Swing and Big Band Guitar: Four-To-The Bar Comping in the Style of Freddie Green (Paperback)

by JOHNSON (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This book/CD pack for teaching jazz rhythm guitar in swing and big band styles includes: sample songs, patterns, progressions and exercises; essential chord voicings, inversions and substitutions; info on time and groove, reading charts, chord reduction and expansion; a chord reference library; and over 50 full-demo samples on the accompanying CD.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: HAL LEONARD CORPORATION (July 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793573815
• ISBN-13: 978-0793573813
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #232,349 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A concise, clear way to develop those rhythm chops., November 13, 2002

By	Michael J Edelman (Huntington Woods, MI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Here's a book I really wish I had back in high school jazz band. I used to go nuts with the charts back then, trying to figure out voicings and get all the notes in where the arranger wrote "Gb#11b13+" or some such, when that's really the last think you should be trying to do in a big band. But a good rhythm guitarist- as I leanred later- should concentrate on *rhythm*, using minimal voicings to develop a line that really acts like a counterpoint to the bass line. Forget all the altered tones; stick with 3rds and 7ths and develop good movement- think Freddie Greene in Count Basie's band. Simple voicings and solid rhythm.

This book is all about learning those voicings, learning where to subsctitute, and where to simplify to build interesting, musical lines. At that it succeeds marvelously. It doesn't assume any prior skill or knowledge, other than being generally familair with the guitar, knowing some basic chords and having some familiarity with the swing style. All chords are diagrammed as well as written out, so it's easy and convenient for both reader and non-reader alilke.

It's is a great tool for the beginning swing guitarist, the high school or college jazz band player looking for an organized way to approach rhythm guitar, or an experienced guitarist looking to expand his or her style. I've given it four stars instead of five as I think it could be organized a little bit better, and with a little more explanation in parts, but overall it's an excellent book.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the one to buy!!!, August 30, 2007

By	Adrian Wulff "Telefan" (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you are interested in learning how to play swing rhythm guitar-buy this book. Freddie Green was the master of swing rhythm guitar and the author took his chair in the Count Basie band when Freddie retired. The author breaks down his style in an accesible way, step-by-step. The audio examples are very helpful and of high quality-no cheesy synth rhythm section. The chord voicings,inversions, and substitutions are explained in detail as well as a chapter on how to expand or reduce the harmony of a tune. I've bought two other swing guitar instrucitonal books before I found this one and it is far better than the others.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than just a how-to, January 20, 2008

By	Evolver - See all my reviews

This book focuses purely on the topic of its title, i.e. big band swing guitar. The beauty of this book is that the author doesn't just tell you what a swing guitarist does, he gives you the thought process behind it. It is a concise but thorough review of big-band swing style and very effective at teaching what it proposes. The excercises are well-conceived and progressively challenging. I've been working with the book for about a month now and have vastly improved my understanding of swing rhythm style. No tab, but even a little music reading/theory is plenty to get you started here. I was a folky guitarist coming in from another style, and it's been just what I needed.