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bluestrat78 · October 21st, 2009, 05:31 PM

Hey everybody,
Anybody know some basic western swing chord progressions? I'm trying to learn Jimmy Bryant stuff, and have learned some tunes by ear, but it's hard to see where some of the runs and licks are coming from because I don't know the chord progressions. It's really hard to hear that rythym section on those old recordings. Any body know some common ones? Thanks!

Leon Grizzard · October 21st, 2009, 06:54 PM

A lot of the tunes are simple I IV V progressions, but like all Swing tunes, having cycles of dominant seventh chords is commonplace. And so, in the key of C progressions like C A7 D7 G7 are common, as is C D7 G7 C. You also sometimes see C E7 A7 D7 G7 C. A lot of times the bridge will go to the relative minor, Am in the key of C, and as part of that Am E7 Am, or E7 Am is common. The tune Right or Wrong has cycles of dominant seventh chords and is a good tune to study. Also, a lot of what you are hearing as different chords may be a static chord with a moving bass line, ie C/C C/B C/A C/G.

Guran · October 22nd, 2009, 04:29 AM

You could also watch Leon's excellent video lessons on Western Swing. They show a lot of what's going on. http://www.youtube.com/user/ljgaustin#p/u

dijos · October 22nd, 2009, 11:11 AM

the night rider is pretty straightforward, its like the changes to Viper. I will try to write it out later, as I'm pretty slow at it

BuddyLee · October 22nd, 2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leon Grizzard

A lot of the tunes are simple I IV V progressions, but like all Swing tunes, having cycles of dominant seventh chords is commonplace. And so, in the key of C progressions like C A7 D7 G7 are common, as is C D7 G7 C. You also sometimes see C E7 A7 D7 G7 C. A lot of times the bridge will go to the relative minor, Am in the key of C, and as part of that Am E7 Am, or E7 Am is common. The tune Right or Wrong has cycles of dominant seventh chords and is a good tune to study. Also, a lot of what you are hearing as different chords may be a static chord with a moving bass line, ie C/C C/B C/A C/G.

Thanks Leon, you are a huge asset to this forum.

Thanks to you I have made it to the bridge in Crazy. It took me a couple weeks since I had to take a break from a strained index finger. The walk-up was killing me.

I love those chords.

emu! · October 23rd, 2009, 10:06 AM

I've always used the "lazy" mans way to sounding swinggy...I just play 6th chords instead of standard major chords. It also helps to play in a choppy motion...upstokes sound pretty good.

jazztele · October 23rd, 2009, 10:47 AM

i've learned from leon that the whole "6th chords for western swing" thing isn't really true, but i still like a maj.6 for the I chord, but then, i like my western swing on the more jazzy, jimmie rivers and the cherokees side.

Papa Joe · October 23rd, 2009, 11:19 AM

Big A-men to Leons lessons.Been playin for over 60 years but still learned a lot from Leon.Many thanks my friend..

Leon Grizzard · October 23rd, 2009, 11:37 AM

Shucks, you guys. Thank you.

dijos · October 23rd, 2009, 12:50 PM

Ok, I can't live up to leon's contributions, but let's try to write out the night rider:

Bb|Gm7|C|F7 (x2)
Bb|D|Eb|Ebdim|F|Bb
Bb7|Eb7|Ab7|Db|G|Cm7|F7 (this is the bridge and turnaround)
I just use chromatic 5th chords to do the long walkdown before the return to the chorus

I hope that this makes sense.

bluestrat78 · October 23rd, 2009, 04:45 PM

Thanks everyone for all the great responses!

bluestrat78 · October 23rd, 2009, 10:12 PM

Does anyone else have any Speedy West/Jimmy Bryant tunes they'd like to post the chord progression to? :) Thanks guys!

P.S. Awesome lessons Leon! And thanks for the progression to Night Rider dijos!

October 21st, 2009, 05:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
bluestrat78 NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 7	Western Swing Hey everybody, Anybody know some basic western swing chord progressions? I'm trying to learn Jimmy Bryant stuff, and have learned some tunes by ear, but it's hard to see where some of the runs and licks are coming from because I don't know the chord progressions. It's really hard to hear that rythym section on those old recordings. Any body know some common ones? Thanks!

October 22nd, 2009, 11:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
dijos Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: St. Pete Age: 35 Posts: 760	the night rider is pretty straightforward, its like the changes to Viper. I will try to write it out later, as I'm pretty slow at it __________________ "Kid, it takes a long time"-Danny Kalb to me in NYC, 1992

October 23rd, 2009, 10:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
jazztele Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: chicago Age: 30 Posts: 4,101	i've learned from leon that the whole "6th chords for western swing" thing isn't really true, but i still like a maj.6 for the I chord, but then, i like my western swing on the more jazzy, jimmie rivers and the cherokees side. __________________ "Jazz isn't a what, it's a how" -- Bill Evans

October 23rd, 2009, 11:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
Papa Joe Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Pontiac Mi. Age: 80 Posts: 871	Big A-men to Leons lessons.Been playin for over 60 years but still learned a lot from Leon.Many thanks my friend.. __________________ Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body,but rather to skid in broadside,thoroughly used up,totally worn out,and loudly proclaiming:"WOW,what a ride!"

October 23rd, 2009, 12:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
dijos Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: St. Pete Age: 35 Posts: 760	Ok, I can't live up to leon's contributions, but let's try to write out the night rider: Bb\|Gm7\|C\|F7 (x2) Bb\|D\|Eb\|Ebdim\|F\|Bb Bb7\|Eb7\|Ab7\|Db\|G\|Cm7\|F7 (this is the bridge and turnaround) I just use chromatic 5th chords to do the long walkdown before the return to the chorus I hope that this makes sense. __________________ "Kid, it takes a long time"-Danny Kalb to me in NYC, 1992

October 21st, 2009, 06:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
Leon Grizzard Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Austin, Texas Age: 60 Posts: 1,586	A lot of the tunes are simple I IV V progressions, but like all Swing tunes, having cycles of dominant seventh chords is commonplace. And so, in the key of C progressions like C A7 D7 G7 are common, as is C D7 G7 C. You also sometimes see C E7 A7 D7 G7 C. A lot of times the bridge will go to the relative minor, Am in the key of C, and as part of that Am E7 Am, or E7 Am is common. The tune Right or Wrong has cycles of dominant seventh chords and is a good tune to study. Also, a lot of what you are hearing as different chords may be a static chord with a moving bass line, ie C/C C/B C/A C/G.

October 22nd, 2009, 04:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
Guran Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sweden Age: 42 Posts: 601	You could also watch Leon's excellent video lessons on Western Swing. They show a lot of what's going on. http://www.youtube.com/user/ljgaustin#p/u

October 23rd, 2009, 10:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
emu! Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Moderator 2B Posts: 2,364	I've always used the "lazy" mans way to sounding swinggy...I just play 6th chords instead of standard major chords. It also helps to play in a choppy motion...upstokes sound pretty good.

October 23rd, 2009, 11:37 AM	#9 (permalink)
Leon Grizzard Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Austin, Texas Age: 60 Posts: 1,586	Shucks, you guys. Thank you.

October 23rd, 2009, 04:45 PM	#11 (permalink)
bluestrat78 NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 7	Thanks everyone for all the great responses!

October 23rd, 2009, 10:12 PM	#12 (permalink)
bluestrat78 NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 7	Does anyone else have any Speedy West/Jimmy Bryant tunes they'd like to post the chord progression to? :) Thanks guys! P.S. Awesome lessons Leon! And thanks for the progression to Night Rider dijos!

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