The Summer of Rhythm Guitar 2024

[Victor Saumarez]

At 3:50 or so he solos out the guitarist and I notice he rakes the dead strings sometimes, but not all the time. Is that standard?

Since someone pointed out I was raking every upstroke I've been trying to cut it entirely. I'm wondering if I'm cutting too much now.

Thoughts?

I believe the upstroke is mostly used to indicate going into a section, or back to the top a bit like a drummer fills. Or, could be used for a key change.

[AllanAllen]

I believe the upstroke is mostly used to indicate going into a section, or back to the top a bit like a drummer fills. Or, could be used for a key change.

I think you're right. I've been paying attention to how other people use it (Molly Reeves is easy to hear on the New Orleans Jazz Vipers albums) and it does seem like a signal. In my own playing, I'm struggling to lose it, it feels somehow too plain and too busy to strum solid quarter notes at home. I'm interested to see how it all comes together Saturday night.

[mr. beaumont]

Jeff, did you do a rhythm changes yet? Hint hint

I get into it a bit here, iirc.

I'm away for a week, but upon return I'll do another. A lot of variations...

[AllanAllen]

Is this what you're grabbing for the IV part? Bars 4 and 5.

6x57xx
6x67xx
7x58xx (looks like you do 6x58xx at the end, jazz freedom?)
9x89xx

[pkirk]

Please do!

Only criteria-- it's jazz rhythm guitar. Other than that, do whatever you want!

Here's a quick recording (with metronome) of a couple of Bill McCormick's rhythm changes etudes (the clams are mine), one of my
favorite jazz guitar books.

He goes through all 12 keys, this is Bb and B
Bb is the first, is pretty tame. They start to get more modern as you move through the keys. By the time you get to
the later ones it becomes sort of Freddy Green meets Pat Metheny.

[AllanAllen]

Here's a quick recording (with metronome) of a couple of Bill McCormick's rhythm changes etudes (the clams are mine), one of my
favorite jazz guitar books.

He goes through all 12 keys, this is Bb and B
Bb is the first, is pretty tame. They start to get more modern as you move through the keys. By the time you get to
the later ones it becomes sort of Freddy Green meets Pat Metheny.

Got a link to those etudes? I listened to your clip and I’m intrigued.

[Webby]

I get into it a bit here, iirc.

I'm away for a week, but upon return I'll do another. A lot of variations...

Jeff, in the Video you said you find it hard to play two-note-chords without hitting the low E.
I still think you Sound amazing in the clip, but if you want to get into that I feel like you might want to try to keep your guitar more at an angle. The right hand just "falls" on the middle strings when your guitar is positioned that way.

[pkirk]

Got a link to those etudes? I listened to your clip and I’m intrigued.

https://mpubmusic.com/product/rhythm...ol-1-all-keys/

All his books are great and full of stuff ready to use on the bandstand.

[benhatchins]

https://mpubmusic.com/product/rhythm...ol-1-all-keys/

All his books are great and full of stuff ready to use on the bandstand.

Great, thanks! I wish I could be as good at playing as this guy. But it probably takes a lot of practice, and I didn't have much of that luxury in the past. Now that I have academized.com/essay-for-sale, I can finally spend more time on my hobbies. With my academic workload lightened, I have more freedom to dedicate myself to improving my skills and enjoying my passions. Whether it's playing an instrument, sports, or any other activity I love, having this extra time makes a world of difference

[pkirk]

I found two more McCormick FG 4-to-the bar over rhythm changes on youtube, played by great players on great guitars:

(these are both out of his books)

[Question]

Does anyone know if McCormick's books are available in the EU?

I know that mpubmusic ships internationally, but it is always problematic for me to import from the US.

[starjasmine]

Ran into this last night - it's pretty good. He shows a system for voicing chords and adding extensions, and also provides examples of putting this all together to create chord patterns/chord phrases.

PS: looks like there was a short thread on JGO regarding this vid that did not gain much traction a few years back.

[AllanAllen]

Ran into this last night - it's pretty good. He shows a system for voicing chords and adding extensions, and also provides examples of putting this all together to create chord patterns/chord phrases.

PS: looks like there was a short thread on JGO regarding this vid that did not gain much traction a few years back.

I use as much of this as I can remember each time I play. It helped me digest things from Mickey Baker’s book. Great video.

[Webby]

I was just listening to this Sinatra recording and thought I'd share it here, as the guitar is kinda prominent in the mix:

That's Al Viola on guitar by the way.

[AllanAllen]

That's Al Viola on guitar by the way.

I always assumed that was Basie's band and Freddie Green. Al Viola is great

[mr. beaumont]

Frank did that one record (at least) with Basie's band, but Al was his guy for decades I think. Great player.

[Webby]

Al's L5 was for sale a few years ago, the listing is quite an interesting read:

“When Al was told by the contractor to bring the acoustic on dates, whether for film scoring, recording dates or live appearances, this is the guitar that he would use. I know that he would use it on Sinatra dates and live appearances especially.
Frank loved the sound.”
L-5 Guitars | Fretted Americana Inc.

[AllanAllen]

Frank did that one record (at least) with Basie's band, but Al was his guy for decades I think. Great player.

Yeah I think Al was with Sinatra for over 20 years. As far as I know, there's just that one recorded duet with them. Would love to hear more, Viola is unfortunately buried in an orchestra on most of the recordings.

[mr. beaumont]

Shaking off a week away's dust with some Rhythm Changes.

[mr. beaumont]

Bonus video, cuz it's Summertime!

[Jwr]

Hi.
participating again :-)

trying to do 4 things:

-forcing myself to play 8x4
- always as loud as possible, to deal with the dragging.
- 3 string just shadowing the 4
- keep time without backing track.


Dropbox

[mr. beaumont]

Hi.
participating again :-)

trying to do 4 things:

-forcing myself to play 8x4
- always as loud as possible, to deal with the dragging.
- 3 string just shadowing the 4
- keep time without backing track.


Dropbox

I think you sound good!

Not sure what you mean by 8x4?

I do notice you often play a longer note on the 3rd quarter of each pair of bars...so the 7th out of 8 notes if that makes sense.

It doesn't sound bad, just wondering if intentional.

[AllanAllen]

Hi.
participating again :-)

trying to do 4 things:

-forcing myself to play 8x4
- always as loud as possible, to deal with the dragging.
- 3 string just shadowing the 4
- keep time without backing track.


Dropbox

Sounds rhythmically strong, and I didn't hear any dragging. What do you mean to play 8x4? I think that's a new term to me.

[Jwr]

Sounds rhythmically strong, and I didn't hear any dragging. What do you mean to play 8x4? I think that's a new term to me.

Thanks AllanAllen
By 8x4 I mean playing 2 bar phrases.

The long 1 and 7 is one, rather crude, way of doing it…

I think I do drag some places, so still some work to be done this summer.

[mr. beaumont]

Thanks AllanAllen
By 8x4 I mean playing 2 bar phrases.

The long 1 and 7 is one, rather crude, way of doing it…

I think I do drag some places, so still some work to be done this summer.

Oh, I get what you are saying now.

One thing I probably overdo is create movement on the last three beats of 2 or 4 bar chunks...but it works.

I like movement on consecutive beats when changing sections too.