Playing "8th 4th" on the Jazz Tutor

bm · Post by bm » 22 Apr 2009, 03:58

Lesson 11 on the Standard Tutor has come up with "4th 8th dotted 4th" in 3/4 time. If we respect the three 4th beats, we would notate it "[4th] [8th 8th]_[4th]": the first beat contains the 4th, the second beat contains the two 8ths and the third beat contains the 4th. The second 8th is tied to the 4th in the third beat.

Regarding Jazz notation, how is "8th 4th" intended to be played? I can only find mention of the usual "4th 8th" combination on the Internet, and in Michael Lydon's book on Classic Jazz Guitar.

Post by **Hans** » 22 Apr 2009, 04:50

It is a good idea to show each beat in the bar. However for tones equal to or greater than the beat size it does not make so much sense unless you are a beginner. If we should always respect this rule, you should also transcribe a half note as 4th_4th, which of course does not make sense. The dotted 4th might also be split into 4th_8th for pedagogical reasons, but I believe it is mainly used for beginners, while experienced musicians find it easier to read the dotted 4th.

Best regards,
Hans Jakobsen
EarMaster

bm · Post by bm » 22 Apr 2009, 12:23

Thank you for your reply and for sharing your thoughts on the beat, Hans.

What is the custom in Jazz for a quaver (an eighth note) followed by a crotchet (a quarter note), please? Is the crotchet played as dotted and the quaver as a semiquaver, in the same way as when we play a crotchet followed by a quaver? Or are they played straight?

Thank you.

Post by **Hans** » 22 Apr 2009, 23:36

The figure 8th 4th 8th would be played in swing like this figure 8th 8th_8th 8th. This means the actual timing would be:
____3____ ___3__
8th_8th 8th_4th 8th
(all triads)

Best regards,
Hans Jakobsen
EarMaster

bm · Post by bm » 06 May 2009, 13:26

Dear Hans

Thank you very much for explaining how 8th 4th 8th is played in swing rhythms.

My jazz books only say about 8th 8th being played as 8th_8th 8th within a triplet.