"How do you decide what to play on a one chord groove?" Cory Wong // Q&A Episode 2

COME SEE US ON TOUR! - www.woooong.com/tour
check out my music here → woooong.com/spotify
learn guitar from me → woooong.com/guitarcourse
buy charts of my music → woooong.com/sheetmusic
Archetype Cory Wong GUITAR PLUGIN → woooong.com/plugin
Cory Wong Signature Fender Stratocaster → www.fender.com/corywong
BAND:
Cory Wong - guitar
Sonny T - bass
Kevin Gastonguay - keys
Petar Janjic - drums
Nêgah Santos - percussion
Eddie Barbash - alto sax, soprano sax
Kenni Holmen - tenor sax, soprano sax, flute
Sam Greenfield - bari sax, bass clarinet
Jay Webb - trumpet, flugelhorn
Michael Nelson - trombone
Engineer - Dan Smith
Mix - Cory Wong
Lighting - Vin Pugliese
Videographer - Michael Bowden
filmed at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke, MA

[@CritterJason]

I'd even buy tickets to see a rehearsal at this point

[@CoryWongMusic]

hahaha. i like the sound of that

[@FlowieFX]

Me too, these videos are so fun to watch

@@CoryWongMusic stonks

[@jpbisa_]

Same

[@bcampagnolo6759]

The San Diego show has VIP package - 'soundcheck' - I'm SO gonna do it, I want to see line check, patching, sound check and ask if I can mix a song or two (during soundcheck, and if I pass, maybe one for the show). (kidding, not kidding) I know my way around a dLive! Heck, I'll help with loading in and loading out! I need to work on my roadie cable over/under, but I can patch and troubleshoot and mix! :) If I ask nicely, can I get in early at PHX? Doing a road trip to visit the in-laws in PHX just to see the show Thursday!

[@jodiepanudju]

Sonny T is full of funky grooves vocabulary to start with...

[@Iceman259]

Seriously, he just pulled that out of his back pocket like it was no big deal and I’m sitting here like WHAT

[@troytolbert2005]

Well, he did play with NPG 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@Benisuber1]

I would literally listen to an entire concert like this where they just jammed out and created a bunch of different ideas lol

[@einisofia6]

I agree😀😀

[@cooldebt]

Kind of like The Consouls Super Monday Jam series (but on a bigger scale)

[@spraynard9529]

Adam Neely did a tour kinda like that not too long ago where they treated their shows almost like comedic improv. They’d have the audience throw out suggestions like different moods or colors and the band would create a song on the spot that fits the suggestion. I’m kicking myself for not getting to see them live, but he’s got a good tour vlog about it on his KZbin channel!

[@Indianadixon]

Oh boy would you like jazz

[@Valleyplant]

Lol sucks you weren’t alive in the 70s lol.

[@bochafish]

"Bass player, give me a groove in "insert key/chord here." I've been playing a very long time now, and that is how every jam gets started. Bass players be ready. Always have a few grooves in your back pocket.

[@WEREWOLFCaT_STORIES]

as a fellow bassist - nothing could be more true !

[@JacksonSears]

This is beyond accurate

[@WEREWOLFCaT_STORIES]

@@JacksonSears everyone in the room turns and looks at the bass player every jam sesh ive turned up to - and that pressure allowed me to start writing my own music by nature of coming up with hooks and rffs on the spot all the time.

[@GHRiz]

this is literally "How to Funk 101". So good.

[@jplira8025]

Funk 101 next song??

[@AfferbeckBeats]

Intro to Funkology

[@alsoknownaschase]

I think this is why Marc Rebillet has blown up. People love watching the construction project + immense talent.

[@kturn5953]

🤮Seeing Rebillet compared to actually talented musicians hurts. He is not a valuable musician nor comedian.

[@EdBordin]

@@kturn5953 Not really sure what your problem is with Rebillet. There's not many people that can just build a groove on the spot like he does, and he can sing damn well too!

[@thomasmitchell4603]

@@kturn5953 Rebillet is very talented, why so elitist?

