Peter Kienle's Odd Guitar Jazz: Lesson 24

Lesson 24

Most of the time when guitarists play single note lines one of the main goals is to make all the notes sound even and balanced. This is usually achieved by utilizing alternating up and down strokes with the pick or when you play with the fingers by alternating index and middle fingers of the right hand.

Depending on what situation you find yourself in it may be desirable to weigh the notes you play more carefully. We usually do this automatically when playing arpeggios - this is where we hold the chord down with the left hand and let all the notes ring after they have been picked.

The goal here is to let some notes in a single line ring (sustain) while the line moves on. This can give a polytonal feel although no chord is played. It's a great effect, especially for unaccompanied solo guitar or in a duo/trio situation with no other chord instrument.

Consider the following little sequence (notes with a half note head need to be sustained):

Usually old school jazz guitarists try to omit open strings because its hard to control this 'sustaining'. For examples of where you need control over sustaining notes within single lines look at Sonata 1, Sonata 2, and Sonata 3.

All three pieces were originally written as single note excercises to be played either with a pick or with the fingers. Some sections may require pretty advanced dampening techinques.

Another great source for practice material for that sort of thing can also be found in J.S. Bach's solo violin music.

last update Sunday, February 14, 2010 23:28
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