Rhythm Embellishments I

2 4fr
2
1
Emb. 1 2 22133
1 2
G%

This simple yet effective embellishment is nothing more than a sustained first beat. Do this by NOT releasing
pressure with your left hand for duration of this beat. The right hand just plays basic rhythm. This embellishment
is most used at the beginning of new sections and to accent interesting chord changes within the context of a song.

2
2
Emb. 2 4fr
1
2
2 2
G% 22133

This embellishment is usually played starting on beat 3 right before the start of a new section but can also
be played on beat 1. The third beatis a sustained note (left hand) and the fourth beat has a sharp accent
(more sweep with your right hand).
2

2
2 4fr
Emb. 3 1
2
3 G% 2 22133

Embellishment 3 is exactly the same as embellishment 2 with exception of the strumming pattern (down, down, up
instead of down, up, down). Most rhythm players prefer emb. 2 but Nous'che uses emb. 3 when he wants more
power on the short note right before beat 4. Try it this way as well, it sounds more or less the same but has a
different feel to it!

2 2
2 2
4fr 3fr
Emb. 4 1 F#% 1
2
2
2
4 G% 2 22133 22133

Whenever you have a chord lasting two bars you can use this embellishment. In the first bar shift the chord
one fret down on the third beat, shift back to the original chord on the first beat of the second bar. As always,
use with taste and not too often.

3
3 2
2
3 2
2 4fr 4fr
1
Emb. 5 1 4fr D7 1
2 2
2
2 221333 G% 2
6 G% 2
22133
22133

Whenever you have a major 6/9 chord lasting two bars you can use this embellishment. In the first bar play the
corresponding dominant chord, back to the original chord on the first beat of the second bar.
 Rhythm Embellishments II

Emb. 6 2
2
1 4fr
2
G% 2
22133

The chord is sustained on the second beat lasting two beats. The left hand should continue the rhythm
movements as normal just don't hit the strings on the third beat. Relaxes the left hand and works best
in fast tunes.

Emb. 7 2
2
1
2 4fr
G% 2
2 22133

The chord is sustained for three beats with a short stroke on beat 4. This is also a great trick to relax your left hand
when you get tired of muting after every beat. Don't use this one too often!
2

Emb. 8 2
2
1
2 4fr
G% 2
3 22133

A sustained 8th-note and a short 8th note followed by a short beat 3 (with upstroke) and beat 4. Works best on the
last bar before a new chorus or the last bar before the bridge.

Emb. 9 4fr
2fr
3fr 4fr
D% D%
G-6 2 1333 B7/A
221133 2 111 221133
4

If you have two bars of a 6/9 chord this is a particularly nice embellishment. The Bb7/Ab is actually callled a
G# double dim in this situation but the notes are exactly the same as a Bb7/Ab.

Emb. 10 4fr 3fr 4fr

5fr
4fr

221333 221333 221333 221333 221333

D7 C#7 D7 E7 D7
6

This is a swinging embellishment for any dominant chord lasting three or four bars
 3

Emb. 11

2fr

G-6 2 1333
10

A sharp sustained accent on the upbeat of the third beat followed by a quarter rest.
 Coquette
2fr 3fr 4fr

13244 13244 13244

G7(9) G#7(9) A7(9)

This is what Nous'che plays in the one bar intro

in the arrangement of the Rosenberg trio.

4fr 4fr 3fr

221133 2314 3241

2 D% F E-

The Fdim here is Nous'che prefers staying on E-

a raised second degree here instead of the usual A7.
(#II) and always resolves The E- together with a bass player
to the II (E-) playing an A will create an Asus
which sounds great.

4fr 5fr 5fr

3fr 5fr
221133 22134 221133
6 C# A7 D% E%
2314 T 132 E7#9

C#dim is also unusual here but

Chromatic passing
it works great!
chord to D6/9

4fr 4fr 3fr

221133 2314 3241

10 D% F E-
2 5fr 4fr 5fr
5fr 5fr
221133 221133 221333
14 A7 131241 A7 T 132 E% D% E7(9)

Chromatic passing
chord Chromatic passing
chord to D7 which
is preceded (delayed)
by an A-7 in the next bar

