Octave playing
Improvisation in parallel octaves, with the root and its octave picked together and moved as a shape.
Octave playing, popularised by Wes Montgomery, gives a solo a fuller, horn-like sound without adding harmonic information, since the two notes are the same pitch class. The pair is played with the pick and the side of the picking hand damping the intervening strings, so only the two outer notes sound. Because the shape is fixed, the player has to move it to follow the harmony, and the technique suits slower, bluesier lines where the extra weight is welcome.
Example: A jazz solo in which every note arrives doubled an octave higher, with the middle strings silent, is played in octaves.
See also
Related
- PageDouble stop
- PageAccent
- PageAction height
- PageAlternate picking
- PageAaron Dessner
- PageAce Frehley
- PageAd-Rock
- ReferenceCircle of fifths