Why is Wes Montgomery so good?

The most influential, widely admired jazz guitarist since Charlie Christian’s heyday, Wes re-invented the instrument with his thumb-plucking technique, his innovative approach to playing octaves, and his inventive, masterful execution of complex lines.

Did Wes Montgomery only use his thumb?

He played differently. He used his thumb. Most jazz guitarists used picks. Montgomery’s thumb gave his music a soft sound “with less definition between the notes,” said Ralph Adams, a longtime jazz deejay and aficionado.

Did Wes Montgomery play in octaves?

This has been the summer of Wes Montgomery for me and my guitar style. I recently was reminded of his great album with B3 master Jimmy Smith, Jimmy & Wes The Dynamic Duo. It’s a great, memorable, foot-tapping line, and played entirely in octaves, so it affords some good practice. …

Was Wes Montgomery bebop?

John Leslie “Wes” Montgomery is the most influential bebop guitarist of past and present times. In the end, both Montgomery and Christian contributed to the then new bebop language with great tones, rhythms, dexterity and soulfulness. …

What type of guitar did Wes Montgomery play?

While a few of his earliest recordings pictured Wes with a Gibson ES-175, for most of his recording and performing career he played various models of the venerable Gibson L5-CES.

Did Wes Montgomery have perfect pitch?

But he just fooled around…” 17 ○ Wes also likely was able to learn quickly when he got more serious about the guitar because of his perfect pitch. “He was working a gig in the day, and he’d come home and practice after dinner.

How did Wes Montgomery tune his guitar?

Instead of using a guitar pick, Montgomery plucked the strings with the fleshy part of his thumb, using down strokes for single notes and a combination of up strokes and down strokes for chords and octaves. He developed this technique not for technical reasons but for the benefit of his neighbors.