If you have ever listened to Jazz then you are already familiar with the swing feel. The swing feel is featured in many other styles of music as well, but in Jazz it is so pronounced that it helps define the very essence of Jazz.
The swing feel is simply eighth notes played unevenly. Essentially, you let the first eighth note (on the downbeat) ring longer than the second and keep repeating that pattern - long, short, long, short, etc. It is that simple. There is no need to get into a more complicated discussion. Just listen to the audio clip and you'll understand immediately.
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Jazz music typically features chord progressions played in the swing feel. So naturally, the lead accompaniment is often played in swing feel as well. To solo over Jazz progressions, the swing feel needs to be second nature. Since scales are a building block of soloing, playing scales with a swing feel will reinforce the swing feel in your lead playing.
Above is the tab for this guitar lesson. We are using the G Harmonic Minor Scale for our lesson. First, play the scale using the even eighth notes that you are already accustomed to. Next, swingify the scale. In the audio clip, I play the scale both ways - first with even eighth notes and then with the swing feel.
Becoming comfortable with the swing feel opens up many doors in one's playing. Regardless of whether you are playing Jazz, Blues, Rock, etc, the swing feel allows one to unleash endless creativity in their phrasing. I personally find that the Gypsy Jazz style features the most appealing use of the swing feel. Listen to the great Gypsy Jazz song Minor Swing. Minor Swing is an iconic piece by Django Reinhardt and has been recorded by a wide range of musicians. Each performer sticks to the basic melody but personalizes the piece. The one common thread to all renditions is that the melodic phrasings are essentially all centered around the swing feel.
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