LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN. Listen to every jazz you can get. If you're in
the big band check out Count Basie especially. Pay real close attention to
Freddie Green on guitar. He "chuncks" chords out. Play a chord on each beat
not accenting any particular beats. Try to get chords that are mostly on the
bottom five strings, but emphasize the middle 2 or 3. Just listen to what
Freddie Green does. I can't stress how much it will help. Try to emulate
his sound. He used an unamplified arch top and it's hard to get that sound
with an electric guitar. Try to get as natural tone as possible. Really
listen carefully to what Freddie does. If you are playing more contemporary
music, check out Wes Montgomery's small group stuff, Grant Green, and piano
players. Listen to their chords especially since that is what you'll be
doing mostly. Try to get your piano player to trade comping over soloist,
i.e. piano under sax, guitar under trumpet. And that's another key. You
play UNDER the soloist. It's easy to let your ego get in the way, but listen
to what the masters did before you. But make sure you listen listen listen.
You get the picture.
Sam
