I've Found a New Baby; Charlie Christian. Killer minor key Jazz soloing! Bebop Guitar lesson

[@Taildragger56]

Wonderfully done! Love the sound. Beautiful guitar that is..... After listening to this one track of CC for the past 55 yrs now I still regard it as one of the finest electric solos ever done. It has everything. I've listened, like so many others i'm sure, to thousands of other guitar players from all genres yet I still come back to Charlie's stuff from what seems like 100 yrs ago. The choice of notes, the melodic approach plus the timing is insurpassable. I always think it's such a shame no film footage exists of him nor many other recordings with him on it . He only did a few recordings really, in comparison to Django. Once again, you've handled it beautifully and I thank you.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thank you for the comment and for the kind words my friend, I really appreciate it. I totally echo your thoughts on Charlie, he had such a driving energy to his playing, truly fierce and inspiring. I wish he’d recorded much more too. 🙏🏻

[@maineguitarists]

I'm a tone junkie. Of course technique is important but the tone you get from your fingers and heart onto the fretboard of that vintage Gibson is perfect for this style of jazz and or blues. Great inspiration for new guys like myself with this genre.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thank you so much buddy. I appreciate that 🙏🏻 The secret is in the picking hand to get that fat, punchy vintage tone. Rest strokes where possible and strong bias towards downstrokes 👍🏻

[@37BopCity]

Wow, fantastic! This is such a great tune. It's just one of many amazing Charlie Christian solos that anyone familiar with Charlie's recordings know very well. There is just nobody like him, in my opinion. He operates on a whole different level. What is even more amazing about his recording and performing career is that it all happened in about 5 or 6 years, and then he was tragically gone at the age of 26. An entire generation of the greatest names in jazz guitar history from Barney Kessel to Wes Montgomery and many others, have all bowed down to his enormous talent and influence.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Absolutely my friend!.. he was an enigma! Played with such confidence, articulation and conviction in every note. So much to learn from his short career 🙏🏻

[@Tremolo100]

Alex is truly a gifted teacher helping those of us who aspire to play at a deeper level and - at least for me, newer to jazz guitar - so much packed into each of these episodes - thank you, Alex!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks Mark, that’s very kind of you 🙏🏻 I am passionate about both playing AND teaching so that means a lot. 🍻

[@matthiasscheffler548]

Alex - I love the seemingly plain but totally genius and seminal early jazz guitar style Charlie Christian played... and you are teaching this perfectly well!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks buddy! Yeah totally agree.. there’s something so exciting about Charlie’s playing, the way he drives forward with so much momentum and purpose from note to note. 👌🏻

[@portsideguitar1981]

Man, I’m always so impressed by your mastery and deep dives on all my favorite genres and players. I’ll never know how you know so much but I’m immensely grateful you are sharing it all!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Ah thanks so much my friend, what a lovely comment! 🙏🏻 The answer is an obsessive mind and a life dedicated to music 🤪 Not something I’d necessarily wish upon someone else 😂 Thanks for the comment buddy 🙏🏻

[@uberjam-sam8512]

And I quote: it's all about keeping track of the beat. Staying in the pocket. That is what it's all about another great lessons fun to listen to you play and explain (on its own) as well as learn. Cheers!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks buddy, absolutely! All about being in the pocket and making those notes really land. I’m glad you enjoyed the lesson! I appreciate the comment 🙏🏻

[@duyle8921]

I think this might be the best lesson on Christian's style. Thank you, Alex.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Wow thanks buddy! I plan to do one specifically outlining his most commonly used “shapes” very soon 👍🏻

[@greatvanzini]

Wow! Something about Charlie I can actually understand. Thank you so much.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

My pleasure! Glad you found the lesson useful mate 👍🏻

[@Vadik-r2b]

I beleive that sunny music will save the world😊

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

I hope so!

[@johnpandolfino8663]

Love Charlie's playing.....he wrote the book.....a long time ago ...great lesson Alex 👏👌⛄🔥🇺🇸😎💪👍💰🦫

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Agreed my friend! Thanks for the comment 🙏🏻

[@maineguitarists]

I listened to three other guitarists on KZbin play this number. You played it with more pzass or bounce than they. You have blues and jazz in your soul! tom

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Wow thanks Tom, that’s very kind 🙏🏻

[@ericmintz6689]

Thanks, Alex. Great tune, great rendition, great lesson. (And as soon as Louis appeared, the algorithm cut straight to an ad for cat litter. He's earning his keep!)

