In my live workshops, I consistently observe that it's crucial to master some fundamental rhythms that serve as a foundation for accompanying standards and can then be varied to make them more interesting. Here, I'll show you Swing and Bossa Nova in a fingerpicking style. It's not just about the rhythms themselves, but also about the methods for transitioning from one chord to another without interrupting the flow. Ghost notes and dead notes are essential for this. I'll explain both in detail in the video. You'll also learn the "Autschbach Smack Muting", a technique that will make your rhythms sound significantly more exciting.
Level
Basic
Lessons
4 Lessons | min
Lesson 1Introduction
Duration: min
Let me introduce you to the topics covered in the course "Basic Rhythm".
Lesson 2Swing Pattern 1
Duration: min
This rhythm is a great introduction to the world of Swing. Swing (capitalized) refers to the musical style, while swing (lowercase) refers to the swing feeling. A common understanding is that swing is played in triplets. This is only strictly true for certain (slower) tempos. The faster the swing, the more evenly the eighth notes are played. Be sure to check out the lesson "Swing Phrasing," where I explain exactly how swing is played in contrast to even rhythms. It can take a long time for swing to find its way into your playing. Besides practicing, you absolutely must listen to great players like Joe Pass and Wes Montgomery. And for modern Swing, listen to John Scofield. When transitioning from one chord to another, I play the open string that precedes the root note of the target chord. This ghost note isn't always consonant with the harmonic context, but it creates the flow. If the rhythm is repeated with the same chord, I don't play the open string, but a dead note. I explain both techniques in detail in the video.
Lesson 3Swing Pattern 2
Duration: min
The pre-muting of the strings explained here is jokingly referred to in the video as "Autschbach's Smack Mute". Here, the strings to be played next are muted with the fingertips of the picking hand precisely in the picking position and in time. This is challenging, but the technique will give you a lot of groove. The dead notes and ghost notes described above are also used in Pattern 2 to connect the chords.
Lesson 4Bossa Nova
Duration: min
Here you will learn different types of accompaniment rhythms for Bossa Nova. First, the basic version, which is particularly appealing due to its simplicity. Using the chord progression of "The Girl from Ipanema" in C as an example, you will learn how Bossa Nova masters like João Gilberto play the chords. Often, the root note is not the bass note, but the fifth. Next, we'll enrich the rhythms with additional bass notes, and then we'll also introduce pre-muting, ghost notes, and dead notes. Have fun with these rhythms!
