Country instrumental lesson?
Hey Jim,
I have just finished your "Nuages" lesson, which really opened my eyes on how to play over changes. I think this lesson will help me a lot to create my own versions of a lot of Jazz standards. Thank you. But what about turning a Country tune into an instrumental version? The chord progression is mostly much simpler than the structure of a Jazz tune and so I find it difficult to come up with something interesting. Is there a lesson you could recommend that shows your concepts of turning a country song into an instrumental? Thanks again.
I have just finished your "Nuages" lesson, which really opened my eyes on how to play over changes. I think this lesson will help me a lot to create my own versions of a lot of Jazz standards. Thank you. But what about turning a Country tune into an instrumental version? The chord progression is mostly much simpler than the structure of a Jazz tune and so I find it difficult to come up with something interesting. Is there a lesson you could recommend that shows your concepts of turning a country song into an instrumental? Thanks again.
Comments
Thank you guys for your suggestions and I think "Country Soul" is great for what Telecaster asked about. And I love it when I hear from the forum for this kind of advice.
"Bb Jazz Blues" is a great vehicle for playing over changes using simple triads.
In the Country style you asked about...
I might add "Country Lead in G" (though it's not a tune - per say), "Crazy" (Willie Nelson) in Steel Guitar Style ", "Too Far Gone", "Awful Pretty, Pretty Awful", "Chet Song" (Main Street Breakdown) and "Panhandle Rag".
But again, the forum is spot on with "Country Soul" though it's a little less "studious" then "Bb Jazz Blues".
By the way: Does anyone know if there is a good Country "Fake Book" around? I already have the Hal Leonard "Ultimate Country Fake Book" but I am still looking for something with older Country and Western Swing tunes, Jimmy Bryant, Hank Garland etc.
Jim, when you arranged some of the old tunes, did you have a lead sheet or did you transcribe the tunes by yourself? For example, I am looking for a lead sheet for "Remember Me" but can't find it anywhere.
I use my ear on jazz standards too, but I like to have multiple versions from which I cherry pick the changes and versions played.
I'll see if Louie Armstrong, Ben Webster, Django or Wes played the song I'm focusing on, and let them show me the way.
Research would include fake books.
I have a few out of print gems and Ebay is a good source for these. For me, the older the fake book the better. Older charts usually don't include passing chords, tri-tone substitutions and keep to the playable, "original" basic changes - leaving embellishment and chromaticism up to my discretion. Honestly, some older "Real Book" changes are discouraging to me.
I find this type of thing fun.
http://www.ralphpatt.com/Song.html
I have been reading through the old forum posts, and I'm thinking Panhandle Rag may end up being my first "song" lesson (to compliment my studies of Jim's triad approach to changes).
I love the old, swingin' country jazz stuff like Hank Garland, or the stuff you would hear in the old Hank Williams tunes. It sounds like Panhandle Rag could be the tune to help me in my quest to develop those chops.
Man, with so much cool stuff here, it's REALLY hard to figure out what direction to go. In my opinion, it would be kind of cool if there was a Favorite Lessons sticky at the top of the forum, where people could review their favorite lessons. I love reading people's experiences with the lessons, it's very inspiring.
Rogerio - Thanks for recommending the Buddy Emmons lesson. This one is definitely on my to do list now!