

Thanks for this - it's very rewarding just being able to follow what you explained! Just started experimenting with the scales you suggested so I can hopefully put this into practice. I really appreciate your taking the time to set this out so clearly.

andrewC

suzan · #29 05-28-2008, 08:44 AM

Nice video! Really very good. Thanks a lot for this. Its not easy to get it. Now I will try to play it. Do practice regularly.

DMatthewsBand07 · #30 06-05-2008, 04:41 PM

Chord melody's one of my favorite ways to play but it's only really practical for ballads and medium swings. When you get into moderate tempos it's quite a bit more difficult to keep the harmony. Anyway, I loved the way that you kept the melody, and never lost the harmony. I was wondering what your trick is to choosing when to play the single notes and when to chord. I loved the little fills you did with the chording too. Sounded great, but if you (or anyone for that matter) have some suggestions that'd be awesome.