4fr 4fr 7fr

5fr
18 A-7 2 3333 D7(9) 221333 G% 22133 F7(9) 221333

Chromatic passing
chord

5fr
6fr 4fr 5fr

22 22134
E7(9) 221333 A7 1324 A7(b13) T 134 E7#9

4fr 4fr 3fr

221133 2314 3241

26 D% F E-

4fr 5fr 5fr

5fr
5fr
221133 22134 221133
30 A7 D% E%
T 132 E7#9 22134
E7#9

Emb. 1 Emb. 2

4fr 4fr 3fr

221133 2314 3241

34 D% F E-
 3
4fr 5fr 5fr
5fr 5fr
5fr
221133 22134 221133
38 22134 221133
A7 T 132 E7#9 E% D% E7#9 E%

Chromatic passing Emb. 1 Emb. 2

chord to D6/9
4fr 4fr 3fr

221133 2314 3241

42 D% F E-

5fr 7fr 6fr

5fr 4fr
5fr
2 3333 2 3333
T 132 22134 221133 221133
46 A7 E7#9 E% D% B-7 B-7

Emb. 1 Two sustained

chrom. passing chords

4fr 4fr 4fr 7fr

5fr
50 A-7 2 3333 D7(9) 221333 G% 22133 D7(9) 221333 F7(9) 221333

Emb. 1 Emb. 5
Chromatic passing
chord

5fr
6fr 4fr 5fr

54 22134
E7(9) 221333 A7 1324 A7 T 132 E7#9

4fr 4fr 3fr

58 D% 221133 F 2314 E- 3241

4

5fr 5fr 4fr

4fr

22134 221133 221133

221133
3fr 4fr 5fr 4fr D%
62 D% E7#9 E%
E- 3241 F- 3241 F#- 3241 A7 1324

chrom.
passing This F#- creates Ending 3
an A6 chord with
chord
the bass player playing
an A. The A6 sound
on dominants was
very common in old
swing music. Nous'che
does play the real dominant
on the third beat.
 Sweet Georgia Brown

9fr 8fr 7fr 6fr 5fr 4fr 4fr 7fr

221333 221333 221333 221333 T 132 221333 22133 221333

G7 G7 F7 E7 A7 D7 G% F7

Four bar intro

6fr 5fr
6fr

221333 221333
5 221333
E7 D#7 E7

Emb. 4

5fr
5fr 4fr 5fr
221333
9 13 24 13 24 13 24
A7 G#7 A7 E7

Emb. 4 Chromatic
passing
chord
5fr
4fr 3fr 4fr 4fr 3fr 4fr

221333 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333

13 D7 C#7 D7 D7 C#7 D7
E7

Emb. 10 Emb. 4

4fr 4fr 7fr

4fr 4fr 4fr 2fr

221333 221333 221333

17 22133 D7 22133 D7 22133 221333 221333
G% G% G% C7 B7 F7

Emb. 5 Emb. 5 Chromatic Chromatic

passing passing
chord chord
2

6fr 5fr 7fr

6fr 6fr

221333 221333 221333

21 221333 221333
E7 D#7 E7 F7 E7

Emb. 10

5fr 4fr 5fr

25 13 24 13 24 13 24
A7 G#7 A7

Emb. 4

4fr 4fr 4fr 4fr 4fr

29 1324 1324 1324 1324 D7 221333

E-6 D# E-6 D#

7fr 6fr 7fr

4fr 5fr 4fr 4fr

221333 221333 221333

33 22133 4132 D7 221333 22133
G% F7 E7 A7 G% F7

Chromatic Chromatic
passing passing
chord chord
 3

6fr 5fr
6fr

221333 221333
37 221333
E7 D#7 E7

Emb. 4

5fr
5fr 5fr 4fr 5fr
221333
41 13 24 4132 4132 4132
A7 A7 G#7 A7 E7

Emb. 4 Chromatic
passing
chord
5fr
4fr 3fr 4fr 4fr 3fr 4fr

221333 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333

45 D7 C#7 D7 D7 C#7 D7
E7

Emb. 10 Emb. 4

4fr
4fr 4fr 4fr 2fr

221333
49 22133 22133 D7 22133 221333 221333
G% G% G% C7 B7

Emb. 5 Chromatic The slide is made on

passing beat four by sustaining the
chord chord while sliding from
the 1st to the 6th fret