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Haha that’s amazing 😂 Thanks for the comment Eric, glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏻

[@IsaacSmelcZhan]

I have a 59’ Es125, it is great to see other people using ES125s to cover one of my favorite guitarists, Charlie Christian.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Very nice.. congrats on the sweet guitar! Play that thing at every chance! 👌🏻🍻

[@tjesson92]

Fantastic lesson. Appreciate the content. For a beginner Charlie Christian nut this lesson was exactly what I needed. Now just got to bring it up to speed 😅

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks for the comment my friend, really glad you liked it! 🙏🏻

[@daithi48]

Love the way you casually, nonchalantly rip this brilliant solo off 😀👍

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Haha thanks mate! 🙏🏻

[@frankvaleron]

Brilliant lesson, really looking forward to the breakdown of CCs trusty shapes that he returned to again and again

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thank you Frank! I appreciate the comment buddy 🙏🏻

[@davidwilkinson7519]

Absolutely fantastic lesson Thank you so much So detailed 👍

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏻

[@jimc6687]

Excellent live stream new course and interaction this morning, Alex..........hungry kitty and all!! Getting my friend Chris Mullin's attention is a great positive direction for your site as he has quite a few good connections and influence!! Jim C.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks Jim! I appreciate you my friend 🙏🏻

[@MandolinSecrets]

Thanks! I find this very helpful as I'm working on this tune. Just bought the transcription and now it's time for study. Great content!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Awesome to hear it buddy! Thanks for picking up the transcription too.. have fun! 😎🍻

[@justinpaquette224]

Your videos really make jazz feel accessible to me

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

That’s so good to hear! Thanks for the comment matey! 🙏🏻

[@justinpaquette224]

@@AlexFarranGuitar It also helps that the styles of jazz that you are playing are styles that I resonate with. I feel like the more modern jazz gets, the less I'm into it. Would love some videos on old 1920's New Orleans stuff

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

I'm totally with you there man, and yes indeed some proper 20's tunes coming very soon!

[@justinpaquette224]

@@AlexFarranGuitar Great, looking forward to them

[@JazzStrat781]

Wonderful video and playing, just like always! Keep up the great work 👍🎸

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks so much my friend, I appreciate that 🙏🏻

[@eohippusone]

Thanks! CC is a true inspiration!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

He really is! 🙏🏻

[@peteandrews7169]

Brilliant lesson Alex, you explained and simplified Charlie's characteristic chord based licks and ideas. Thank you, all the best, Pete.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

My pleasure! Thanks for the comment!

[@Jonobueno]

Cool lesson mate ! Just bought the transcription. Cheers.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Ah thank you my friend, I really appreciate that! 🙏🏻

[@stevenmeger3798]

The only one more interested in this lesson is Louie! Thanks much for a another great one. Looking forward to the upcoming Charlie Christian lesson, there's so much to learn from his playing.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Haha thanks Steven! Louis is clearly a big C.C fan too 😂

[@jukejointjack]

Love this jam Crucial thanks brother

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Cheers buddy! 🙏🏻

[@jbowerman50]

I've been playing guitar at least 50 yrs, I've heard many praise CC, some try to tell you all about his playing, but very very few can reproduce his sound , tone , and technique quite like your examples. Thankyou

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Wow thank you so much! That really means a lot mate 🙏🏻🧡

[@arvo56]

I learned this watching another tutorial, & need to get speed up. You play it perfectly & thanks for putting chord changes in,-so helpful for me, as I'm weak as hell when it comes to jazz chords. Thanks a million. PS I actually play few first notes in same position as you do,-the other guy played it around the 6-8th fret position. I just bought an Altamira Django type,-sounds great but action seems a bit high for me.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks for the kind words buddy, glad you're working on this great solo! Personally I've always liked high action on my gypsy guitars.. it really helps with the tone and projection. If you're up for some gypsy stuff, check this video out next; kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqvXZaWXrbNmotUsi=3xtlI4FiAZCCsGlo

