EXAMPLE3 FREDDIE GREN (JAZZ)

cd track 9

Freddie Green’s style of swing rhythm guitar featured quarter notes with a dynamic accent on beats 2 and 4. He also often changed chord voicing every one or two beats even if the chord type was the same; this introduces movement into the accompaniment. Our jam track features two choruses of a jazz-blues in F to try out some jazz-style rhythm guitar.

[Bars 1 to 14 ] This first chorus showcases the ‘four in a bar,’ jazz accompaniment style using down strums. The rhythmic accents are on beats 2 and 4 and this is a key component of the swing feel. Small chords tend to work best and the harmony is concisely described here by picking out two or three of the key chord tones for each of the changes.

[Bars 15-end] In the second chorus we free things up a bit and use concepts such as the semitone approach to provide some colour. There is a stock, jazz club-style ending to negotiate, finishing with the connoisseur’s choice of F7#9 as a finishing chord (how different the ‘Hendrix’ chord sounds in a jazz setting).