How to Use Octaves in Jazz Guitar

An octave is the difference in pitch between two notes where one note has double the frequency of the other. It is so named because the diatonic scale divides an octave into seven notes, thus the eighth note is the octave ("oct" means eight in Latin) of the first. The following steps will show how to use octaves in jazz guitar.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Add an octave note to provide some depth to a simple melodic line. An octave note is frequently played above or below the basic melody in jazz. Because these notes tend to sound the same when played together, they are considered a simple interval.

2. Examine how octaves are found on a guitar. Assuming standard EADGBE tuning, an octave is easily found by going two strings up and two frets up when the root note is on the fifth and sixth strings. The octave is two strings up and three frets up when the root note in on the third or fourth strings.

3. Observe that playing an octave in jazz guitar involves a "skipped string." For example, if playing the root note on the third string, the octave note will be on the first string. The second string is not played, which precludes the use of a simple strumming technique.

4. Play octaves without a plectrum. This type of playing is usually done by plucking the lower note with a downstroke of the thumb and the higher note with an upstroke of the index finger.

5. Study the music of Wes Montgomery. This acclaimed jazz guitar player was widely known for his octave playing which became known as the "Naptown" sound.