meet your sit tutor: taylor ee carmichael ‘GEORGIA ONY alleyAn arrangement of a beautiful standard from one of the most prolific composers of his day ‘oagy Carmichael’s songs nan through ‘the jazz repertoire like a watermark His contribution was unbelievable: songs like ‘Stardust’, I Get Along Without You Very Well, ‘Thanks Eor the Memory’ and ‘The Nea You’ have been played and recorded by jazz anists everywhere. playing ‘Georgia on my Mind! in my solo set for ye ness of sand it’s one of my favourite Cammichae! compositions. I've shortened and simplified ita litle here, but essentially this is the version I recorded on my Artistry album, The to how the melody has a life of its own against the plodding 4/4 ehythm of the accompaniment — and you've got to play both pars simultaneously! One thing a pianist has to cope with early on is right and leit hand indepenidence; they're nearly allways playing different parts and so the brain has to adjust accordingly. But guitarists have an additional problem; not only have we got completely different functions to perform with our left and right hands, we also have to build in Independence within the right hand fingers and ‘hum. Just something extra to think about, but it makes all the difference break it down ‘Georgia on my Mind! is @ good tune with which to stully basic syncopation — and it's a good \workeut for the right hand fingers, too. If this sort of thing is a problem then i's best to try to solve ic with some technical exercises, rather than by tuying to play a piece which incorpo could! Even if you managed to work your wi through the transcription and incorporated all the syncopation, its likely thatthe end result would bie that you could play this piece well, but the same protilem would dog you when you try 10 play anything else like it Always try to isolate Copyright 1930 Souther these areas that need development and deal with them in a purely businessike, technical way. By doing this, you are allowing the technical side of Your musicianship to develop; it will become a means by which you can access lots of different areas of music, and it’s important that you consider it as pure technique and don't just associate i¢ with a single particular piece. To tain your right hand to play syncopation, 1 need to start with 2 4/4 thythm, using the three right hand fingers (index, middle and ring) with your thumb plucking the strings simultaneously. Then try alternating between thumb and! flagers, gradually introducing ‘of? beats’ along the way. Eventually, it will become second nature and you won't even have to think about it But lke everything we learn, the process has to be fully in the head before it eam start co feel natural (think about the first time you drove a cat or rode a bicycle) See you next month, for tune — this ime by Lennon a other standard jazz 1d McCartney, st ‘more martin To keep abreast of Mario Tas concert pefrmances and CD rests nie fr peer o arti Ta, PO Bo 40, ajo. Ashe KAN 8 sau enjoy ne ara! sat on te nee check ent Mates bite at wm martntayotcom martin's gted gear ed my Yara AX 1500 tr det ato the ek with 3 Inver or he ny freer abete The tase ‘rere the il Burg Gszow wth man, trans Dre Meena Lay Prineo other optaty and assince ‘Georgia on my Mind: Words by Stuart Gorrell. Music by Hoagy Carmichael ‘eorported, USK CarrgbeConraly& Company Lin ted 8/9 Fri Ty petmission of Musi Sal Al rights reserved Intermations| copyright eeureo Jargon buster sm sycpston pectin the wea parser ear tones he nan ten proc come gh fe neVEWER ms A mises ere bey Steet. London W lam | september 1999 | guitar techniques | 47hoagy carmichael “georgia on my mind’ ‘guitar techniques | september 19992 oemits) te tt aa cim7 G7bs Fereues gate 95a Ge —=Sae ? ; to mo s co peu Po 00 iE ee Spt ae ee * ° Sear eae PA Amt OP Oy fre ret on lem | september 1999 | guitar techniques | 4950| guitar teennieues | september 1999Ft AT FURL B11 AmB E 7 ats am The Complete Guitar ayer AMG2902 published by Musi Sles Lt Avlate from all good muse stores and tet fram Music Sales Line, {el 07284 725725, or onthe web at wnninteretmusestop com ‘Georgia on my Ming (Carmicnal =) | september 1999 | guttar techniques | 51