The Steel Guitar Forum

I've started working through Frank Vignola's instruction series on rhythm changes (based on the chords from "I Got Rhythm") and am working on it both on 6-string guitar and C6 PSG.* So here's the PSG version of the first exercise, just outlining the guide-tones. Then I do some variations on the theme and some ad-lib soloing, then come back to the exercise for the last chorus. Hope it's of interest to someone out there...

In case you'd like to get the book (which contains standard music notation and standard 6-string guitar tab), it's here: http://www.melbay.com/Products/30578M/f ... uitar.aspx

[Check below in the thread for additional exercises and etudes videos]

* If I weren't too lazy, I'd force myself to do it on E9 too...

https://youtu.be/3u0Ge2ct2qQ

Very Nice! Thanks, Jim.

Right on! That is both cool and extremely useful to anyone play tonal jazz on the steel - thank you for sharing it!

Nice indeed

Jim is it possible to access your post in a way other than Using one you give? That one is blocked here in China. Thanks, Stevet .

I dunno Steve. Any suggestions? File too big to email.

Outstanding Jim, and very cool mate

Here's the second Vignola exercise ('Basic-2')

https://youtu.be/YdGJqu2TlVs

Jim, Frank Freniere uses picosong.com and those come in for me. If you get time, would you try that site, please? If not,I will wait until June when I'm back in the USA. THANKS, stevet

These are videos, Steve.

Thanks, Jim. I will wait Until June and view in the USA. Stevet

Here's the 3rd Vignola exercise, in Bb. (Plus a little ad lib noodling in the middle...)

https://youtu.be/iM6AiOyd4fg

Here's 'Basics-4' in Bb (no noodling this time!)

https://youtu.be/IZwjQlo90sE

So, doing these exercises has been great for a few reasons:

1. It's forcing me to get better at reading music on steel

2. It's forcing me to get better at playing in tune while I have my eyes on the music instead of on the steel! (That's tough!)

3. I'm singing along as I read and play, so it's improving the synchronization of my mind, ear, hands, and eye (on the music)

I recommend a process like this to anyone who wants to improve their ability to play whatever they think, and also to read music (so you can play whatever someone else thought up before! LOL)

Really nice playing, tone, content et. all Jim!

After having people telling me about playing over "Rhythm Changes" for year and years, I'd just bob my head like I knew what they were talking about until one day Harry Orlove finally "splained" it to me. Duh!

Very valuable tool!

thanks for the videos!

Thank you, Rick.

And for those who don't know what 'Rhythm Changes' are, they are, in fact, the chords (often with substitutions) from the song, "I Got Rhythm" that many jazz artists (like Charlie Parker and may others) have used as a basis for writing new tunes. If one is playing swing or bebop or, as Christopher Woitach said above, really any tonal jazz, then it is a 'must' to be comfortable soloing over these changes. It is chock full of 1-6-2-5 moves that will be found in nearly every standard from the Great American Songbook and beyond.

Here are the basic rhythm changes:

Verse
1 6 2 5
1 6 2 5
1 17 4 4m
1 6 2 5
[Repeat]

Bridge
37 37 67 67
27 27 57 57

1 6 2 5
1 6 2 5
1 17 4 4m
1 6 2 5

And now, for your listening and dancing pleasure, I give you... "Frank Vignola's Rhythm Changes Exercise 'Basics-5' in Bb". Hope you find it helpful in some way (or at least amusing).

Jimbeaux

https://youtu.be/E4EdZZhH_g8

Hey Jim, This is real good stuff and for a newbie like myself very useful.
You and your Franklin have a killer tone, for sure.
Thanks for sharing this. It's definitely going in my "bookmark" section for further use.
Simon

Thank you, Jim! Very helpful.

Thanks guys. I'm glad there are some of you who are enjoying these and/or finding them helpful. By the way, if any of you are interested in the standard guitar versions of these exercises, as well as some discussion about the point of the exercises, the chord changes, etc., they can be found at this link. I have been doing each exercise on both guitar and steel.

http://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/improvis ... anges.html

Nice work, Jim! Beautiful tone and playing. Thanks for posting it.

Jim - nice work!

There seems to be multiple books in this series - which one specifically are you working out of?

Just the first book so far.

Jim Cohen wrote:Here's 'Basics-4' in Bb (no noodling this time!)

https://youtu.be/IZwjQlo90sE

Your noodling is pretty impressive👌👌

Really cool Jim, thanks for sharing.

Here's a video of the first of Frank Vignola's etudes, which are more musical and have more interesting moves than the earlier 'basics' exercises. This one reminds me of some of the lines that Buddy Emmons taught in his C6 classes at Jeffran College back in the 80's when I was there. Some of the lines are also reminiscent of Paul Franklin's solo in George Strait's "Something Special". See what you think...

https://youtu.be/RQRWXlGEEAs