Lesson Goal: To quickly internalize some bread and butter comping patterns for “Jambalaya” and similar country songs… by ear, intellect, eye, and muscle…
Table of Contents
About “Jambalaya” (On the Bayou)”
A joyous celebration of good times, food, friends, and music on the bayou… Jambalaya (Wikipedia) named for the Creole and Cajun dish jambalaya, written and recorded by American country music legend Hank Williams (Wikipedia) , and first released in July 1952.
Hank Williams Original Recording of “Jambalaya”…
For playing and singing along…
Lyric/Chord Chart for “Jambalaya”…
Internalizing the lyrics by singing along is a great way to anchor what you are playing to the mood and groove of the song…
“Jambalaya” Comping Pattern #1
An authentic rendering of even the simplest accompaniment requires an understanding of the form… in this case the classic eight bar form using the I and V7 chords.
Importantly, you don’t want to just “think” the form. You want to hear, understand, see, and feel it as follows: The C chord (I) in bars 1 & 2 establishes the key center (C) and tonality (major), the G7 chord (V7) in bars 3-6 creates harmonic tension, and the C chord (I) chord resolves the harmonic tension in bars 7 & 8….
Listen to Frank demonstrate one way to play this at 80 beats per minute (feel free to experiment with different note durations, articulations, and phrasings to suit your personal taste)…
Technique Tips: Playing this deceptively simple pattern with good rhythm is a lot more challenging that most people realize. Keys to success: (1) Think and feel the time as 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &… (2) Don’t try to keep time with your fingers; feel the rhythm in your flowing arms and hands… which should never stop moving, (2) Make sure to have some momentum going into each and every note and chord, (3) Don’t forget to dance; think choreography of both hands dancing together along with the rhythm track.
Performance Tips: (1) Notice the pattern: Bass notes on the down beats and chords on the up beats, (2) Don’t think the time; feel it and allow it to live in your body motions, (3) Pretend your left hand is the bass player and your right hand is the rhythm guitar player! (4) Make sure to “play” the rests by releasing each chord with the same impulse that you play each bass note!
“Jambalaya” Comping Pattern #2
Listen to Frank demonstrate one way to play this at 80 beats per minute (feel free to experiment with different note durations, articulations, and phrasings to suit your personal taste)…
Practice Habit Reminders
- Always practice with a rhythm track, record yourself, listen to the playback immediately, and ask yourself: Is that what you intended to play?
- If your timing feels off or anything feels tense or awkward, experiment with your choreography until your musical intentions and technique become one.
- And don’t give up. It may take over a hundred attempts before you get it, but you will get it if you use these practice habits and never give up, guaranteed!
Drum Track for “Jambalaya”
Right click to download practice track: two-step drums, 80 beats per minute, 5 minutes long, MP3 format…
learn more… Country Piano Lessons
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