The Most Important Scale Technique for Jazz and Fingerstyle Guitar - Adam Rafferty

[@adamrafferty]

I hope you enjoy this lesson! What did you think? Leave a COMMENt Below! :-)

[@RameshKumar-ng3nf]

Fantastic Lesson Bro ❤❤👌👌 . I am actually following you since long years . Learned lots of fingerstyle playing from you. 🙏🙏🙏

[@tbobmann229]

Awesome!..

[@MrAllenRiley]

Excellent lesson! I saw your channel online some months back (maybe a year) for the first time. This time you got me to subscribe because you give a simple counting method that teaches how to feel a specific Jazz nuance properly. I've heard and seen a lot of things through the years, but counting "Bah oo bah oo bah" instead of the standard way will help many players attempting the genre to get hold of it more quickly and easily. Keep up the great teaching, Adam! Thank you...

[@gbattle]

Adam speaks the deepest truth here. This might be the most important lesson for **all** musicians - subtle on one level, yet striking on the next. There is nobody showing this incredibly viable and musical approach to phrasing properly. So good. Let cats know what’s corny, cause once you know, like riding a bike, you never forget. Thank you Adam!

[@arnomil]

Priceless lesson... because it's about music and not just about guitar. Thanks !

[@adamrafferty]

Thanks & groove on! 😊

[@yngvi]

This is the most concise and best explanation of Forward Motion I've seen. Even refers to Mike Lungo (Dizzy Gillespie's pianist), which I seen had seen Hal Galper (author of Forward Motion) refer to in a Masterclass video yesterday. In the video Hal mentions that Mike had said "First, I think rhythms, then I think what note might fit" or thereabout. On another, slightly related note: man you groove on you Jackson & Wonder videos. And now I have whole weekend of playing Parker tunes to look forward to and a new method to put into practice. Fantastic! I will becoming back to this video a few times, watched it 3 times in 12 hours :)

[@adamrafferty]

Man, wanna know something crazy - through Mike, Hal Galper got in touch with me back in the early 2000's and I built his entire forward motion website, and his first e-commerce platform (I am a web geek as a hobby!). Mike was my mentor - here's a great interview : kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z36WhIeVhLZ3n6s THANK YOU!!!!

[@yngvi]

Thanks @@adamrafferty, I've been there and bought HG's book this summer. Since seeing this I've been posting it all across the Jazz guitar communty I belong to for my fellow students to see. What I particularly like is how easy it is to put "Ba oo ba do ba do" into practice (years to master I'm sure). I came across the interview with Mike this morning. It's this evening's TV material ;) I now own both your Stevie Wonder books and foresee a great deal of time spent on improving my groove through those along with my regular studies. Consider me inspired!

[@richardwaretini3816]

If it helps me to sound like my idols I'm all ears, learning to play music that I grew up with listening to,Helps me to re-live my younger days and can really boost my self-esteem,.Thanks Adam.

[@pickerdad8402]

Killer lesson, Adam. Something I would never have recognized on my own. At first, I was following intellectually, but not really feeling it. But then when you slid the Ba into the Oo, it just hit me in the gut. I'll never listen to alternate picking the same again. Now I've gotta add this to my groove scales and try to swing it every day ...

[@pickerdad8402]

oops, hammer-on, not slide.

[@JacquesPardo]

Thanks Adam! This lesson is awesome and really touch on things few people realize. Finally phrasing that swing simply explained!

[@adamrafferty]

My pleasure!

[@joshnova9163]

Love these videos. Adam’s Fingerpicking Stevie Wonder DVD absolutely elevated my playing, imbuing it with more soul and swing! Thank you Adam!

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you!

[@vishnus3889]

Only real music player love what Adam is talking about. Its kind of emotions, expression and all the dynamics. Thank you

[@SergeUnplugged]

Critical lesson Adam, thanks for breaking this up for us

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you Serge!

