Bebop Guitar Fakebook: Rhythm

No one would argue that the best way to learn how to play bebop is to learn how to play songs from the bebop songbook. For guitar players, learning songs always starts with learning the chords, progressions, and accompaniment approaches first. In this rhythm edition of the Bebop Guitar Fake Book from Sheryl Bailey, you’ll learn the chords, rhythm patterns, and comping approaches for bebop chord progressions used in dozens of the most popular bebop standards.

”I’ve handpicked 25 progressions based on the most commonly encountered jazz standards being called out on the gig or on the jam bandstand. I perform a playalong for each of the 25 rhythm studies, where I vary the chord voicings and comping approaches across multiple choruses, just like I would on the bandstand.

Each study is charted out with chord grids illustrating the exact chords that I play throughout the playalong. Reference the charts and play along with me to expand your chord vocabulary while also developing your comping skills. Of course, you can also use the playalongs to practice improvising solos over these popular bebop progressions.”

Sheryl pulled the chord progressions from 25 bebop jazz standards: Autumn Leaves, Blue Bossa, The Days of Wine and Roses, Donna Lee, Green Dolphin Street, How Insensitive, Impressions, In Walked Bud, Joy Spring, Confirmation, Ornithology, Quasimodo, I Got Rhythm, Softly (As in a Morning Sunrise), Someday My Prince Will Come, St. Thomas, Stablemates, Stella by Starlight, Summertime, There Will Never Be Another You, What Is This Thing Called Love, Yesterdays, Back at The Chicken Shack, Blues for Alice, and West Coast Blues. You’ll find these chord progressions are also used on hundreds of other classic bebop standards.

Sheryl starts each playalong with basic jazz chords and comping patterns, but as she progresses through the performance, she’ll use substitutions and more sophisticated chord voicings just like you would in a live playing situation. Sheryl also uses more advanced comping patterns and techniques to help you improve your jazz rhythm guitar skills.

All of the performances are tabbed and notated for your practice, reference and study purposes. The charts include chord grids of the voicings Sheryl uses throughout the playalong. You’ll also get Guitar Pro files so that you can play, loop and/or slow down the tab and notation as you work through the material. Plus, Sheryl generously includes all of the rhythm tracks for you to work with on your own.

While the Rhythm Edition of the Sheryl’s Bebop Guitar Fake Books are designed primarily to help players improve their rhythm guitar and accompaniment skills, you’ll also find that each playalong — with Sheryl’s comping parts — are ideal jam tracks for working on soloing and improvisational skills.

Grab your guitar and let’s take our bebop comping chops to the next level with Sheryl Bailey!