[@kturn5953]

@@thomasmitchell4603Basic loops done at a much lower level than Reggie Watts, the worst rapping/singing, and cheap humor. If you claim to be a comedian, be good at it; if you claim to be a musician, be good at it; and if you claim to be an improviser, learn how to do it. It’s crazy to fail at all three simultaneously and then get recognized as a professional of “that”. Reggie Watts raised the bar, and Marc Rebillet is working to lower it. Another great looping artist is Tune-Yards, but let’s not keep comparing Marc to professionals, that’s not fair.

[@kturn5953]

@@EdBordin if you took just his comedy to a stand up stage, it wouldn’t survive because it sucks and it’s for a crowd too young to go to a nightclub. If you took just his music to the radio, it wouldn’t survive because it sucks due to being very amateur and simplistic. If you took his improvisational lyrics/rapping and put them up against any competent rapper, then he has nothing to offer and sounds like an uncertain repetitive dialogue of basic ass thoughts (Reggie Watts actually does this comedically well). Somehow though, people like when all three of these unskilled talent sets get shoved together without any one of them being practiced to a professional level. On “Office Hours” he jokingly sang about the kids in Uvalde, TX who were shot just the day before. Over a dumb groove he sang, “People shooting eachother. Pain and blood and death and blood. Oh yeah…” all while doing his “sexy” dance. I guess he had to sing about those recent child murders cause he ran out of lyrics about his dick? Tim Heidecker got him to change the subject, cause he recognized the trash that was happening. I recognize the trash in all of his performances haha.

[@thehighwires9851]

Expecting that groove on a new track soon!

[@thehighwires9851]

...and then for Jack Stratton to put vocals to it...

[@davidgoode7416]

I could not possibly ever get tired of this band...

[@ClockworkDave]

It would be like getting tired of your family or friends. Seeing them live was both extraordinary and a bit like catching up with an old best friend.

[@davidgoode7416]

@@ClockworkDave Catching the San Diego show and I'm sure I'll agree with you 👍

[@terrymiller111]

Nêgah Santos!

[@YianisGiannopoulos]

it must be the first video that shows how a band should jam. keep jamming.

[@YianisGiannopoulos]

listen and response, listen to each other . yes yes yes

[@WanderingZekko]

What an incredible group of musicians. Great explanation/demonstration of how to find your part in a jam. Explaining what's happening as each player adds their hook into the mix really helps to make all the theory behind songwriting more tangible.

[@tylerfletcher3415]

Forever grateful for this great bandleader and band!

[@xpydrr]

It is really incredible and also unbelievable that they all just slide in the groove. Please do an improv album or live stream or something like that!

[@Valleyplant]

It’s actually not as hard as it looks. Especially when they verbally communicate the chord name.

[@FrankFurther]

@@Valleyplant still takes skill. I don't know about you but it was at least a year on the guitar before I could improvise a groove in a specific key that would actually sound decent

[@LowOutput]

This was cool to watch and great for people to understand how musicians work together and listen to each other.

[@cooldebt]

Reminds me of The Consouls Super Monday Jam series (but on a bigger scale)

[@DrewHartberg]

IDK who Michael Bowden is, but his camera work is Grade A. People don't know how hard it is to shoot this well as a single camera. Respect!!

[@sudhirchoudhary4823]

Cory thanks for doing this, please do this more often

[@Supardanil]

i'm hooked on Petar's clap stack 👏That whole kit sounds LUSH!!!

[@scrub_jay]

Sonny is awesome and so hilarious. Must be those ice cold trinklies.

[@JaderRubini]

They should link to this video on the “rapport” entry in the dictionary. So amazing, I could listen to this for days.

[@coreybatorski9626]

Masterclass. This should be shown in music classes around the country

[@DCronk-qc6sn]

It's going to be in mine....😊

[@AllegoryofPatrick]

I've never been more hyped than when Sonny let loose at the end of the video ❤✌👏

[@trigonometrisk]

This is what I came to say!

[@whythekarma6583]

so fucking cool

[@f.t2542]

This is the pure joy of jamming, of music made here and now! Watching amazing professionals going through their process is dope. This is gold.

[@nicksanford9]

The production and audio quality is just fantastic. Snare sound is out of this world

[@mwhearn1]

Step 1: Assemble some of the worlds best musicians. Step 2: Count them in and let them loose. Step 3: Enjoy.

