Exploring Percussive Playing with "Cat" by Jimmy Smith

I'm just going to give you a bit of "Cat" by Jimmy Smith just ahead, with some percussive playing in between.

Key Concepts

• Phrasing and Spaces:

  • Focus on the phrasing and the kind of spaces you create.
  • Push your playing along with those punctual bits of percussion.

• Versatility:

  • It's quite a useful technique that you can apply all over the place.
  • There isn't really a lot to it, it's just a blues scale concept.

• Integration:

  • The main goal is to try to fit those percussive elements in and push what you're doing along with it.

Techniques to Try

• Hand Shapes:

  • You can use different kinds of hand shapes for this technique.
  • A good practice tip is to aim for the wood; this will help you avoid getting all the harmonics.
  • You just want to kind of scutch the top of it.

• Speed and Rhythm:

  • You could try practicing at a slower speed.
  • Focus on integrating those percussive elements in between your notes.

• Both Hands:

  • Feel free to use both hands, almost as if you're playing a conga.
  • Think of your instrument as a percussion instrument rather than focusing solely on the notes.

Conclusion

So, give it a little go and try to figure out where you can place those percussive elements in between your melodies.

Final Thoughts

Practice using punctuation in your playing!