12:04 can you elaborate on why the Db9 in measure 10 is "ii-V"-ish? In such an analysis, are you imaging certain substitutions or added chords?
Thank you Equenti for this chord question.
This is typical jazz chords in any standards. This case AbMaj7 to Ab-7 or just simple ii-7 V motion on IV chord.
Sub for VI-7 and you could think as bVII7 chord.
Tomo
I believe he reinterpreted it a second or two later as the bVII of the EbM7 I chord. You just get very instinctively tuned to see any sort of A-to-D as a II V cadence, even though it is not a V chord that resolves to any diatonic chord in Eb.
So the easiest interpretation is that it's a bVII of Eb.
And if you overthink it, and follow the white rabbit down the hole.... you can consult wikipedia and you'll see it as a so-called "backdoor dominant" cadence -- which, to me, doesn't help very much ... because when you look at the melody there, the G F G Ab Bb, suggests, at least to me, anyway, an Eb7 resolving to EbM7.
And that's a lot of overthinking for 1 bar of a chord that probably just sounds nice with the melody at that point.... when we really should be looking up a reference recording and hear how it sounds in a real musical context.
Thank you Brad for sharing this idea!
You got it!
Simple way is always good! Then we all can learn by sounds too "Good sounding chords"
Tomo
A pretty little solo, played by Mr Tomo Fujita:
>> Jazz Guitar Solo Homework - There will never be another you <<
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fvA8IeFOyio
Thanks jh!
Yes, very pretty. Sounds so cool.
Thanks for finding that clip.
Fun example of what is possible if we keep going!
Kurt
Thank you jh for sharing that video. That's my transcription on this....
Tomo
Thank you Kurt! What a great solo by Barney Kessel!
Tomo
Really cool solo - and comping, but you have to listen close.
Thank you Clay! Please enjoy this perforance! Yes! Keep listening same song over and over!
Tomo
don't worry, don't compare, don't expect too fast, be kind to yourself!
** updated recording **
Wow, what a wonderful performance! Thank you, jh!
Thank you, Tadashi. You are kind. And plenty there for me to work on improving, which will be both enjoyable and challenging 🎸
Thank you jh!
You sound so great!
I appreciate seeing that very much. Very inspiring!
Please keep us updated on your progress.
Kurt
Nice jh! Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful! Admiring how relaxed you seem on the video!
Thank you Tadashi, Kurt, Clay and Sunil for encouragement!
So inpiring from everyone here! I am so grateful!
Tomo
Thank you Tomo for reminding us not to get down on ourselves.
"This solo is a little tricky because in key of F. Do not push! Go slow! Be kind to yourself!"
I had only practiced the chords in Eb and that was super challenging. It's taking me a while to figure out the chords in F.
The solo feels way out of reach- for now at least.
I'm not expecting at all.
I do believe that if I follow along slowly, and keep trying, I'll make progress.
Kurt
You're very welcome! Yes! We all love to push as "Challenge" but if you push it and if you went over..... game is over! Simply you can stuck and more you push... you go around!
This solo example is in key of F but we all need to learn the original key = Eb. This solo is pretty hard to do. It sounds great but not easy.
Simple is good! Please keep learng R 3 7 over original key. Good job!
Tomo
This is helpful!
Simple is VERY good!
Thanks for providing some perspective on the big picture Tomo!
I've ran into "Game Over!" many times, trying to learn to play something without having a strong foundation.
Now I stay in the game. I pay attention to the "Be Kind to Yourself", "Slow Down" "Go Back" and other signs you put up for us as we make our way on our journey.
Kurt
Yes, makes sense.
Personally, I feel like to take one step,
I try to take five steps forward, 3 back, then 2 back, and finally take 1 step.
Yes, you are right, what I do is equivalent to 3 steps forward and 2 steps back.
But my way takes 5 more steps 😅.
I feel like I'm approaching Tomo's one step forward shortest path method though.
A few days ago,Tomo mentioned this song as another good way to practice R37 swing and muting. I watched the lesson video, and also listened to the Chet Sings, Stitt, and Pass versions. Also Nat King Cole, but not as useful.
So - this is super rough - like my third or fourth attempt at a play through; still have to look at lead sheet. Using usual practice setup (Guitar on front pickup, tone = 10, vol =8; Amp is MMBA tone 5, vol 5), no click. It's pretty jankety, especially later. I already know I'm not getting big enough swing with my strumming. Anyway, I'm calling this a baseline (not bass line) video - kind of my starting point to start working on improving my technique and sound.
Sounds like it's coming together!
I can hear the melody, great start Clay.
Points for courageousness for posting an early video, man!
Clay - so good on only a 3rd try.
Love the sound from the Music Master.
So pure.
Keep us updated with more post!
Awesome Clay! Thanks so much for sharing. With more slow practice, you'll develop the consistency you're looking for in your strumming. Really appreciate the "baseline" video. I'm excited to see where you take this!
Sounds good! Thank you Clay for sharing this video. Overall very good. You don't want to miss any up stroke so that you can work on your left hand mute. So lovely! Please practice this more! Play it slower and do not to forget to do up stroke on each beat. This type swing groove rhyrthm guitar is so important! You made me so happy with this video! Thank you!
You can also practice chromatic scale. 1212... even 5 minutes everyday!
