Chop chord

Backbeat chop[1][2]  Play 

In music, a chop chord is a, "clipped backbeat."[3][4] In 4/4: 1 2 3 4. It is a muted chord that marks the off-beats or upbeats.[5] As a rhythm guitar and mandolin technique, it is accomplished though chucking, in which the chord is muted by lifting the fretting fingers immediately after strumming, producing a percussive effect.

The chop is analogous to a snare drum beat and keeps the rhythm together and moving. It's one of the innovations bluegrass inventor Bill Monroe pioneered, and it gave the music a harder groove and separated it from old-time and mountain music.
— Bruce Dix[6]

Traditional bluegrass bands typically do not have a drummer, and the timekeeping role is shared between several instruments. The upright bass generally plays the on-beats, while the banjo keeps a steady eighth-note rhythm. The mandolin plays chop chords on the off-beats or upbeats.[7] (see: boom-chick) By partially relaxing the fingers of the left hand soon after strumming, the strings are allowed to rise off the frets, and their oscillations are damped by the fingers. All strings are stopped or fingered, open strings are not played in chop chords.

Guitar

The "chunk" usually consists of a downward strum on the up beat notes. Alternatively, the bass note can be played and allowed to ring, with the remainder of the chord being "chunked" on the up beat.[8] This technique is usually used in a rhythmically simple manner, such as chunking on every beat, or bass notes on down beats and chunking on up beats.[9] Freddie Green and Django Reinhardt are known for this technique.

Mandolin

Mandolin "chunks," or more commonly known as "chops," rarely include a down-beat strum. When a mandolin is playing rhythm it is most often in conjunction with other instruments, such as guitar and bass, which produce the main beat. The mandolin contributes to the rhythm by producing a sharp "chunk" on the upbeat notes.[10] This is particularly common when playing bluegrass music. According to Andy Statman, "the mandolin can drive and push the band in the same way (as) a snare drum."[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Introduction to the 'Chop'", Anger, Darol. Strad (0039-2049); 10/01/2006, Vol. 117 Issue 1398, p72-75.
  2. ↑ Horne, Greg (2004). Beginning Mandolin: The Complete Mandolin Method, p.61. Alfred. ISBN 9780739034712.
  3. ↑ Bruce, Dix (2013). Parking Lot Picker's Play-Along Guitar, p.14. Mel Bay. ISBN 9781619114463.
  4. ↑ Bruce, Dix (2010). Getting Into Bluegrass Mandolin, p.18. Mel Bay. ISBN 9781610651196.
  5. ↑ "Mandolin Glossary: Chop Chord". MandolinCafe.com. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  6. ↑ Bruce (2013), p.16.
  7. ↑ "Chop Chords" (PDF). MandolinLessons.com. 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  8. ↑ Dziuba, Mark (1997). Blues Guitar, . Alfred Music Publishing. ISBN 9780882848495.
  9. ↑ Parker, Bo. "Western Swing", Museweb.com.
  10. ↑ "Bluegrass Instruments: Mandolins", PlayBetterBluegrass.com. Accessed August 7, 2014.
  11. ↑ Statman, Andy (1978). Teach Yourself Bluegrass Mandolin, . Amsco Music Company, New York. ISBN 9780825603266.
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