[@romanslegion7771]

Brother man.This Spoke to me SO hard. Been playing for 61+ years yet this is what I needed to capture and indeed begin to intuit that thing , that swing , that I so desire. Adam , you the man , bro.🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻✌🏻&❤️💆🏻‍♂️🙋🏻🕺🏻😎

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you and keep that groove alive!!!!!

[@reinholdhubner8880]

Hey Adam, thanks for that real deep look inside Jazz-phrasing. It's the essential breath of Jazz, I guess. Thanks for sharing!

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you Reinhold! 😊

[@ThomasHope73]

Great teaching Adam! 👍

[@gisantos3060]

An interesting lesson here! Thank you Adam for sharing this technique! Looking forward to more tips and lessons from you!👍😀

[@RickGraham]

Fantastic lesson, Adam. Essential stuff 👍

[@Oron354]

Hope you are doing extremely well Rick ✊🏻

[@adamrafferty]

Rick- thank you so much 😊

[@richardwaretini3816]

Thanks for sharing Adam

[@jimsliverootsculturemusic]

60's hit "Those Were The Days My Friend" was the song I heard during this lesson.

[@tommcguire6392]

Wonderful. I play a lot of Scots and Irish trad music: this concept is equally as relevant and important to that type of music too. Many yhanks

[@adamrafferty]

Tom - thank you so much 😊

[@richardwaretini3816]

Thanks for the enlightenment Adam.

[@Dodicibattute]

Great Lessons Adam! Groove is the most important thing.

[@adamrafferty]

Yes Paolo! And phrasing helps the groove...

[@jimmccutcheon4965]

Adam, you are a great teacher! I learned a lot from this video, and I've played for 50+ years - thank you!

[@adamrafferty]

Thanks & groove on! 😊

[@keskidi38]

Excellent Adam, i like this view !

[@kbkesq]

Listen up people, Adam is dropping some really deep stuff here- he knows that of which he speaks!

[@PODseidon]

hi Adam, this is an awesome lesson! Pls do more lessons on jazz and swing phrasing! Thanks!

[@adamrafferty]

More to come!

[@AJGreen-cn8kk]

I saw a couple of Mike Longo's lessons on KZbin a while back. He was such a genius. You're so lucky to have had the honor of studying with him. Glad we have guys like you to carry on his rhythmic legacy.

[@adamrafferty]

y\Yes, he was. I was his apprentice for 20+ years and am so fortunate. he was like a father to me and others.

[@AJGreen-cn8kk]

@@adamrafferty Wow, didn't know you were that close. So now I understand how you became such a groove monster. Makes me want more Mike Longo rhythm inspired lessons!

[@adamrafferty]

@@AJGreen-cn8kk He and I were very close. My entire concept is based on what he taught me :-)

[@robbisonjustin5701]

Awesomeness brother.

[@adamrafferty]

Robbison - thank you so much 😊

[@neffrocks]

Duuuude...this is some deep musical knowledge. This is a great lesson.

[@adamrafferty]

Thanks & groove on! :-)

[@colingardiner6516]

Gday Adam. This lesson on articulation is really helpful. Thanks a ton

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you Colin! 😊

[@deborahkass7064]

Thank you Adam! Inspiring - I anticipate this will transform my approach.

[@adamrafferty]

Best of luck!

[@iloverumi]

invaluable info! thanks... i hope you make more lessons on this topic.

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you - if you & others want, I'll dive deep!

[@irishmuso7129]

Really interesting approach and very useful. Thank you.

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you Irish! 😊

[@jimkangas4176]

Great point Adam. As guitarists we often neglect phrasing compared to our horn playing brethren. Took me a while to realize this (and I'm still working on it).

[@adamrafferty]

Me too! Thanks for the comment.

