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Can one note be a chord? Technically no, not in isolation, although in an ensemble it can certainly suggest or create chords in relation to the other instruments. I think what is meant when one hears reference to Green's 'one note chording' is that he would finger multiple note chords but often only sound the one note of the chord
that defined it or worked against the other instrument voicings."

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The sound of the muted strings along with the one note that sounds, and the way the strings are attacked, is what makes it sound different than a single line backup.

quote from Freddie Green himself:

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"I don't try to play those big 'concert' chords. I play just a couple of notes, sometimes just one, but it sets the sound of the chord. When you try to play those big chords, it can make the whole band drag."

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[This message was edited by John McGann on 05 November 2006 at 02:28 PM.]

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´75 Emmons p/p D10 8+4, '72 AWH Custom D10 8+3, '06 Hybrid Zum SD10 4+5 , Peavey Nashville 1000

There were several time when the written part called for a big 5 note chord and I just played what Green is talking about. Grab one note and mute the rest in order to keep the big percussive "thump" and it sounded just fine.

there is some more retentively thorough analysis (you can't spell analysis without 'a-n-a-l') of his technique at Freddie Green Website including a comparison to western swing rhythm chording...

[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 06 November 2006 at 07:40 AM.]

For my money, though, I don't think anyone could swing a band harder than Allan Reuss. It has been said that Green took some lessons from Reuss , who, incidentally, was a pupil of George Van Eps.

Need proof? Here he is in a small group setting with the Arnold Ross Quintet with Benny Carter on alto, playing "Bye Bye Blues".

[This message was edited by Mike Neer on 06 November 2006 at 10:45 AM.]

It's so seamless how he folds back into the rhythm section with the brushes after his solo (nice solo too!)...and Benny Carter is as elegant as it gets. I've heard of Reuss but never heard him- great!

[This message was edited by John McGann on 06 November 2006 at 10:59 AM.]

Great clip, Mike! Alan Reuss was the stuff! He's been under appreciated. Barney Kessel said that whenever he played one of Alan's guitars it was immaculate and perfect. Check out this short clip of Reuss on "Rhythm, Rhythm" on the Classic Jazz guitar site: http://classicjazzguitar.com/albums/artist_album.jsp?album=437

And what can you say about Benny Carter? He is just a master at that kind of swingy arppegiated sax playing - heck, he invented it. There's a fantastic CD from the 70s on Pablo called Carter, Gilesspie & Co. where Dixz and Benny play their own styles but it all meshes beautifully.

[This message was edited by Andy Volk on 06 November 2006 at 04:46 PM.]

(and no it was not because that was all I knew how to play

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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)

This fits right in with a quote I've seen from Freddie about playing rhythm guitar. It was something like this: "You shouldn't hear the guitar by itself. It should be part of the drums, so it sounds like the snare is playing in A, or the hi hat is in D minor."

[This message was edited by Eric McEuen on 10 November 2006 at 11:31 AM.]