| LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Dixieland Jazz | |
| JayBrooks -- 02/10/2005, 22:18:12 -- #11138 | |
| Hello all, I just landed a solo piano gig with a Dixieland theme this saturday. As I'm not all too familiar with the genre I was wondering if anyone could give me some quick pointers about certain pianistic conventions of the style to keep in mind. I understand this is a tall order, and this forum probably isn't the right kind of venue to explain an entire genre in 36 hours, but any pointers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot, Jay | |
| Dr. Whack -- 02/11/2005, 00:16:48 -- #11149 | |
| No ii7 chords - hehe LH boom-chuck RH arpeggios, but not extended harmonies (maybe a 9th here or there, but certainly not altered) You can get away with playing tons of tunes in a boom-chuck style...Get some recordings at the library and start listening | |
| Brotherdavies -- 02/11/2005, 01:30:48 -- #11151 | |
| There was a discussion about Dixieland playing on the site a few weeks ago with a few pointers... Jelly Roll Morton (with band and solo), Early Loius Armstrong, certain Joplin Rags eg Mapleleaf, Original Rags. Bro' | |
| 7 -- 02/11/2005, 03:22:17 -- #11154 | |
| Lots of b3 vs 3 action in there. Due to the frequent chains of secondary dominants you can do bunches of your dominant 7th Honky Tonk style licks. Don't forget to include the 3 - 4 - #4 - 5 in the appropriate places. The "Black & White Rag" trick ( b3 - 3 - 6 ) comes in pretty handy often enough too. | |
| Bert -- 02/11/2005, 14:36:12 -- #11165 | |
| Whacky, What do you mean by boom-chuck LH? | |
| 7 -- 02/11/2005, 16:54:14 -- #11169 | |
| "boom-chuck" is also known as "boom-chick", but not to be confused with "boom-chicka-boom-chicka-boom-boom-boom" In Polka and March musics it is often referred to as "oom-pah". Waltzes of course use "oom-pah-pah". Typically, the "boom" falls on beats 1 and 3 and the "chick" falls on beats 2 & 4. However, many variations are indeed possible and are used frequently: 1. boom-chick-boom-chick 2. boom-chick-chick-boom 3. boom-boom-chick-chick 4. chick-boom-chick-boom 5. chick-chick-boom-boom 6. chick-boom-boom-chick 7. boom-chick-chick-chick 8. chick-boom-chick-chick 9. chick-chick-boom-chick 10. chick-chick-chick-boom 11. chick-boom-boom-boom 12. boom-chick-boom-boom 13. boom-boom-chick-boom 14. boom-boom-boom-chick 15. chick-chick-chick-chick (Erroll Garner LH style chords) 16. boom-boom-boom-boom (walking quarter note bass) Stride often uses 10th "booms" instead of the Ragtime octaves. More modern LH styles ("Nouveau Stride") uses rootless chord "chicks" in place of the older style Stride which rarely used anything greater than inversions of 7th chords. More modern styles will also tend to dispense with the rigid 4/4 count and be more likely to place a "chick" on beat 1 than a "boom". Oh yeah, almost forgot: "boom" = "single bass note" or "octave" or "10th" "chick" = "chord" | |
| ziggysane -- 02/11/2005, 18:56:03 -- #11170 | |
| Out of curiousity, what would be an example of a dominant 7th style honky tonk lick? And why do they recieve that particular name? | |
| 7 -- 02/11/2005, 21:20:46 -- #11173 | |
| Use this scale for dominant 7th style Honky Tonk licks: 1 2 b3 3 #4 5 6 b7 And think "Honky Tonk" ala James P. Johnson, Boogie Woogie, etc. Lick 1: #4 - 5 - 8 - #4 - 5 - 8 Lick 2: b7 - 6 - 5 - b3 - 2 - 1 - b7 - 6 - 5 - b3 - 2 - 1 Lick 3: b3 - 3 - 5 - 6 - 5 - b3 - 3 - 1 - b7 - 6 - 5 - b3 - 3 - 1 Stuff like that, OK? | |
| Sweep88 -- 02/12/2005, 08:12:02 -- #11179 | |
| Hey Jay...A few tips in general... Play the first verse/chorus strong and bright. The bandleader will lead everyone to their solos, then back off with block chords or just comp. You dont want to drown anyone out, especially the bass player. On your last say 1-6-2-5-1, the 6 chord is usually your signal (loud or soft) whether you're going out or taking another solo. On the last verse, let'er rip loud and strong (fast tunes) and just follow the band on your out. Most of all, Have fun!! | |
| Sweep88 -- 02/12/2005, 08:27:00 -- #11180 | |
| Duh!!!!! A slight keyword I didnt catch....solo... Sorry :( On my solo gigs, I usually start with the blues to warm up and get my mindset straight. Ive been taught to play the melody clearly first time through, then ad-lib from there. I save the fastest tunes for just before breaks, and most of the time modulate on the medium speed tunes. (which keeps me from being bored) You make up your own rules as you play...like I said have fun. | |
| JayBrooks -- 02/12/2005, 15:21:57 -- #11184 | |
| Thanks for your help everybody! Time to go bust out some 'boom-chick' s! Jay | |
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