Jump Blues Chords

hi all,

i'm really getting into a lot of jump blues at the moment, but i'm finding it really difficult to figure out chords to play along with it. soloing is no problem but all the chords seem to be more piano-based instead of a guitar, and outside of major and minor and 7ths i'm kinda stumped. been watching a few videos on youtube to get pointers but does anyone know a good resource or care to share some chord tabs?

here's an example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy-_RHT_jgc

Sounds like a boogie piano, so its playing around the 5th, 6th and b7th like Status Quo.

But I have mediocre ears so I can't tell you the exact piano chords.

Start learning extension chords like the 9th, 13th, 7#9, m7b5, 7#5, maj9 etc and diminished chord

This is all basic stuff. Don't have time to figure it out exactly, but I can virtually guarantee it's just a blues played with basic dominant 7ths, maybe a 9th here and there. I can tell right away that the I chord is probably a 7th just based on the bass line (clearly a dom 7th line). So is the IV chord.

Bottom line: nothing new or exotic here.

If it sounds weird to you while you play along, maybe you're using big block chords. You don't wanna do that...stick with "small" chords (maybe just the 1, 3, b7 or just the 3, b7). Stay away from big 5 or 6 string chords on this one.

If you understand the basics of building chords etc, you can figure out virtually any chord changes by ear. A couple of things to remember:

Simplify your thinking: Every chord (and I mean every chord) is either a major, minor or dominant type chord. Start there. Play along and figure out which of the three types it is.

Once you determine for example, that it's a dominant type chord, you now know that it's most likely a 7th, 9th, 11th 13th. Then you have to figure out if any notes are altered. In many cases, you can determine this from listening to the melody. You can get a lot of hints from the bassline and the melody.

Listen to the left hand line on this piano part. The bass starts on the root of each new chord in the song. Notice that I didn't say that every bass note is the root of a chord. There are four chords in this song, which you can then vary by making them dominant if you want. One of the main chords is minor, the other three are major.

Man, I would play ninths on this till the cows came home. I'd also lay back and only hit the chords once or twice a measure, as the piano is kind of calling the shots here. I would also hit the chord a semitone higher or lower, and slide into the chord.

Listen to the left hand line on this piano part. The bass starts on the root of each new chord in the song. Notice that I didn't say that every bass note is the root of a chord. There are four chords in this song, which you can then vary by making them dominant if you want. One of the main chords is minor, the other three are major.

Yes, the left hand piano part contains the dominant 7th.

thanks for all the tips here guys. as you might have guessed i'm coming from a very different background (punk and metal) so it's a bit of a departure for me! yeah i was starting out playing full chords and clocked straight away that it wasn't going to work so have been trying to scale it down a bit. any recommendations as to where to go to learn more?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0825652804/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1/177-3405305-7667260?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_r=0PYVDWTAHJJJ9B6RJ4JF&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_i=0860010163

That book has all the chords you need.

Harpoonist, do you know the major scale and the triad harmony based on the major scale? If not, do you know the Nashville Number System? I suggest you start with the major scale and learn it and the corresponding triad harmony. There is nothing extraordinary about this song, but if you have a good basis of chord theory you can hear the changes automatically. I do not have perfect pitch, so I did not know the exact chords of this song until I picked up my guitar, but I knew what pattern it was within 30 seconds of listening. But that is only because I know what certain chord progressions sound like from years of playing. You can develop your ears to that point too, I don't doubt.

I did a little tutorial about staring with the major scale, on this forum. If you are interested, I'll put up the link to it.

I did a little tutorial about staring with the major scale, on this forum. If you are interested, I'll put up the link to it.

I'd be interested in this dude, please!

It came within a discussion about double stops (http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tab-tips-theory-technique/257931-double-stop-chart-i-made.html). My stuff starts at post 4.

It came within a discussion about double stops (http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tab-tips-theory-technique/257931-double-stop-chart-i-made.html). My stuff starts at post 4.

I'm on it like a tramp gets on chips! :shock:

Here are a few things you might like. First is a type of chord often referred to as Freddie Greene type chords, after Count Basie's guitarist. They feature a bass note on the low E, skip the A string, and then another string or two. Gives a nice clean bass note, unmuddied by the A string.

G7 C7 D7 chords

G7 C7 D7
--------------
--------------
-4---3---5----
-3---2---4----
--------------
-3---3---5----



Here is a walkup from the G7 to C7, using that first form for both chords. The G7 in paranthesis is a variant on the G chord immediately preceding it. Play one or the other.

G walkup to C

G7 F A#dim G (G7) C7
-----------------------
--------5--------6-----
-4--5---6-----7--7----9
-3--3---5-----5--5----8
-----------------------
-3--5---6-----7--7----8



A good move is to put a C# diminished chord for the last beat of the C chord:

C7 C# diminished 3d fret

C7 C#dim.
-----------
----2------
-3--3------
-2--2------
-----------
-3--3------




C C#dim.8th fret

C7 C#dim
------------
-------8----
--9----9----
--8----8----
------------
--8----9----


Here is a turnaround from the Micky Baker book. So at the end of the progression, instead of G C G D on the last two measures:


G7 Bm7 Bbm7 D7
----------------
-----7---6------
-4---7---6---5--
-3---7---6---4--
-----------------
-3---7---6---5--

jbmando, yep i'm familiar with the scale but thanks for the lessons! i know my scales and i know how to play my basic chords, but i think this shows that i need to start putting the two together to understand the whys!!!

playing 7ths and 9ths has got me a lot closer to the sound already.

leon, im going to try those chords out later, thanks!