Tomo
Thanks all! Will focus on up stroke consistency when I practice this. And definitely 1212 chromatics on 4th and 3rd string as part of daily routine.
Thanks for sharing, Clay. A great song to practice grooving the R 3 7.
This song, the r6 Cm7, Bbm7 and Gm7 chords especially, still really teach the need to flair the left elbow to be able to mute all the strings with multiple fingers of my left hand in order get a really clean upstroke sound without any noise or harmonics. Very difficult.
Thank you jh! Great song to practice! You can sing a melody while you are playing this R 3 7 groove! Not easy but not too hard to do if you focus and keep working.
Tomo
Hi Tomo, 'focus and keep working' - the best advice, thank you.
Awesome JH! Thanks for sharing.
I think your video cut out a little early - like beginning of bar19.
Thank you jh for sharing your video. Sounds good! Jazzy! Good job! Yes! Please keep going! I am still working this R 3 7 Swing Groove and I never thought I already master this! So don't worry! A few things you can think about.... Try to use less pressure from your left hand. Move your right hand wide as you can. Listen each chord and listen each intervals. Most common problem is muting a little too much on the 4th string (3rd interval) when you are playing 5th string root position. Like C-7, 6th string root position volume... listen carefully on each chord, depends on position and 6th string root or 5th string root, you can control your picking volume. A lot of fun working this technique!
Tomo
6251?
-LaVoy
I just made this advice video for Another you. Clay, jh, please take a look.
Thank you guys!
Tomo
Thank you, Tomo. Very inspiring. You are an amazing teacher. I will add the notes to my notebook. The 4th string muting is a problem I have been trying to eliminate for a long while. I feel my 2nd finger on the 5th string root is too fat/big, it either touches and mutes slightly the 4th string underneath, or touches the 6th and then plays that. I will have to slow down to find the solution and experiment. I feel the answer is to push it into the 6th string as i do, but somehow with less coverage or at a different angle to make sure the note does not play.
"We are not a singer." 100%!!! Awesome Tomo - thank you. I will have to watch carefully a few times. I think I am doing m7 fingering a little differently, but I need to check. Really appreciate the special lesson.
BTW, I got my TF pickboy picks yesterday. I think they are a little stiffer than what I had been using. I found dynamics on 1212 chromatics were easier to control. But I'll pay more attention to strumming dynamics when I practice tonight.
Thank you Clay! Singing is good! Very important to sing very lighly. Please check all the fingerings. Some of them are not easy at first. You're very welcome! I would love to show you more "techniques" part deeply too.
So happy to hear that you got "TF Pickboy Picks! Thank you! The best guitar picks for me! Good job!
Tomo
My pleasure jh! My job is to make people happy with guitar! I am so grateful to have this fun job! 4th string muting is a little hard, so you need to check an angle of your finger(s). Very subtle! This will take some time. Once you noticed it (you improved!) then all you have to do is to set your goal and keep going as long as it takes. No need to do this week or next week. Take your time! Do other song(s) Maybe blues, jazz blues in different keys. I do play super slow and simple. That's my way to improve my playing.
Tomo
Ok - 8 days later checking in. Hopefully a little improved. I tried to incorporate all of the bassline 5ths. I know I accidently played the last Gm7 as just a G7 by accident, but I intentionally played the last C7 as a Cm7 on the 8th fret because I like the sound and it's easy to transition to the Fm7 from there.
I don't think I can swing my arm much more - restricted range in right elbow. I can go down further on the downstroke, but upstroke is pretty much maxed. Maybe I can try standing - then I could set the guitar lower relative to my elbow and get an effectively bigger upstroke?
Any and all feedback welcome. Thanks!
Nervous? I looked back at the first one. Looked cooler than a cucumber. This one seems a little more shaky. I was shaking like a leaf at our first concert band rehearsal today.
-LaVoy
Yah - I noticed that too - like almost hesitant or something. I did this right off the bat when I practiced. Maybe I should have done some other stuff first to settle in.
Way to get those 5ths in there! You are sounding like a Pro!
If you've never tried to play this, it is hard to know how hard it is to sound so good and steady.
Thanks very much! Keep the updates coming!
Kurt
Thanks Kurt - appreciate it.
Sounds so good Clay! You are following that chord progression really well! Be proud of yourself!
In order to improve overall techniques, try these check list.
1) Move your right hand a little bit wider. Move more from your elbow. Stroke starts at top of guitar body. And your down stroke should go a little more lower to end of your guitar body.
2) Do no miss your upstroke so you can pick a little bit tighter. This part is very important at slow tempo. Later... playing at faster tempo, no need to play upstroke that much.
3) Focus on above two techniques so tempo is not so important at this stage (fixing a few techniques) So you can play this song much slower tempo. I think tempo should be slower for better result. From C-7 to Bb-7... don't play chromatic chord now (keep it simple as possible)
Please watch this video 3-4 times with these important points.
So lovely to see your Musicmaster Bass Amp and hear this beautiful clean tone!
Please keep going! Plus you can practice Bb Blues (simple), F Blues, Eb Blues... and Bb Jazz Blues etc.
Tomo
Perfect - thanks Tomo.
Great work, Clay! Thanks for sharing. I love this song.
Thanks jh - trying!
This type of conversation is so important to me. I love coming on here every night. Not necessarily this forum specifically, but all of them. I have been having more of these with my clarinet professor.
-LaVoy