For The Experienced Jazz Guitarist Only: Freddie Green Fundamentals

The tips below will assist an experienced jazz guitarist play in a style similar to that of Freddie Green. The author makes no claim that these tips capture Freddie's musical genius.

Left Hand

Abandon any notion that Freddie primarily employed three note chord voicings on the 6th, 4th, and 3rd strings. He rarely played a chord with three clearly sounded notes.
Create a tenor melodic line, or alternate bass line, on the 4th string.
On the 4th string, play no note lower than an F, and no note higher than a D.
Use common connecting tones when possible.
Jump no farther than a major third.
Use stepwise motion often.
Use an occasional passing note on beat 2 or 4.
When the chord is a dominant seventh, play the 3rd or 7th and add the tritone on the 3rd string on beats 2 and 4.
Beats 1 and 3 are held slightly longer than beats 2 and 4.

Right Hand

Strum all strings; mute all except the string(s) on which a pitch is sounded.
Strum near the end of the neck on beats 1 and 3.
Strum nearer the bridge on beats 2 and 4.

Instrument

Use an acoustic archtop with heavy gauge strings and high action.
Use a faux-tortoiseshell pick with a thickness of 0.90 mm or greater.
An electric guitar will not provide the Freddie Green sound.

Feel and Approach

Blend with the bass and the drums; emulate a pitched hi-hat.
Be felt more than heard.
Swing, swing, swing, but in a relaxed manner.

Michael Pettersen
January 2003