Don't forget the 6ths!

Creating movement with simple and spare voicings goes a long way.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0825652804/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1/177-3405305-7667260?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_r=0PYVDWTAHJJJ9B6RJ4JF&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_i=0860010163

That book has all the chords you need.

+1

Mickey Baker was the preeminent session guitarist of this era (late '40s into mid '50s) at the junction of jazz, swing, jump blues, traditional R&B and early rock 'n' roll. That includes playing on many (most?) of Wynonie Harris' recordings.

If you really want to get inspired, get the 'In the '50s: Hit Git & Split' CD.

http://www.amazon.com/50s-Hit-Git-Split/dp/B000X3VADU

just ordered that book there, £4 on amazon, can't argue with that!

and voodoo idol, the CD's on spotify (which i can heartily recommend!) so will get listening tomorrow morning!

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Matthieu Brandt yet. This is the stuff.

http://www.swingblues.com/swing.htm

Lots of free lessons on the left side. I believe he is running a sale right now where you can get both of his books plus all the audio samples for $30.

I love Mickey Baker, and there are some good grips in there for Swing and Jump Blues, but it's really a Jazz book, like the title says. To say that the Mickey Baker book contains "all the chords you need" is completely and utterly ridiculous...

Check out Matthieu Brandt. He's good. It's good. You'll like it.

Forgot to mention a few current players who really do jump blues well: Vince Lee, Junior Watson and Rick Holmstrom.

Vince Lee (The Wildcards, Vince Lee & Big Combo) is in the UK and worth checking out.

Lots of videos on his YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/dynocruiser/videos

kNZbteXwzA8

Junior Watson
Cj-zVKzkRzo

Junior & Rick together
6U3c-W7MJVQ

Little 7th’s without the 5, 9ths, 6ths, diminished and augmented chords and minor 7ths.

Leon: that's really cool stuff! Thanks for that - I'll be using it!

Harpoonist: with whom do you play, in Glasgow? I'll keep an eye out for you, for gigs. I sometimes play there, with a couple of bands, in the Bon Accord, for example...and in The Opry!

Voodoo_Idol: I totally concur with what you say about Rick and Junior; I've liked both for a while now, but I'd not heard of Vince Lee - he seems cool. I'll check out his videos. Thanks for the tip.

Oh, and I'm off to Amazon to see if there's another copy of the MB book!

Cheers.

I didn't realise, I play jump blues, apparently ;)

I've never tried to put a handle on it - swing-jazz-blues, RnR/RnB

Where to start? - tricky that, rock'n'roll (the old stuff), RnB (the old stuff again), swing-jazz, jazz-blues, swing (it's got to swing).
Where to start? - after the 12-bar 3-chords stuff? - jazz.

check this out for some cool ideas, I just wish the chord diagrams were posted:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE8_iyXe-GQ&feature=relmfu

If you understand the basics of building chords etc, you can figure out virtually any chord changes by ear. A couple of things to remember:

Simplify your thinking: Every chord (and I mean every chord) is either a major, minor or dominant type chord. Start there. Play along and figure out which of the three types it is.

Once you determine for example, that it's a dominant type chord, you now know that it's most likely a 7th, 9th, 11th 13th. Then you have to figure out if any notes are altered. In many cases, you can determine this from listening to the melody. You can get a lot of hints from the bassline and the melody.

Agree 100%.... That's the same way I was taught!

jayfreddie, i'd seen the site when searching but found it a bit user unfriendly. i've went back to it over the past 2 days and got some good stuff out of it now, although i still think it's not the best layout. might plump up the cash once i see how i get on with the mickey baker book + help from on here!

iain, i play in a hardcore punk band called no island, not really to everyone's tastes!!!! but pm me when you're next playing in the bon accord, i only live a few mins away!

overall i've really got more of a handle on things now and getting some good chords coming out, really appreciate everyone's help, especially jbmando and leon!

any more cool chords or progressions? post them!

Is there actually a specific 'type' of chord used in 'Jump Blues'?

I've never heard of it before... Probably due to the fact that I'm an imbecile!

However, instead of seeking instructional materials on the Internet, would it not make sense to listen to some artists of this particular style? That way you can cop some licks and chord progressions - I always found REAL songs more useful than instructional examples, but hey that's just me.

Good luck with this!

Hc8QKDyoPgU

xx7675

xx4545

7x7777

x767(5)x

When it goes to the IV

x545

walk up to the II

7x78

V is Augmented

x7644x

I always think of sixth chords when playing jump blues. A fingering I use for A6 a lot is X7X675, playing it staccato on the back beats. I think!

To me, that's the jump blues chord.