[@jazzguitarneophyte-christo7988]

Enjoyed every bit of this! Glad I found your channel! You have a new subscriber

[@adamrafferty]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@jonathantrotta9226]

Great video! Such a unique, yet essential lesson. Thanks. Makes me wonder why other jazz guitarists don’t talks about this super important point.

[@adamrafferty]

Jon thanks. This was heavy info from Longo and the video does not do it justice. Most guitarists are focused on speed an picking (I was!) but this flow is an entirely different "frequency" so to speak and was the measuring stick that Dizzy & his peers would gauge the "hipness" of musicians.

[@CaptainCyril]

Thanks for the lesson. This is very easy for a classical guitarist.

[@adamrafferty]

The slur might be easy - but the groove is trickier than you think!

[@RufusBA]

thanks for this . It's a great help

[@adamrafferty]

Excellent Ralph and I’m glad to be your coach on SWA. Looking forward to getting to know you and your music a little better!

[@pluto-world]

Thank You Adam! It's great!

[@adamrafferty]

Thanks!

[@markforbes7835]

bloody great Adam , thank you

[@jimc6687]

Great insight lesson, buddy!! Clears up a lot of potential wasted soloing ideas that keeps us and any listeners on their toes!! I absolutely see the advantages here as well when delving into some cooler blues or Jazz/Blues exciting ideas!! Jim C.

[@Elric1197]

Thanks a lot! Great lesson!

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you Jim!

[@4gcole]

love it adam! if there is a reason i want to study with you its this stuff...you feel is fantastic !

[@adamrafferty]

Oh gosh George, thanks!

[@davidgaughran5450]

Amazing lesson

[@adamrafferty]

David - thank you so much 😊

[@BennyCJonesMusic]

Awesome lesson per usual

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you Benny! 😊

[@rw4170]

Great video, Adam. Subtle difference, but major impact!

[@adamrafferty]

Add this up over a tune, and a night of music....the difference in where the music sits is everything....and this is the difference if Dizzy hired or fired you - my info is coming from the source!

[@martinrosschou]

Thank you. This was not a concept that I was aware of. I may have been doing it "accidental" now and then, but nice to be actively aware.

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you!

[@timothybarrd.c.185]

very informative, thanks

[@adamrafferty]

Thanks & groove on! 😊

[@53gitaar]

Interesting lesson Adam ! Thanx

[@adamrafferty]

My pleasure!

[@GaryLutton]

Great lesson, cheers Adam!

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you Gary!

[@rayfrancisco1093]

very interesting. thank you very much!

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you!

[@randyfreeman8232]

Hey Bro, hope you are doing well. Another great lesson. Aces. I'm stealing it for my students!

[@adamrafferty]

Thanks Randy!

[@mknepalnamaste]

I can hear the difference, ... NOW . Thanx Adam.

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you Martin.

[@EmilioLanzaMusic]

Love it! Thanks Adam!!!

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you Emilio!

[@sebastiandenhoff1616]

Very good! I like the Nylonstring. I've got a Cordoba too.

[@adamrafferty]

Normally I play my ZUCALI guitar, but it's in the shop at the moment. Thank you!

[@broundog2]

I agree. Never subordinate the feel to the needs of the right hand.

[@adamrafferty]

EXACTLY Bob! Thank you!

[@13thAMG]

Cool. Thank you.

[@adamrafferty]

Thanks & groove on! 😊

[@ralfkrieger7904]

Hi Adam, thanks a lot for this video! Now I know theoretically what I did instinctively my whole life ;-)) >>> Because I heard a lot of good (Jazz-) Music all the time & in the best case you get that kind of playin into your fingers! (If you like you can ‘control’ it in my own videos) ... Keep Groovin Ralf

[@adamrafferty]

Ralf - thank you so much 😊

[@nishant77a]

Nice loved it

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you!

[@RameshKumar-ng3nf]

Hey Bro, please let me know the audio and video editing softwares you use currently? Thanks 🙏🏻

[@adamrafferty]

Final Cut Pro X!