[@troytolbert2005]

Any band keeping the Funk alive, I'm there. All the pioneers applaud you and the Wongnotes, Cory!!! 🙏🏾🙌🏾🤘🏾

[@leonardoazevedo87]

Bass guy crackin' up at 6:10 You're welcome.

[@letimix]

Thank you for making us smile and happier!

[@Spermwhales93]

That groove is a new song waiting to happen

[@gustafsone]

I think I finally figured it out, guys. THIS is why I love this band so freaking much! One of my biggest regrets in life is that I didn't continue on my journey of being a musician. I used to play, and got to a level where I thought I played well. Little did I know that I didn't really "understand" what I was doing. Perhaps if I had the right instructor, or other person to guide me in the right direction? I don't know. Either way, I did learn enough to be able to really, and truly, appreciate what I'm listening to and to know when musicians really give a crap about what they are doing. Cory Wong, and the Wongnotes, are perhaps the greatest combination of everything that I love about music. I hope this train never stops, and I'll be jumping on board every time it comes through my city!

[@Haku_records]

For the next q&a please ask Petar what’s up with the towels on the cymbals?

[@teresadyson1141]

You all are so BRILLIANT. Thank you Cory for showing and explaining an improvisation process. You really have to listen and be on top of your game. It will always amaze me about how cool it is to play by ear, and just let it flow. You guys are the BEST dang band. I.LOVE.YOUR.JAM‼️🍃♥️🎼👏🏼👏🏼

[@markshepardsongs]

I absolutely ADORE this kind of content. THANK you so much!

[@tReShertReSh]

This is gold) So happy, that you are doing this

[@TheWaveFiles]

All those videos are truly priceless That's what the music scene needs , musicians who are genuinely passionate, that loves to share their knowledge, no toxic ego, all of this while being amazing musicians . Love the band, love the dedication .Truly motivating .cheers from france

[@mlaurenc]

11 minutes of sheer genius musical insight - and a great demonstration of how you lead and be part of an incredible band.

[@MrJulionick]

this is one of the most beautiful and smart lesson you can listen on youtube !!! BRAVI !!! thank you from Italy !!

[@Alsbustnloose]

Communication and collaboration so much fun to watch, something different and inspiring each week!

[@abcismusik]

love the groove building method !! it inspire me a lot !!

[@Mindwave416]

You're a legend stoked to see the whole band in concert!

[@deborahprice9646]

Love listening to these Q&A’s! Thanks, Cory and all the Wongnotes, for the share! PS Appreciate Eddie rocking the Caroga Arts T!

[@flyinghobo888]

Some of the best content on this site. Love hearing how y’all do process stuff. I’m so not a musician but I make games and it’s so cool knowing how other creatives collaborate and make art!

[@travisumbel6877]

Cory, I've listened to everything you've ever made and I love the sheer amount of funk that your music can fill. I am a very active listener in the jam scene and I ABSOLUTELY love seeing you get a little lose with the band. Every single member is a true musician, and when you guys improvise like this it pushes the limits of what your sound can be. While I think you're great at arranging (and re-arranging) your songs, I would love to see you and the band start to take a walk on the wild side at shows and really just jam your shit out. Videos like this prove to me that you've got the potential. Or, you could keep up the incredibly tight performances and just nail it even if it was planned from the start to finish. Either way, I love what you do and I hope you keep it up!

[@laweo4]

Great points, listening ... fitting in. Thanks for your time to explain how you grove together.

[@djrobflow]

This was dope. Thank u for this info. Love y’all 👊🏽

[@Wordviews]

This series should be put into a running playlist. I really enjoyed this format, never seen anything like it.

[@petervandewoestijne9371]

really good stuff, good for every band and well explained.

[@DeclansMusic]

good content, love watching this band jam

[@danonthestrings]

Masterclass in arrangement.

[@jakejuhl2441]

These Q&A's are more like master classes! Love everything you are doing!

[@brownsfan7753]

Love this content!!!

[@dankymatters838]

Ten bucks says he's already turned that groove into a full song we're going to hear later.

[@IcyMidnight]

Amazing.

