Frankie Trumbauer opened my ears to bending!

[brent.h]

I don't bend notes much. Never been my thing. But after hours of listening to Tram, I think I'm changing my mind about this. Tram seems to have understood the character of the notes he's bending and how to resolve them.

I used to think that bends were typically done or sounded decent on these notes:
- the b3, going into 3
- the 6, going into b7

1. Tram does the above, but he showed me that it's also possible to start a bend on unexpected/unusual notes:
- the b2, going into 2
- the 2, going into b3 (really classic trad jazz sound, I'm realising)
- the 3, going into 4
- the b5, going into 5
- the b6, going into 6
- the 7, going into the Root
- (he doesn't seem to favour bends starting on the 4, going into the b5)

2. Tram frequently pairs his bent note with another tritone (from above or below). This is an amazing sound.

3. Tram occasionally bends one note in an ascending or descending triad. Creates lots of interest.

[Jimmy blue note]

Frankie was a great influence on Prez who in turn was the inspiration for Charlie Christian. That lyrical non vibrato lyrical phrasing was modern guitar before there even was jazz guitar.
It goes back to Frankie!

[princeplanet]

Check out Andre Ekyan who played with Django, bends galore.

[brent.h]

Check out Andre Ekyan who played with Django, bends galore.

YES I needed this holy moly

[princeplanet]

YES I needed this holy moly

I once worked out his solo to "Rosetta", it was fun! Made me wonder why no swing guitarists used bends like these! Then I remembered what kind of strings and action they were probably using!