[@RameshKumar-ng3nf]

Adam Rafferty Thank you 😊 🙏🏻

[@jnowak3992]

Great video for anyone that needs help getting away from that scaley, monotone/emotionless playing. Hate to be that guy, but what Córdoba model is that? Acoustic-Electric? I only ask because I’m in the market for a classical/nylon wide neck acoustic electric.

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you. I usually play a fine ZUCALI classical (see my Black Orpheus video) guitars.zucali.com/ but the one you see here is GK Studio Negra Iberia series - about $700 :-) - It's a flamenco axe, more bite for high notes, and a very interesting, comfortable but uncommon neck. Chek one out!

[@renshawbrown6431]

I like this

[@adamrafferty]

Thanks & groove on! 😊

[@andrereginato3538]

It doesn't really matter...either way is fine...they both sound different...the choices you make gives you your voice.

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

I'm thrilled. One of the best players on the toob is describing exactly what I do naturally after 50 years of not working at it...Hahahahaha. Plus of course, with me, you get all the mistakes for free.

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you! And I cut all the mistakes out in Logic & Final Cut :-)

[@cymrogygo1759]

everybody teaches us how to speed up, use certain scales and we train the for weeks and month and it sounds "da bi" .... just 15 minutes of Adam and it sounds "oo - ba". F... why did I practize scales over month and I am still a "da bi" ? after this vid I feel a lot more "oo - ba". thx man

[@adamrafferty]

There you go!!!! Groove on!

[@cymrogygo1759]

Adam Rafferty thanks adam. Br Christian (yes its me)😉

[@ericksaulchangperez9388]

What about fantastic players that mostly alternate pick Like pat martino, george benson, johnny smith, hank garland, andreas oberg, ollie soikkeli, jonathan kreisberg,etc?

[@adamrafferty]

I used to alternate pick all the time. Yes, if you are playing fast lines that's a great solution. Benson plays lots more downstrokes than upstrokes and plays like a beast with just his thumb (I played with him!!!! so alternate picking is a "tool" but not the only tool.

[@GregorHoul]

To my ears, alternate gets closer to Ba oo when I start with an upstroke.

[@adamrafferty]

Yes - but starting on an upstroke on the downbeat will make your head explode. Try it! You'll see. I tried that in my 20's. Plus, when you really need a downbeat, you HAVE to pick down. I suggest learning a bebop tune rather than thinking about picking. Achieve the sound you want on a real life song.

[@GregorHoul]

@@adamrafferty All good points. I believe you, and dare not take the risk--my head is too precious to me 0.O

[@mwpv11]

A lot of this comes more naturally if you listen to the bebop horn players to identify the groove of the tune.

[@vanpotterton2486]

Isn't the substance of your point to play consecutive eighth notes as if you were playing the first and third notes of eighth note triplets?

[@adamrafferty]

You’re very close! The basis of Jazz articulation is a 12/8 rhythm and eighth notes are like the first and third of those triplets. However it’s not just triplets it’s a special African triplet with a certain articulation. Classical music for example had triplets as well. It’s the mix of all the accents that makes African drumming triplets different from let’s say Beethoven’s triplets. Then as bebop evolved and tempo sped up , the triplets can’t necessarily be played as triplets… I’m talking about much faster temples…but the articulation remains. The way Dizzy Gillespie would teach his bandmates was with these simple Scott syllables so that they could get the proper accents. Groove on!

[@MidoGuitarOfficial]

Interesting 🤔👍👋

[@adamrafferty]

If you get into jazz, we can talk further about this!

[@Sumkindamon]

By the way "Беда" (pronounced as "BedA") in russian means a disaster, a problem, something bad happens. 🙂

[@tomiszecsko1673]

actually you teach us how to listen music, too

[@adamrafferty]

Tomi - thank you so much 😊

[@petrpetr4836]

Ещё один кирпич в стене!

