Dan Axt wrote:
> A while ago, 7 or 8 years maybe, someone wrote an
> excellent e-mail on terms to use at a jam such as
> describing types of rhythm, tempos, bass patterns, etc.
This may be the post you're thinking of:
From: "STACHNIK,GEORGE (HP-Cupertino,ex3)" <george_stachnik@xxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2000 16:36:14 -0700
Subject: RE: Blues Forms at the Local Jam
Richard W. Rinn said "I'd like to be able to describe most blues songs,
and know the most common variations. Even if performing idiosyncratic
arrangements isn't a good idea at jams, I'd still like to be able to suss
them out in my own head."
This thread could be interesting. When I started going to jams a couple of
years ago, I was bewildered by the terminology thrown out by the leaders
of the jam sessions. The leader, (typically a guitarist) would turn to the
bassist and yell, "gimme a slow chicago shuffle in Bb, from the four, with
a kind of an Albert Collins feel - here we go - 1, 2, 3, 4...." and the
whole band would fall right in as if they'd rehearsed it. I'd stand there
with a silly look on my face trying to figure out what everybody else was
doing. Usually, by the second chorus, I was getting close, but it was
apparent that there was a lot of information in the leader's call that I
just wasn't getting. Here's what I learned...
For example, guitarists tend to focus on the rhythm. So you'll often hear
them call for "a shuffle" or "a rhumba" or most commonly, "slow blues"
followed by the key of the song. They'll also typically add a comment such
as "from the 4". This is a reference to what chord to start with. (Blues
songs are usually built on a "1-4-5" progression, and the introduction can
start with the "1" chord, or with the "4" or even the "5".
Now assuming that you have no idea what a shuffle sounds like, let me try
to suggest an example. (And ghod knows I'm about to be disagreed with by
members of the harp-l community. Keep in mind that there's a lot of
arbitrariness in these labels, and what I call "a shuffle" somebody else
might call "jump blues" or a "boogie woogie".)
A shuffle - Little Walter's Much discussed "Juke" is a good example of
your basic shuffle rhythm.
Slow blues - Lots of Muddy Waters examples - my own favorites include "19
years old" or "Long Distance Call". Another variation on slow blues might
be "I'd Rather Go Blind" (the way KoKo Taylor does it).
Fast Blues - "Got My Mojo Working" is probably the quintessential example
Boogie Woogie - Listen to "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" on BB King's recent album
of Louis Jordan Covers. Boogie Woogie should not be confused with straight
"Boogie" however, which is a John Lee Hooker thing.
Boogie - John Lee Hooker's "Dimples", or ZZ Top's "La Grange" Also, much
George Thorogood (House Rent Boogie)
Jump Blues - Caldonia from the same BB King album. Or almost anything by
Louis Jordan, ("Ain't nobody Here But Us Chickens", "Beware Brother
Beware") Or Jump Jive and Wail....
Funky Blues - Albert Collins, "Head Rag" or "Ice Man" comes to mind.
Swing Blues - You Got To Rock or any of a number of other tunes by Little
Charlie and the Nightcats
Mambo - La Cucuracha - by Big Walter
And then there are a few musical forms that are so closely identified with
a particular artist, that the leader will simply call out "Play a Muddy
Waters Blues" (which may mean a slow blues like "19 Years Old" but in my
experience Muddy's name is more closely associated with the start/stop
rhythm heardin "Hoochie Coochie Man" or "Mannish Boy", or even in George
Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone".
Some other examples:
Bo Diddley - Many of Bo's song use the same beat; one example is Willie
and the Hand Jive.
Elmore James - Popularized a particular guitar style, often played on
songs like Dust My Broom. Hound Dog Taylor plays this one a lot.
Howlin Wolf - I've heard his name used to indicate a riff-based
single-chord song like Wang Dang Doodle.
Last night, I was at a Jam at JJ's Blues club, when Chris Brown (the
leader on Monday nights) called for a "flat tire". Had me until he started
playing. The guitar rhythm was reminiscent of a flat tire, (whap, whap,
whap) always played between the beats. (Count 1,2,3,4 and insert a "whap"
between each beat.) That was a new one on me.
Anybody got any other ideas for basic forms?
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