[@JasonSmith-pv1ff]

Thank you for the fantastic content, very well done and exacting what I'm looking for

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

I’m so glad you enjoyed it buddy, thanks for the comment 🙏🏻

[@JasonSmith-pv1ff]

I even heard Allan Holdsworth say he was a Charlie Christian fan.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

@@JasonSmith-pv1ff man, I wouldn’t doubt it.. being a man of taste an’ all 😉👌🏻

[@stephenbrayfield4135]

Wonderful low key teaching style. Keeps his composure when lesson is interrupted by his cat

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Haha thanks Stephen! 😂

[@mrcatfishjohnson]

Beautiful playing

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks so much buddy! 🙏🏻

[@frakognome4434]

This Is faboulous, there's no jazz guitar w/o Charlie Christian. Fuzz your awesome cat!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks man! I agree dude, C.C and Django laid the groundwork for us, and they laid it very well indeed 👌🏻 P.S; Louis says “hi” 😂🐈

[@WillyPDX94]

Lovely and smart video but the kitty made my day. ✌❤

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Hehe thanks buddy, Louis will be happy to hear that! ;)

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a good weekend Alex also last night was my friend's birthday ❤😊

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks buddy, really glad you enjoyed it! And happy birthday to your friend! 🙏🏻🧡

[@DavidSchneiderIP]

Excellent as usual!!!!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks David, always nice to see you around my friend 🙏🏻

[@youngandrew66]

Love this solo

[@riblanc]

carry the torche, as they say. well done.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks buddy, I appreciate the comment 🙏🏻

[@riblanc]

Yeah! You feel it man! God bess

[@tbluesboye]

Way cool Alex!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks man! 🙏🏻

[@maineguitarists]

The licks are simple in a way since there isn't any long reaches, string skipping etc. I do find playing them up to speed and keeping time is my most difficult challenge. I"m learning it slower first. I'll get it. The way you break things down help alot. :)

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks buddy, really glad you’re working on these phrases! 🙏🏻

[@petemetcalfe4385]

Great video Adam with much insight into Charlie's world and by the way, where did you get that hat.

[@teiltje]

Thank you for this C.C.class Alex.Unfortunately I can't read notes and you might as well speak Chinese to me instead of naming the minor and major chords. But I can hear and see what you are doing, that's how I learned to play so far. The explanation of this simple song might be just what I need to make a step to jazz guitar. Thank you so much.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks for the comment mate, glad you enjoyed it. Let the theory stuff gradually sink in. I’m fully self taught and knew no theory at all for the first 15 years of my playing career! But it does open soooo many doors, especially in relation to jazz. 🍻

[@teiltje]

@@AlexFarranGuitar Thanks so much for your encouraging reply. There is hope 🤠.

[@manuelfornies1667]

Wonderful Lesson, Alex! Love your youtube lessons!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thank you my friend, I really appreciate the comment 🙏🏻🍻

[@vivito-]

Another great lesson !

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Glad you liked it mate, thank you!

[@tonypersson9998]

Really good stuff! Thank you!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jaguarsunburst1570]

Really Great Once Again !! Thankyou. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

My pleasure buddy, thanks for the comment 🙏🏻

[@DeGroove]

Hold on to your hats, this is going to be smokin’. ❤

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks man, hope you enjoy it!

[@jakedejongh9453]

Such great stuff thanks so much man.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Anytime buddy

[@marinolorrai855]

another great lesson!! thank you Alex, say hello to your cat!!!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

😺 I will do for sure!.. thank you matey! 🙏🏻🧡

[@youngandrew66]

And you've 'nailed' as they say, the sound

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks Andrew! 🙏🏻

[@mattwoodsrootsmusic]

outstanding breakdown, thank you!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

My pleasure buddy!