6fr
7fr 6fr 5fr 6fr

221333
53 221333 221333 221333 221333
E7 F7 E7 D#7 E7

Emb. 10 with a slight variation (reversing the order of the

chormatic slides)
4

5fr 4fr 5fr

4132 4132 4132

57 A7 G#7 A7

Emb. 4

4fr 4fr 4fr 4fr 4fr

61 1324 1324 1324 1324 D7 221333

E-6 D# E-6 D#

7fr 6fr 7fr

4fr 5fr 4fr 4fr

221333 221333 221333

65 22133 4132 D7 221333 22133
G% F7 E7 A7 G% F7

Chromatic Chromatic
passing passing
chord chord

6fr 5fr
6fr

221333 221333
69 221333
E7 D#7 E7

Emb. 4
5fr

5fr 4fr 5fr 221333

73 4132 4132 4132 E7

A7 G#7 A7

Emb. 4 Chromatic
passing
chord
 5

5fr
4fr 3fr 4fr 4fr 3fr 4fr

221333 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333

77 D7 C#7 D7 D7 C#7 D7
E7

Emb. 10 Emb. 4

4fr
4fr 4fr 4fr 2fr

221333
81 22133 22133 D7 22133 221333 221333
G% G% G% C7 B7

Emb. 5 Chromatic Emb. 2

passing
chord

6fr 5fr 7fr

6fr 6fr

221333 221333 221333

85 221333 221333
E7 D#7 E7 F7 E7

Emb. 10

6fr
5fr 5fr 4fr 5fr

221333
89 13 24 13 24 13 24 13 24
A7 E7 A7 G#7 A7

This is sort of like Emb. 4 Emb. 2

a emb. 5 for dominants.
Don't use too often!
6

2fr 4fr
2fr 2fr

221333 221333
93 023000 2 13 2 13 213 023000 2 13 2 13
E- C7/G B7/F# B7 E- C7/G B7/F# C7 D7

The C7 is kind
Nice trick especially for Sweet Georgia Brown. of a weird passing
Play the the bass notes on beats 1 and 3 and the chord but is does work
other strings on beats 2 and 4 in this particular
situation, mostly
because it goes fast!

4fr 7fr
6fr 4fr
4fr 5fr 4fr
221333 221333
97 22133
221333
4132 D7 221333 G% 22133
G% D7 F7 E7 A7

These passing
chords make
a nice pattern
with the passing
chords in bar
96.
 Limehouse Blues

2fr 2fr

221333 221333 221333

C7(9) B7(9) C7(9)

Emb. 4

5fr 5fr 4fr 5fr 4fr

13 24 4132 4132 4132 221333

5
A7 A7 G#7 A7 D7(9)

First finger is round so Emb. 4 bar 6-8 have an odd fingering for a dominant
not a bar chord chord. It seems to be a typcial Dutch sinti
thing since they all do it. For some strange
reason it sounds better than other fingerings for
rhythm guitar. Takes some time getting used
to but you should definitely learn it!

alternate:
4fr 4fr 4fr 2fr
5fr

9 22133 221333 22133 221333 221333 2 131 2 04

G% D7(9) G% C7(9) B7(9) B7b9 E-6 1324

Emb. 5 chromatic This a smowhat odd

passing chord choice for E-6, especially
with that open string
ringing. Nous'che makes
it work though. If you
have trouble with it use
the alternate diagram
2

5fr 5fr 4fr 3fr 4fr 3fr

4132 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333

13
A7 E7(9) D7(9) C#7(9) D7(9) C#7(9)

chrom. Emb. 4
passing chord

2fr 2fr 2fr 2fr

17 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333

C7(9) B7(9) C7(9) B7(9) C7(9) B7(9) C7(9)

A string of embellishments 4. You can do this with long sustained chords

(C7 in this case)

5fr 4fr 5fr 4fr

4132 4132 4132 221333

21
A7 G#7 A7 D7(9)

Emb. 4

4fr 7fr 6fr 6fr 5fr 6fr 5fr 5fr

22133 221333 221333 21333 T3411 2 131 22133 221333

25
G% F7(9) E7(9) E7(9) A- E7b9 A-6 E7(9)

chrom. Changing Django chrom.

passing chord bass note voicing passing chord
for effect. for
A-6
 3

4fr 3fr 4fr 4fr 4fr 4fr 3fr

221333 221333 221333 22133 221333 22133 221333

29
D7(9) C#7(9) D7(9) G% D7(9) G% C#7(9)

Emb. 4 Emb. 5

2fr 2fr 2fr 2fr

33 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333

C7(9) B7(9) C7(9) B7(9) C7(9) B7(9) C7(9)

