Things You'll Need:
- Bass Instruments
- Drum Sets
- Pianos
- Saxophones
- Trombones
- Trumpets
- Big City Swing CD
- Rob McConnell Big Band Christmas CD
- Swing Dance Special CD
- Let's Swing Video
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Step 1
Consider that swing is a jazz style. A very important aspect or element of swing is the way rhythm is treated.
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Step 2
Remember, eighth notes in non-jazz style are counted evenly: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & in a 4-beat measure. This is called playing in twos. Each beat is evenly divided between the downbeat and the upbeat.
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Step 3
Note that in swing, two eighth notes in a row are played in threes. The two consecutive notes are not equal.
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Step 4
Play the second note of two in a row on the third note of a three-way subdivision.
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Step 5
Emphasize - or sometimes connect - the second note to the next note by means of a slur or tie.
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Step 6
Learn this technique in performance with other musicians. Listen, feel and imitate to become an intimate part of this mystical mix.
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Step 7
Use a slight rhythmic or melodic variation of a "lick" or style that someone else in the musical group uses.
Comments
tiffanyanne said
on 3/24/2008 You cannot learn to swing from an article on ehow.com. Get out on those hardwoods for some practical learning!
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Think of swing using the syllables "Di-you, Di-you, Di-you" superimposed on a series of eighth notes. The syllable "Di" should occur a fraction of a second before the down beat of each two eighth note grouping. This is best conceptualized by listening to be-bop improvisations (ie. Charlie Parker, Dizz Gillespie) that extensively utilize running eighth note patterns. "Swing" is a very difficult concept to explain, but is immediately recognizable when it occurs in music.