Transcription: The Blues I Like To Hear

Tune: The Blues I Like To Hear
Composer: Smith/Rushing
Transcription starts at 5'42"; ends at 6'30"
From the album: Basie Reunion
Leader of the session: Paul Quinichette
Recorded: September 5, 1958
Reissued on CD: Prestige OJCCD-1049-2

Comments: This twenty-four measure transcription illustrates how Freddie Green would vary his rhythm part when playing the blues. The majority of the notes are played on the 4th string. If an upper note is added on beat 2 or 4, play the added note on the 3rd string.

In measure 13, beat 2, the low "Db" is very hard to hear. In fact, I could not decide if the note was actually there! If you decide to use it, play the "Db" on the 5th string.

Measures 19 and 20 are my conjecture of what Freddie played. In these measures, the guitar part is masked by the pianist playing fortissimo and by the bassist playing in a very high range.

For instructions on how to play "one note" and "two note" Freddie Green chords, see my article written for Down Beat entitled: Distilling Big Band Guitar: The Essence of Freddie Green.

Transcribed by Michael Pettersen, September 2001