Today , we are going to learn ‘Summertime’ by George Gershwin.
I guess this is one of the most covered songs in the music history. Janis Joplin’s version is famous and which is very cool version. If you haven’t listened to it then have a listen to it !
This song is often played at the jam session so practice this a lot. It’s not a complicated song and easy to practice improvisation.
Today , we learn standard chord progression version and Jazzy version which is also gypsy jazz version.
Chord and Solo tabs
First chorus is original melody , 2nd chorus is mainly with typical gypsy jazz licks of arpeggios and scales and some nice cliche.
Here is the chord progression and chords used.
I suppose , gypsy jazz players don’t play this song with ‘la pompe’ . Mostly mellow jazzy stroke.
Technique
Here , It’s arpeggios you should know. We often use arpeggios. I would say arpeggios are the most important technique for gypsy jazz.
This is so called ‘Cliche’. Basically you just move 1 fret each time. In this case, I play Dm – Dm△7 – Dm7 – Dm6 and root note D goes to D – C# – C – B.
Also this cliche lick , you should use down picking. That’s how gypsy jazz guitarists do. And diminish arpeggio part as well. Notes on the 1st string is up picking then 3 down pickings.
This part can be the most important one today. on E7, the lick goes from G# to A. This G# makes it very unstable because the key of this song is Am. and this ‘G#’ lands on ‘A’ because next chord is Am.
scales and arpeggios lesson
Jazz chord progression
I changed some chords but originally this come from the chord progression we learnt just now.
That’s the chords I use.
When you practice improvisation , you can use this page ”Play-Along”