[@scottjones6624]

THAT was so fascinating and valuable. Terrific.

[@raduazdril9533]

Amazing, as usual! Shout out to the video editor. Wonderful supporting effects. Same thought process as musicians. How to fill the spaces, create interest and not overpower. 👏

[@KhalDrogo76]

What a snare sound!

[@antlockyer153]

superb, thank you

[@connerwempe]

I thought the pre show routine was Cory tripping over the bari sax cases lol

[@dereksimke9117]

This was solid gold. Nice work as usual! I also want to give a shout out to whoever mixed this, thank you!

[@erikmerino6429]

Amo el carisma de Sonny, siempre me pone de buen humor escuchar su risa y sus comentarios jajaja!!

[@carstenaltena]

Thanks for blowing my mind

[@jimbrockmusic]

Great stuff! I spent the entire afternoon jamming over that E7. So satisfying to hear sonny laugh after a ferocius guitar bend!

[@sparx7974]

I can't wait to see you guys jam live!

[@waynejrice]

Amazing!

[@matthewbenedict5923]

can't stop laughing- omg I love you Sonny!!

[@marcoalmeidajr]

Nêga representando!!

[@kodykindhart5644]

Love yall

[@paulwhetstone0473]

Great episode, concise and funny af.

[@gabriellaputri9773]

this is dangerously addictive

[@terrymiller111]

Them just demonstrating and improvising is better than 90% of pop radio.

[@cooldebt]

Reminds me of The Consouls Super Monday Jam series (but on a bigger scale and with more educational focus)

[@giocoso4576]

you set the bar too low

[@NZsaltz]

unsurprising that you like the musicians you already like more than musicians you don't like

[@bcampagnolo6759]

I love how the tech team is so on it! Someone fired up the haze in the middle of the jam! That's all-pro. (and the end w/ the lights!!!). :) - AAAaand - the sound FX - so funny and tasteful.

[@davidlucky178]

Bass player is just sooo dope 👍👍👍

[@DreamsongsProductions]

Awesome!

[@pedverse]

just wow

[@coltonschultz9037]

These are great! We're gonna need a release of "E9 Jam".

[@Ephrones]

Thanks!

[@cpjds1]

Everything sounds great but that snare sounds soooo good.

[@lucasmagnet4859]

I’m glad I watched that last minute

[@andrelotter9590]

Smokin! and bubbling!

[@georgecornwellv1130]

The birth of a song. I had no idea since I’m a none musician.

[@sarighasenfeld8228]

As a student, it's a real challenge for me to both listen and give space, let alone find even one partner where we can both express ourselves freely This was such a cool and professional example of it- no one stands out, everyone fitting in. That's what it's all about

[@formspimp]

Excellent

[@henrikasteberg1218]

8:20 The percussions sound so good!

[@deejay7339]

Amazing.. This could easily be a series, Wong Chord Grooves lol.

[@marcossastre1126]

It is space that makes it funky.

[@TheMcmansilla]

Yeah

[@johnmorris239]

See you in Paso Robles!

[@buddystewart2020]

I don't play out anymore, but when I did, big ears was a key. Listen, listen, listen. You can't go wrong if you listen. Of course havin' a little bit of damn taste don't hurt none.

[@alexanderdeadmansche]

His band are so sick!

[@iamgates7679]

That live kit sound, god damnnnn son

[@josephbecerra9211]

Gold. Pure gold haha

[@kahwigulum]

It also helps having master-level musicians in your band.

[@bigmanolo1]

Epic groooof

[@restorationconcrete]

It would be cool to see them start at as in with the same E7 chord but a different groove and tempo to see what comes out!

[@tomcopsonjr9463]

Yo! Sunny T's grooves 🔥

[@brucelai7]

Gold❤

[@izokzu4851]

the mix is goodd. Bless you, you dont make music for musician ;)

[@joelRmontfort]

Holy cow this is musicianship

[@gardonasta]

this video alone makes me wanna learn how to play on my whole instrument, not just scales and chords. I am a horse.

[@DustinHaggerty-lj1ix]

😁👍👍👍👍👍 cool. Thanks guys.

[@JochenVogel]

I want to play in a band again!