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Sorry I’m late!
I first looked up the challenge several weeks ago, and I had it in my head that it was due May 31 – June 2. My apologies. I was looking forward to this one, so I’m going to submit it anyway.These are some favorite rhythm ideas to add some ‘cool’ to a 12 bar blues. I first learned this progression from Mike Rao at Blue Bear School of Music in San Francisco, whom I saw every Saturday afternoon for a couple years, in the 90’s. One day he brought this in and said I might like it. It’s a 12 bar blues that he got from his teacher at Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles, the legendary Ted Greene, whom I had never heard of at that time. I looked up some Ted Greene books later, and they were all way beyond me.
But Mike said try this. I’d never seen a 13th chord before, and it took a while to learn. But once Mike played this, I was hooked. What a cool way to get around a 12 bar blues. Been using it ever since. It’s got a simple melody on top and cool chords underneath.
The I chord is either a 13th or the T Bone Walker chord, the IV and V chords are ninths, and you descend a half step into each one. Plus two nice turnarounds. I’ll try to pass it along in the video, with explanation.
Ted Greene was known for writing out his chord charts in longhand, even in his books. So in keeping with that tradition, I have done the same in the two attachments here. It’s two choruses, each has a different ending. The rhythm is: play the first chord once, then the second chord twice.
So here ya go, from Ted Greene to Mike Rao to me, to you . . .
Just focus on the notes you DID get right . . . Frank Vignola
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Hi Bruce, glad you made it! I was certain we had another week on the challenge too, but luckily I logged on last Friday and discovered my error. Anyway, you’re here with a nice submission. Thanks for sharing this. Jazz blues is always fun, and Ted Greene was an amazing player. Most of my knowledge of him comes from Tim Lerch and Adam Levy, both students of Ted’s and great jazz players themselves, and YouTubers.
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Wow Bruce, this is an awesome jazz blues story and performance. Thanks for sharing the chords along with your cool rendition – I can’t wait to give it a go. Your guitar “learning lineage” is as impressive as your playing. I know Ted Greene through an encyclopedic book of his that I have called Chord Chemistry. Very glad you made the challenge. Tom
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Glad you finally made it Bruce, you weren’t alone, a number of us miscalculated the end date, including me, but I wimped out and submitted something I’d previously recorded.
Your submission was super cool with a good explanation and demo of a super cool soft jazz chord sequence.
With my normal brash style I’d almost forgotten how good those chords sound. Many thanks for a great reminder.Richard
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Hey Bruce, I’m really glad you got to posting this. What a cool story on how that’s been passed to you. It certainly spices up your run of the mill 12 bar. I’ve enjoyed watching Tim Lerch’s stuff, and this sounds just like stuff he plays so there ya go!
Thanks for the handouts to, you should get an Apple teach! -
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Great jazzy chords, Bruce, they simply sound awesome. And many thanks for the attachments. I will soon give it a try.
Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
The next Meetup is expected to take place in November 2025There will be a detailed announcement here in the forum in good time.
I look forward to meet you.
Manfred
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