Jazz Guitar Licks: Wes Montgomery

The next great guitarist to stand up after Charlie Christian was Wes Montgomery. It took him a long time to become famous, but during the last years of his life he had great commercial success. It's the release of the album 'The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery' in 1960 that made him famous in the jazz world. Unfortunately he died of a heart attack at the height of his success, only 43 years old. His trademarks are picking with his thumb rather then with a pick (he actually did up and down strokes with his thumbs) and his use of octaves. His influence can still be heard today in many players. Jazz guitarists like George Benson, Pat Metheny, Emily Remler and Kevin Eubanks say to be influenced by Wes Montgomery.

Recommended listening : 'Smokin' at the Half Note (live)'

II V I Licks 1) The first lick starts with a series of arpeggio's. The first 4 notes make a Dm7 arpeggio, followed by a Cmaj7 arpeggio, then again a Dm7. The Cmaj7 arpeggio in the first bar contains all the tensions of Dm7 plus the b7 : C(b7), E(9), G(11), B(6). The Last bar is build around a C triad arpeggio.

2) The second half of the first bar consists of a chromatic line. This chromatic technique is also used a lot by Pat Metheny.

3) This one has a nice voice leading.

4) This one's a blues cliche.

V I Licks 1) There's a nice chromatic line in the second bar, delayed by the Dm arpeggio.

2) This one speaks for itself.

Minor Lick This lick is in the D Dorian scale with some added chromatics.

Dominant Lick 1) This is a blues lick with some double stops.