[@JohnBoulding]

Pink panther mode

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you John! 😊

[@mickeyjohnson1137]

You and my younger brother could pass for twins. Not in your playing but in your looks.

[@adamrafferty]

wow

[@barflytom3273]

common man, Charlie Cristian played with a pick, jim hall did, Joe Pass did, Matheny does. I don't understand ı suppose.

[@adamrafferty]

I am commenting on the phrasing and what to do with the pick here. What I have here in the video is a nugget of knowledge the result iof studying 10 years + what a pianist who played with Dizzy Gillespie taught me...but youtube cannot convey depth of 10 years apprenticeship, so to the worlkd it looks like an 8 min video of info-tainment, and then the viewer is off to the next video.

[@barflytom3273]

@@adamrafferty You're an excellent player and teacher by the way. I did watch a few of your videos and found it very beneficial. I just thought the pick thing was a bit exaggerated. I may be wrong. Obviously I am.

[@adamrafferty]

You are not wrong. Conventional typical wisdom says alternate picking works. However, when I sat with Mike Longo as his student for 10 years, and he would give me small jazz phrases to play, he'd say "no those accents aren't right. How are you picking that? Down? Up?" He didn't kjnow anything about guitar. What emerged as a result was having to pick a different way that flies in the face of logic. Mike would say that the "Dah BE Dah BE Dah BE" phrasings was NOT what Dizzy Gillespie did, but rather a "Ba OO Ba OO Ba OO" - the way I describe in the video. So - if you were transported to the univers where you are playing with the ACTUAL old legends of bebop and had to make your playing fit to what they decsribe, you'd also hang on every word of advice the way I did. Like I said, youtube is a terrible vehicle for this because it was profound life changing study - my universe with my beloved mentor....all his experience, everything bearing down on the issue - how can Imake jazz sound right on guitar. An 8 nminute video cannot convey the experience of what I am trying to say, and it's easy to say "yeah whatever" and go to the next video. Hope this helps. @@barflytom3273

[@adamrafferty]

One more thing - the legendary guitar players you mentioned didn't know DIzzy's concept. Charlie Christian was hip but came way before Diz. Jim hall , Metheney don;'t know Dizzy's concept. The only guy who really could do this on guitar was Wes Montgomery.@@barflytom3273

[@barflytom3273]

@@adamrafferty I guess, since Wes is the only one who played with his thumb. Obviously you are talking about something subtle. I should have kept my mouth shout. sorry. keep up the good work.

[@itssimple...9184]

Очень люблю вас смотреть. Но так не научусь никогда...

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you!!

[@jamesmiller3663]

👍

[@adamrafferty]

Thanks!

[@ddanze]

no comment

[@ryel8116]

May ask you budu buauu. Please show hands , Some people learn, by Sight ,Some by ear. Just saying. It might help.🙌

[@mehmetnaciakkk3983]

It sounds a bit like the voicing used by oud players.

[@sergiojaenlara2091]

The main problem in jazz education is that is centered in scales.

[@adamrafferty]

Yes. It's centered in the materials and then falls flat with rhythm. They usually just say "put a metronome on and feel it" - yet they make endless courses about harmony and modes. Dizzy said "rhthm is everything."

[@harveyhensley875]

@@adamrafferty Excellent lesson on the most neglected topic!

[@ryel8116]

Formulated or formulaaz, ba de ba ba be

[@vid4ia583]

Honestly... more talking than playing demo of what you are trying to get across. I see this all too much in player demos.

[@adamrafferty]

Ok, here watch this video - all playing, no talking. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5yTdKGil7-SiJY

[@kuntadi6209]

To much talk

[@garynarducci8366]

Again, more talk than play. You can do a slur with a flat pick too. I listen to Joe Pass. He was a master of a moving bass, no pick.

[@ryel8116]

The !essson is Awesome! I just thought some others might have a hard time following. Ya know? Just food for thought