A Smooth One

In this lesson, we'll checking out the song “A Smooth One” - a swinging jazz tune composed by Benny Goodman in 1941. What makes this tune special is the incredible guitar work of Charlie Christian, whose smooth phrasing and dynamic approach made this piece a must-know for any jazz guitarist. I picked this tune because it’s fun to play, full of great phrasing opportunities, and perfect for working on key techniques. You’ll learn how to phrase the melody in a gypsy swing style, use palm muting for rhythm guitar to create that tight, percussive swing feel, and expand your soloing vocabulary with a bluesy, intermediate-level solo and a cool outro. Bonus: This lesson was inspired by my trio version on YouTube and I’ve included trio playalongs so you can jam along as if you were in the band!