A string of embellishments 4 Emb. 2

5fr 4fr 5fr 4fr

4132 4132 4132 221333

37
A7 G#7 A7 D7(9)

combination of emb. 1 and emb. 4

3fr
4fr 4fr 4fr
221333
41 22133 221333 22133 221333 2 04
G% D7(9) G% D7 C7 B7(9) E-6

Emb. 5 and emb. 1 on the first chrom. Emb. 1 Emb. 1

chord passing
chords

5fr 5fr 4fr 3fr 4fr 3fr

13 24 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333

45
A7 E7(9) D7(9) C#7(9) D7(9) C#7(9)

chrom. Emb. 4
passing chord
4

2fr 2fr 2fr 2fr

49 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333

C7(9) B7(9) C7(9) B7(9) C7(9) B7(9) C7(9)

A string of embellishments 4

5fr 4fr 5fr 4fr

53 4132 4132 4132 221333

A7 G#7 A7 D7(9)

combination of emb. 1 and emb. 4

4fr 6fr 5fr 6fr 5fr 5fr

22133 221333 T3411 2 131 43111 221333

57
G% E7(9) A- E7b9 A-/C E7(9)

chrom.
passing chord

4fr 3fr 4fr 4fr 4fr 4fr 3fr

221333 221333 221333 22133 221333 22133 221333

61
D7(9) C#7(9) D7(9) G% D7(9) G% C#7(9)

Emb. 4 Shuffle rhythm to create extra excitement

right before the chorus repeats. This is a good
spot to do it and also signals the soloist: last
chorus coming, make it a good one!

2fr 2fr 2fr 2fr

65 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333

C7(9) B7(9) C7(9) B7(9) C7(9) B7(9) C7(9)

A string of embellishments 4
 5

5fr 4fr 5fr 4fr

69 4132 4132 4132 221333

A7 G#7 A7 D7(9)

combination of emb. 1 and emb. 4

3fr
4fr 4fr 4fr
221333
73 22133 221333 22133 221333 2 04
G% D7(9) G% D7 C7 B7(9) E-6

Emb. 5 and emb. 1 on the first chrom. Left hand plays normal
chord passing right hand sustains the
chords chord

5fr 5fr 4fr 3fr 4fr 3fr

4132 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333

77
A7 E7(9) D7(9) C#7(9) D7(9) C#7(9)

chrom. Emb. 4
passing
chord

2fr 2fr 2fr 2fr

81 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333 221333

C7(9) B7(9) C7(9) B7(9) C7(9) B7(9) C7(9)

A string of embellishments 4

5fr 4fr 5fr 4fr

4132 4132 4132 221333

85
A7 G#7 A7 D7(9)

combination of emb. 1 and emb. 4

6

4fr 7fr 6fr 4fr 5fr 6fr 5fr 5fr

22133 221333 221333 2314 T3411 2 131 43111 221333

89
G% F7(9) E7(9) G# A- E7b9 A-/C E7(9)

chrom. This dim chord chrom.

passing chord creates an E7b9 passing chord
chord with the bass
player playing an E

3fr 4fr
4fr 3fr 4fr 4fr 4fr

221333 221333
221333 221333 221333 22133 22133
93
D7(9) C#7(9) D7(9) G% C#7(9) D7(9) G%

Emb. 4 Ending 5
 Rhythm Endings

3 3
3 3 3
Ending 1 3
1
3
1
3 3
3
3
3
2 1
2 1 1
2 2
2 2 2 2
T
1 2 2

The x-noteheads are muted chords (right hand strums normally, left hand mutes the strings)

4fr
5fr 4fr
G% E7 4fr
22133
221333
D7 G% G%
221333
22133

4 4
3 4
3 3
1 4 1
1 1
1 3 1
2 1
1
Ending 2 2 2
1
2
2
2 2
2
2
3 2 2 2

Standard ending for songs in C, Db, D and Eb (of course shift the whole thing up/down for different keys)

5fr
4fr 4fr

D% E7#9 22134 D%
221133 221133
2

4 4
4
3 4 3
3
1 3 1
1 4 1 1
1 1 3 1
2 2 1 2
Ending 3 1
2 2
1
2 2 2
2
2
2
5 2 2 2

Another standard ending for songs in C, Db, D and Eb.

5fr 4fr
5fr

22134 221133
4fr 221133
D% E7#9 E% D%
221133