I’m looking forward to spending the week with you. I want to share what I know about guitar playing that has made it a challenge, yet so much fun.  I hope that by the end of the week you will be better equipped to be a vital member of a rhythm section and to have improved as an accompanist and soloist. This class is for intermediate to advanced guitar students.  For you to get the most out of this class, you should be able to answer “yes” to the following questions:

Do I have a good working knowledge of the guitar neck (know the names of the strings, where the notes are on the neck and on each string, etc.)?

Do I have knowledge and proficiency with basic chords?

Do I understand time signatures (3/4, 4/4, etc.)?

Do I understand basic rhythm notation (whole notes, half notes, etc.)?

Do I have some basic ability to read music (can I recognize notes written on a staff and know where they are on the neck)?

If you answered “no” to any of these, feel free to contact me by phone (410.789.2246) or email (sabshire2@verizon.net) so that we can discuss whether this class is appropriate for you. [See Swing Week Coordinator's note below.]

This class will cover:

Various 2, 3 ("shell" chords), 4, and 5 note chord voicings; Dominant and Major 7th, 9th, and 13th chords; Minor 7th, 9th chords; how to center your time when playing rhythm with a group or by yourself ; the differences between rhythm playing and “comping”; how to better listen to the rhythm section; how to musically "react" to a soloist; Acoustic vs. Electric - how to make each work best in a swing setting and big band vs. small group guitar playing - their differences and similarities.

I plan on using songs from the Augusta jam tunes book to work on these various aspects of swing guitar. But most of all I plan on having a fun week playing guitar with you.

You will need to bring the following items to class:

• Your guitar

• Your amp (optional)

• A tuner

• Picks

• Notebook and pen/pencil for taking notes

• Tape recorders and video cameras are welcomed in class.  There may be a $3.00 charge to cover handouts and materials.

Again, I am looking forward to enjoying some guitar playing with you at Augusta!

Sincerely,
Steve Abshire