Gonzalo's rhythm

dmin7th

Archtop Eddy wrote:

Here's an audio clip from a Skype lesson I had with Gonzalo. He explains how he plays this rhythm style and what inspired him to play this way. I call the clip "Like a Tank", referencing how he explains his sound... AE

Thanks for posting that clip! 8)

rimm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS51Ch7F ... re=related
heres what it is buddy-I have broken it down really slow at the end

vince

Thanks so much rimm and ArchtopEddy! What a great set of clips. I was amazed Gonzalo doesn't have any upstroke either — it doesn't sound like he does, but it seems almost every player does. It's great to see the gypsy jazz sound evolving.

Passacaglia

WOW - thank you, guys. Wonderful information. Archtop - listening to him usually, I detect no voiced chord sound at all on 2, 4. However, did I hear it wrong - but at about 1:20 of the mp3 clip, isn't Gonzalo saying that he hits all the strings, and voices the chord "a little bit," so it's not actually totally muted, 2, 4? Perhaps it just sounds totally "thwacked" dry under the resonance of 1, 3, and the other instruments in performance, or does he really totally mute and just hit them all? (I may be hearing things, but on this MP3, it sounds infinitesimally voiced, but elsewhere, like in the DC Style series, I'm not picking it up. Wonderful to hear him emphasizing rhythm, since I've only heard him re: solo and lead studies).

I'm getting the feel again for a nano-second 2nd and 4th, but very curious on whether what I hear alot as really "thwacked" is truly muted, or just sounds so? When Gonzalo said he heard Adrien et al, the French guys, and went "$&^*! it's what I've been wanting," or something to that effect, it's something I'm really hungry to get down - I know it's impossible to say there's a "French" sound, but whatever it is, that dryness and bounce really is something I hear and want very much to work on.

Appreciate the clarification, gents.

Archtop Eddy

I don't know if I can say much to add clarification given the subtleties of the questions at hand, but I'll try. I think viewing the DCMusic clip of Gonzalo discussing rhythm can be of tremendous help.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D--cQRSaIu4&feature=related

Note that Gonzalo does not use the common GJ or Freddie Green-like chords as in Robin Nolan's books. Instead, they are almost like power chords. Again, the DCMusic clip can provide insight into that.

In the audio clip I provided, G is talking about two different ways of playing the rhythm. The "basic" way which he compares to a a tank, and the more "complex" way which is more like a snare drum. As I understand it, the basic way is just down-strokes, the more complex way involves use of whip-like upstrokes. When G is talking about it's "hard for him to do", I believe he is referring to applying the whip-like upstroke strums on top of the basic rhythm that Jeff would be playing. Again, keep in mind, this is only my interpretation of what is being said, and you may have a different take on what he is saying.

Another useful point that G emphasizes (in other parts of the lesson) is the importance of listening with big ears and breaking down what's going on by playing and re-playing what you hear until you are able to get the sound you seek. Trying to cop the subtleties of this rhythm style seems to particularly fit this mode of practice. Again, watch the DCMusic clip and play along with his recordings, and I believe it will eventually snap into place (at least that's what I'm hoping or me...)

And of course by all means, consider taking a Skype lesson from him. They have been invaluable to me. I'm sure others who have taken these lessons will attest to the same. You can spend the entire lesson working on what you want, and if mastering his rhythm style is what you're after, there is no better way to get there than to get the direction from the master himself.

And Denis' Gonzalo course is a fantastic bargain as well (although more limited in scope as far as rhythm playing)

Hope that helps (at least some...) Keep playing my brothers and sisters! AE

Passacaglia

Thanks, Eddy. Got it. As always, no way out but listening. It's what I drew from Denis in his series, and I do have the DC School/GB series (agreed, these are phenomenal resources, thanks, Denis), so will just work till the work's there.

Great to be back, and thank you again, guys.

Paul

Il Trovatore

Anybody know how to get in touch with Gonzalo for skype lessons?

Archtop Eddy

Sure. You can contact Gonzalo for Skype lessons at this email address:

<!-- e --><a href="mailto:simplicado@gmail.com">simplicado@gmail.com</a><!-- e -->

BluesBop Harry

Maybe I can help... I used to play with no-chord 2 and 4 from Gonzalo's advice and Samy Daussat lessons. I think there are great players out there who do this.
But at last year's DFNW Gonzalo and Adrien Moignard corrected me and said that I should add "a little more chord" to my 2 and 4...
The way I understood it is that Gone teaches the completely muted strokes so beginners can get it...
It sounds better to completely mute than to let the chord ring for too long.

I believe once you have the correct attack you can start adding more chord as long as you can still keep it ultra dry and short.

You never go past the 3rd string on the 1 and 3 beats so...Why would you even bother fretting those big 5-6 note chords if you never let all the notes sound?

Just 2 cents

Bones

Harry,

What you said about completely muting on 2 and 4 for beginners makes sense to me. Since I only had a couple of lessons with him I was suspecting that he was trying to break bad habits with that technique and that later on he would have me add in a little more tone for the 2 and 4.

Thanks for the info.