Ep605

[Bill]

Hey! It’s been a minute since I’ve recorded one of Brian’s lessons in its entirety. This one grabbed me immediately…vintage chord progression, swingin melody and lead, it’s in my wheelhouse as the kids say

Pretty much note for note and I went for the full tempo. I think this was take 51 😅

I also took some time after the lead to explain the Harmony and show some old school Swing guitar voicings that I find useful on a track like this: 6th chords, some inversions and diminished. Hope I’m not stepping on Brian’s toes.

Enjoy!

[Garry]

Kudos for a great performance Bill and also at speed: 👏👏👏 Thanks also for your added narrative. Take 51? Sounds like many of my recording efforts! 🤣 I know what you mean. All the best! 😎🎸😎

[Bill]

Maybe not 51, but it felt like it 🙂
Thanks!

[Dieter]

Excellent jazzy playing and great Eastman Guitar.

Dieter

[Bill]

Thanks Dieter! That’s my T58, such a cool guitar, I feel lucky to have found it second hand hanging on the wall of a music shop nearby.

[Guido]

Kudos for playing it at the full 85 bpm speed and in a great way, Bill! I very recently showcase the same lesson at 70 bpm as you know, and it was already a crazy fast tempo for me 😅!

Very interesting explanations on how harmonise those chords in a jazzy way! I will have to watch again slowly like a lesson, very useful.
It’s interesting how I immediately recognized the that chord progression G – B7- E7 -A7 in one section of the song is identical, to the very first section of “Nobody knows when you’re down and out”, with the only difference that the Clapton’s version is in C (when I play it I lower down the key just in G , because I can sing it only one fourth down). I think it’s a very common standard jazz progression that comes from the 20’s/30’s.
Awesome job, my friend!

Guido

[Bill]

Yes, you are right. Same type of progression as Nobody Knows you…a dominant cycle. Once you clue into these things you start to see them all over the place. Or variations on them.
Thank you! 🙏

[charjo]

No toes were stepped on in the production of this video, Bill. Brian has told me he enjoys members teaching members and you certainly have the chops. Take 51, I feel you!
First congratulations on your great playing. You nearly lost me at 3:07 where you said inversion of the G, but I think you meant D7.
I love those spread voicings. The B-E-A-D is just like one big chain of secondary dominants, isn’t that a common format for those jazzy turnarounds?
I think I’m even getting used to reimagining your leftiness😊. Great post.
John

[Bill]

Ahhh…good catch, maybe after a couple hundred of these I’ll be more polished 😉
Yes, very common to have these chains of secondary dominants, they are all over swing and early jazz music. It’s cool that once you start to peel back the layers you start to see these progressions all over.
I’ve been going to a Gypsy Jazz jam and a lot of the tunes called have this kind of progression or a variation on it.
Thanks!!

[charjo]

Yes, maybe after 600 EP’s. Brian’s a lot slicker in his presentation than in his early days. Give yourself credit though, that was a pretty smooth tutorial.

[wannaplayblues]

Smooth and fun. Sounded awesome!

"I hear you talkin' son, but you 'aint sayin' nothin'" - Will McFarlane quoting Muddy Waters hearing a really fast guitar player

[Bill]

Thanks!!

[JoeD1]

That sounded great and I loved the lesson too!

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

[Bill]

Thanks Joe, glad it was useful!

[Mike D]

Like hearing the uptempo happy vibes, good lesson and well played.

Live on planet Earth ? You got the blues.

[Bill]

Thanks Mike!

[sciencefiction]

Sounds awesome, Bill! Played to perfection. And your chord progression sounds great also. Thanks for showing and explaining. I really enjoyed this. Man, you know your stuff!!
Larry

[Bill]

Glad you liked the mini lesson! Thanks!

[Helen Lazaridou]

Excellent rendition Bill!!!!!!!at an impressive speed indeed!!!!and of course we all appreciate any input we can get from each other!You have inspired me to take a look at this lesson and then benefit from your comments 💕❤️💖❣️

[Bill]

Thanks Helen, I look forward to seeing your version 🙂

[Denise]

When that lesson came out I was immediately thinking of you! That’s your style and you played it so well. Great swing groove with a fluent tempo.
I love that descending chord progression!
And these diminished chords create such nice tensions. I could play them over and over again. Thanks for explaining the theory, it was very useful.

Denise

More Blues!

[Bill]

Thanks Denise! I really enjoyed this one and some of the repeating patterns Brian showed have worked there way into my standard lick box.

[Laurel C]

This is right down your alley Bill. Excellent, you make it so effortless and polished they way you play. Love these added insights into the nuances that make a genre’s unique sound. Also this a great way to share your knowledge and benefit others on your approach to a particular lesson. Will be coming back to this as an addition to the lesson.

[Bill]

Thanks so much Laurel!

[Author]

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