Charlie Christian

Charlie Christian (1916-1942) changed the role of the guitarist in the jazz band, from an almost unheard part of the rhytm section to a solo performer. An importan part of that change is that he was one of the first guitarists to use an amplified “spanish” -i.e. electric - guitar. Gibson ES-150.

Charlie Christian Biography:

• Solo Flight - The Charlie Christian Web Site by Leo Valdes
• The Charlie Christian Discussion Group - Yahoo Groups
• Charlie Christian solo transcriptions by Garry Hansen. Features notation, tabs, and RealAudio,
• Tutorial A beginner's guide to Charlie's improvisational method by Garry Hansen, at his tribute site Charlie Christian - Legend of the Jazz Guitar.
• CC Pickups Charlie Christian Pickup. Built by hand in the same traditional way that they did back in the 30’s and made famous by Charlie Christian when fitted to the Gibson ES150 and ES250 models. Used by Tiny Grimes, Slim Gaillard, Oscar Moore, T-Bone Walker, Barney Kessel, Kenny Burrell, and Wes Montgomery.

*The Acoustic Chordal Style by Richard Lieberson in The Guitar in Jazz: An Anthology by James Sallis.