Swing Vamp Patterns

Vamps -- What They Are and What They Aren't

Vamps are simply little segments of chord progressions, used rhythmically.  They are almost always made up of "closed" chords, which means they can be played in a choppy rhythm, with no ringing open strings.  This is the stuff jazz rhythm is made of, in part, and it's lots of fun.  Vamps are not whole tunes, but a whole tune may be the result of repeating and combining a number of vamps.
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Example -- a Simple G Blues Vamp of 3 Chords, All Made of Just 3 Notes

/    /   /   / /    /   /   / /    /   /   / /    /   /   / /    /   /   / Repeat

The stroke marks under the chords each represent one beat, so these are four beat bars.  Play over and over until the feel of these little chords gets under your fingers.  Be sure you deaden the strings marked with X.
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Example -- Another Simple G Major Vamp

/    /   /   / /    /   /   / /    /   /   / /    /   /   / Repeat
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Another Example - G minor Vamp of 3 Chords

 

/    /   /   / /    /   /   / /    /   /   / /    /   /   / Repeat
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Two Simple 2 Chord Vamps

From now on, the pick strokes won't be shown, unless there's some special need for them.  Otherwise, just use either 2 or 4 strokes per chord.

OK, here are 2 separate forms, which each form a 2 chord vamp.  They can also be played one after the other repeatedly, with a very pleasing effect.  First, play each one alone, over and over, until you get the feel.  As you can see, there are two notes played on the D string in each pattern.  You are actually changing chords with that one note variation.   The names of the chords isn't important for now.  Just play the forms, and assume the nut is at the top of the boxes.

When you're comfortable, combine the two.   Play the left form with your index finger at the 2nd fret as you have been, with 2 strokes on each change, repeated twice.  Then play the right form by moving your index finger up to the 4th fret, and play each variation once for 4 strokes.  Then move back down and repeat, until you grow sick of this exercise.
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Swing Turnaround

Here's a very nice "descending" turnaround.  Note that the chords are again all closed, so they could be moved into other keys.  In this case, the progression descends in G.  Note that the 2nd and 4th chords are identical forms, but have different names.  This results from their having different functions in this passage.  Play 2 strokes per chord.  It's interesting to play this one in reverse, too.

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