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Ted Greene

Ted Greene began his own guitar studies at age 11, and was an accomplished player while still in high school, often collaborating with local R&B groups; he briefly studied accounting at Cal State Northridge, but soon dropped out to devote all of his energies to music.

While Greene is often regarded as a jazz musician, he played many musical styles. He was known to guitarists due to his role as a music educator, which included private teaching, seminars at the Guitar Institute of Technology, columns for Guitar Player magazine, and his series of instructional books on guitar harmony, chord melody and single-note soloing. A voracious reader of almost any book on music theory, especially from the 'Common Practice Period' (circa 1600-1900) he distilled very complex concepts regarding the structure of western music, and would write out more accessible versions for students to understand (handed out to students in the form of lesson "sheets"), often applying keyboard concepts to the guitar. For example, many transcriptions of the Chorals of J.S. Bach would be re-written for guitar, along with useful analysis applicable to any musical setting, such as Jazz and other styles.

While somewhat rare, he would also make occasional live appearances in clubs in the San Fernando Valley, usually playing a Fender Telecaster.

Greene typically worked as an accompanist behind vocalists, because he found group settings restrictive. While he was a sought-after session player, he derived much of his income from tutoring, ultimately writing four books on the subject: Chord Chemistry, Modern Chord Progressions: Jazz and Classical Voicings for Guitar, and the two-volume Jazz Guitar: Single Note Soloing.

His playing style included techniques such as harp-like harmonic arpeggios, combined with gentle, tasteful neck vibrato,creating a "shimmer" to his sound. Other notable techniques included playing songs with a "walking bass" line with simultaneous melodies. Greene used counterpoint to improvise in a variety of styles, such as playing a jazz standard such as Autumn Leaves in Baroque style. He used a large variety of chord voicings, often creating the effect of two simultaneous players.

He recorded one album "Solo Guitar" in 1977, and although respected by guitarists, he was not well known to the public. The recording, which was originally released in 1977 on PMP Records contains no "over dubbing" (multiple track recording). Guitar virtuoso Steve Vai has praised Greene's musical knowledge and perceptiveness on this recording, stating that Greene "...is totally in touch with the potential of harmonic constructions" which allows him to create an "...organic and inspired listening delight."[1] Josh Gordon from Just Jazz Guitar Magazine stated that the recording has a "...feeling of perfect proportion" and a "full spectrum of emotion and harmonic vision." Steven Rosenberg from the Los Angeles Daily Newspaper stated that "Greene managed to raise the bar for solo guitar."[2]

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Book Review

My Life with the Chord Chemist

Read "My Life with the Chord Chemist" reviewed by Jack Huntley


My Life with the Chord Chemist: A Memoir of Ted Greene, Apotheosis of Solo Guitar Barbara Franklin 276 pages ISBN: 10-1449575579 Create Space 2009

Throughout his career, the guitarist, author, and teacher Ted Greene (1946-2005) developed a devoted following of students and listeners. His books were sought-after references for guitarists eager to develop a style based on a broader harmonic approach to the instrument than was generally available ...

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Recording

Ted Greene-"Solo Guitar" Art of Life Records AL1011-2 CD Reissue

Ted Greene-"Solo Guitar" Art of Life Records AL1011-2 CD Reissue

Source: All About Jazz

Art of Life Records is proud to announce our latest CD release. Ted Greene: Solo Guitar AL1011-2 Originally released in 1977 on PMP Records and now available on CD for the first time ever! Digitally remastered for compact disc from the original analog master tapes by John Strother at Penguin Recording in Los Angeles, California and supervised by Ted Greene himself. Includes the original album cover artwork and liner notes from both pressings of the original LP release. Ted is ...

Ted Greene's legendary "Solo Guitar" album, first released on LP in 1977, has been an inspiration to fingerstyle Jazz guitarists for over a quarter century. By the recent release of this album on compact disc, Art of Life Records has added to its already impressive catalog of Jazz guitar music. The nine songs on the album are all perfectly realized gems of tasteful and inspired Jazz guitar playing, so beautiful and fresh sounding even after all these years. There's a feeling of perfect proportion, characteristic of much great art and music. A full spectrum of emotion and harmonic vision is expressed, in a very inviting and rewarding manner. - Josh Gordon - Just Jazz Guitar Magazine

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Solo Guitar

Art of Life Records
1977

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