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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

2718.0. "Octave Playing" by KEEGAN::TURNER () Mon May 03 1993 09:14

    
    Time for a new guitar PLAYING topic. 
    
    I've often heard talk of octave playing in connection with jazz guitarists 
    (especially Wes Montgomery and George Benson) and the recent note about a 
    Lee Ritenour tribute to Wes caught my attention. Having heard Wes
    Montgomery's "Incredible Jazz Guitar" )amongst others), I think I'm
    fairly clear as to WHAT octave playing actually is.
    
    The question is HOW?
    
    Dom
    
    P.S.
    And if anyone tells me that an octave pedal comes into it, I shall go
    out and sell my guitar tomorrow! 
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
2718.1Here's a startNACAD::HERTZBERGHistory: Love it or Leave it!Mon May 03 1993 13:5712
    
    -|------------------------------12\10--8----------
    -|------------------------------------------------
    -|-----5--7--7/8--7--5/7--5------9\7---5----------
    -|--7------------------------7--------------------
    -|-----3--5--5/6--5--3/5--3-----------------------
    -|--5------------------------5--------------------
    
    You can either pluck the two strings with fingers, or if you're using a
    pick, hit them simultaneously, in which case you'll need to do some
    muting with the left hand to make sure only the proper notes sound.
    
2718.2And now to 2682.21!KEEGAN::TURNERThu May 06 1993 09:0510
    re: .1
    Thanks, I'll try that out this evening. Gee, it must take extraordinary
    timing/coordination to play some of the runs that I've heard from 
    Wes Montgomery and co. I think that plucking the strings in the way you
    described is going to take some practice.
    
    Incidentally, I've noticed that the latest guitar lesson from Usenet
    (reproduced in note 2682.21) is all about octaves. Must be telepathy!
    
    Dom
2718.3I Like the sound...BSS::STPALY::MOLLERFix it before it breaksThu May 06 1993 18:2613
>    Thanks, I'll try that out this evening. Gee, it must take extraordinary
>    timing/coordination to play some of the runs that I've heard from 
>    Wes Montgomery and co. I think that plucking the strings in the way you
>    described is going to take some practice.

I recall that Wes had some problem with his 'plucking hand' (like a missing
finger - Maybe I'm thinking of Django Reinhart).

Actually, you can play this style fairly quickly if  you simply practice
the style a lot. Somethings may not work very well, but others sound very
nice. Try it!
    
						Jens
2718.4The thumbRANGER::WEBERFri May 07 1993 11:145
    Wes had no problem with his "plucking hand"--he used his right thumb
    for all his playing, but it was because he preferred this sound, not
    because of any physical difficulty.
    
    Danny W.
2718.5turn it down, dearRICKS::CALCAGNIsubmit to FredFri May 07 1993 11:5610
    The legend is that Wes developed his thumb style because his wife
    complained about the noise whenever he played guitar in the house.
    So Wes would sneak off to the bedroom and try to play as quietly as
    possible, and the best way to do this was to pluck with his thumb.
    So jazz guitar history owes Wes' nagging wife a debt of thanks!
    
    A great story if true, I pretty sure it was directly from a Wes
    interview.
    
    /rick
2718.6or Wobin Twower?NAVY5::SDANDREAKramer is my hero...Fri May 07 1993 12:155
    re : The legend is that Wes developed his thumb style......
    
    wuz that Wes Paul?
    
    8*}