Tones: 'All About My Girl' - Jimmy McGriff
With
Joe GlossopJoe Glossop breaks down how to dial in Jimmy McGriff's Hammond tones on 'All About My Girl' - drawbar and Leslie settings, and the bluesy phrasing behind his sound.
What's in the course
45 lessons (3h 0m) · 1 free
01. Performance: 'Green Onions' Booker T
3:01
02. Tones: 'Green Onions' Booker T
3:08
03. Playing the tune: 'Green Onions' Booker T
8:21
04. Lead lines: 'Green Onions' Booker T
4:43
05. Bassline: 'Green Onions' Booker T
2:01
06. Performance: Jimmy McGriff - All About My Girl
3:43
07. Keyboard view performance: Jimmy McGriff - All About My Girl
3:43
08. Tones: 'All About My Girl' - Jimmy McGriff
You are here4:01
09. Intro: 'All About My Girl' - Jimmy McGriff
2:10
10. Playing the head: 'All About My Girl' - Jimmy McGriff
2:58
11. Bassline: 'All About My Girl' - Jimmy McGriff
1:52
12. Ending: 'All About My Girl' - Jimmy McGriff
1:51
13. Improvisation and comping: 'All About My Girl' - Jimmy McGriff
4:38
01. A Change is Gonna Come' - Sam Cooke
7:46
02. Keyboard View: 'A Change is Gonna Come' - Sam Cooke
1:20
03. La La means I love you' - Booker T
5:39
04. Keyboard view: 'La La means I love you' - Booker T
2:25
05. Groovin' Booker T & the MGs
4:57
06. Keyboard view: 'Groovin' ' - Booker T & the MGs
1:15
07. Time is Tight' - Booker T & the MGs
5:31
08. Keyboard view: 'Time is Tight' - Booker T & the MGs
1:39
09. 'The Girl from Ipanema' - Antonio Carlos Jobim
6:17
10. Keyboard view: 'The Girl from Ipanema' - Antonio Carlos Jobim
2:36
11. Blues based on 'Blue Bash' - Jimmy Smith
7:59
12. Keyboard view: Blues based on 'Blue Bash' - Jimmy Smith
3:24
13. Walk on the Wild Side' M series jam - Jimmy Smith
6:44
Lesson transcript
Understanding the Tones and Phrasing
Let's talk about how tones are created and the approach to phrasing in this real attitude song, which essentially embodies the blues.
Structure and Settings
- It's a 12-bar blues.
- The third harmonic is set up here.
- You're working with a classic jazz setting.
Leslie Effect
- For most of the song: The Leslie effect was set to stop.
- Footswitch setting: It starts on stop.
Phrasing
The phrasing in this piece is indicative of McGriff's playing.
Key Characteristics
- There's a lot of movement from the sixth to the minor third.
- This creates a major-minor blues dynamic, blurring the lines between the two.
Notable Techniques
- McGriff employs various techniques:
- Single notes that highlight this tension.
- A section in the solo featuring a big voice, like a horn line, which is unusual.
Unique Style
Typically, this kind of sound might be characterized as gospel. Instead, McGriff uses a jazz setting, which is not often heard.
Challenges
- This tune presents a challenge because:
- Each beat in the solo section is a full chord.
- It's easy to catch unwanted notes.
Example
When slowed down, it might sound something like this:
- I caught a couple of notes there that I didn't want, but it isn't a significant issue at speed, as long as you maintain the right impetus and feel.
Conclusion
The use of the sixth to minor third is definitely something to consider. McGriff employs many fast-paced repetitions of the same note, which are stylistic hallmarks found throughout his work. This particular tune encapsulates McGriff's style, showcasing why he's my favorite in the blues-jazz sphere.
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Joe Glossop is a keyboard player from Sheffield who has made his name on the Hammond organ. He currently holds the organ chair in Tom Jones's touring band, and has played with Van Morrison and James Hunter, as well as on piano and Rhodes. His courses get the real Hammond sound out of any keyboard - drawbar registration, the Leslie, the walking-bass left hand, and the comping and soloing vocabulary of the soul-jazz, blues and rock organ traditions, from Jimmy Smith to Booker T.