[@akfisher7138]

great lesson. Do you visualise shapes or do you just know all the notes? I have learnt a lot from somebody called Tim Lerch, and you. I like the way you and Tim call out the intervals. He just calls out 3, 5 etc rather than thinking about shapes. And yet I am a very visual person and I like shapes too. Should i learn triad shapes or focus on notes...or both...or caged ...? How do you look at the fretboard, or a better question would be how did you, when learning, look at the fretboard? Hope this makes sense!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

That’s a tough question! There’s a bit of everything going on really I think.. like anything, you need to come at it from every possible angle to get a real 3 dimensional awareness and understanding of it. Certainly started thinking more shapes, but anchored off a particular landmark interval.. ie; play this shape off the third of the chord, or play that shape off the fifth of the chord etc. Eventually you do just know where these things are as you get faster at recalling the information. Hard to explain but hopefully that makes some sense!

[@akfisher7138]

@@AlexFarranGuitar Thanks for replying. I suppose listening too as your fingers go there semi automatically. Am sure there is a PhD there as the guitar is wonderfully complex in terms of learning strategies. Your playing is beautiful. Thank you

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

@@akfisher7138 absolutely!.. all of the practice you put in mapping out the fingerboard should be done slowly and clearly as you’re training your ears along the way also. Eventually you’ll hear the sound you’re after and find it immediately. 🙏🏻

[@Tamarind1]

Wow. You the best!!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks buddy! 🙏🏻

[@johandonceel5294]

Wow indeed!! And tnx so much Alan. I'm a little new to jazz (-blues) but I learned a lot from these chord approaches. I really appreciate the lessons you're sharing. Regards from Belgium.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thank you for the kind words, really glad you’re enjoying the lessons 🙏🏻🍻

[@greenati]

Nice video, beautiful guitar, great playing, lovely sound. What strings are you using?

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Thanks man, I appreciate it! Check the “tone talk” section near the end of the video for a list of all the gear including strings 😉

[@greenati]

@@AlexFarranGuitar Missed that for some reason..

[@lastofthe4horsemen279]

Anyone that loves animals is a friend of mine.New subscriber.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

We certainly share the same sentiment there buddy, cheers 🍻🧡

[@karllongbottomguitars9192]

A jazz cat with his jazz cat 😺

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

😂😂 absolutely spot on buddy! 🍻

[@RyanHeitz]

More Louie 🐈

[@h.sinclair]

smoking man 🔥

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Cheers dude! 🙏🏻

[@LPManic]

Hi Alex what guitar are you playing? EDIT: Ah! I see from other comments it is a ES125!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

That's it.. my 53' es125. (I always do a "tone talk" section near the end of my videos where I go into some detail on the gear used) 👍🏻

[@LPManic]

@@AlexFarranGuitar I am looking at getting a 125 or a 175. Do you have any preference or advice?

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

You can't go wrong with either, but if you're going vintage, the 125 is much better value for money. Tonally, in my experince, the 125 is a darker, more percussive guitar than the 175 which tends to be a little more bright and resonant.

[@iainmackenzie-j2u]

Love that you're a cat man!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Always! 😸🍻

[@brendantindall805]

What guitar is that please

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Hey dude, check out the "tone & gear talk" near the end of the video. It's my 1953 Gibson es125

[@augustusbetucius2931]

Simple, sure, although that depends on who you are. But even if they are CC was so d*mn musical, and every line he plays connects to what came before and what will follow. For Jazz, one could almost argue that all you need is CC, Wes Montgomery and Jim Hall.

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

Man, include Django in that list and I’ll agree wholeheartedly 😂

[@ewancowleymusic]

2mm. A medium pick!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

@@ewancowleymusic haha, compared with the 4mm Wegen gypsy jazz picks I used to use, I would definitely call this one medium 🤪

[@ewancowleymusic]

@@AlexFarranGuitar lol. Beautiful playing Alex. I found your video as I'd heard of Charlie C buy knew nothing about him. I know more now!

[@timjbd]

D Minor.. that's the saddest key of them all.. -Nigel Tufnel

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

😂 wise words indeed .. Kafkaesque 👌🏻

[@petemetcalfe4385]

Sorry Alex!!!

[@AlexFarranGuitar]

No worries buddy, thanks for the kind words. The hat was a lovely gift from a student of mine. It's a U.S Stetson Stratoliner.. a lovely hat 🧡