Ten years ago I was deep in the world of bebop but I happened to catch Ricky Skaggs at the Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance near Ithaca, NY.
Jake Workman was playing in his band at that point, and seeing him play guitar changed everything I thought I knew about bluegrass and jazz.
At that moment I realized how similar the energy of flatpicking was to the lines and phrasing of bebop and Charlie Parker — especially true for Jake's playing. The intensity, the virtuosity, the attention to playing the chord changes as they went by, the playful rhythm, the speed, the aggressiveness, the attack, the references to blues. I remember leaving that performance and thinking: how could bebop and bluegrass seem so different but so similar?
That thought changed my life. More on this topic and story some other time.
The Point: Phrasing
The point is about bebop and bluegrass and something that is oftentimes overlooked by guitar players: phrasing.
Oftentimes guitar players are really bad at phrasing. Sometimes we create these endless lines and it can come off as too much — even 8th notes that flow but with a lack of rhythmic ideas.
Phrasing is something that takes time. One of the most important aspects of learning it is listening to other players who do it well and trying to emulate. Keep listening, listen more, play more, give it time.
Why Sax Players and Singers Have an Advantage
Here's something concrete to take into your next practice session.
Why does phrasing usually come more naturally to a sax player than a guitar player? Why does phrasing usually come more naturally to a singer?
It's about breath — the need to take a breath.
Guitar players do not necessarily need to do this to play in the same way a sax player or vocalist must.
The Exercise: Sing While You Solo
Sing along next time you are practicing taking a solo. Stop playing momentarily when you have to take a breath for your next phrase or line. Even if your vocal line doesn't match up perfectly with what you're playing, the point is to practice ingraining phrase breaks.
Phrase breaks alone won't lead to great phrasing, but it is one of the most crucial steps.
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