What is Swing?
Swing is commonly used in jazz, blues, country, bebop, and pop music, but what does it mean?
With swing, whenever you have a pair of eighth notes sharing a beat, the first note is held longer than the second. The music is written with regular eighth notes, but you don't play them the way they look. Instead of playing them evenly, they are played more like a triplet made up of a quarter note followed by an eighth (as shown above).
Don't let this confuse you. If you're familiar with the songs, you'll probably do it naturally.
Addams Family Theme
Addams Family Theme - with swing
Listen to the beginning of The Addams Family theme with swing.
Can you hear that the syllables that are in caps are held longer than the other syllables? That is swing!
Addams Family Theme - straight (incorrect)
Now listen to the eighth notes all the same length, as written, with no swing, and it just doesn't sound right!
Happy Together
Happy Together was a huge hit for The Turtles in 1967s.
Happy Together - with swing
Here's what it should sound like with swing.
Happy Together - straight (incorrect)
This is what it would sound like if you played it "straight" as written . . . which is not correct. It really needs to "swing"!
26 Miles (Santa Catalina)
Here's an example from 26 Miles (Santa Catalina). "Swing" does not change the value of the quarter notes, just the eighth notes.
26 Miles - with swing
This is what it would sound like if you played it "straight".
26 Miles - straight (incorrect)This is what it would sound like if you played it "straight".
Singin' in the Rain
Once again, in Singin' in the Rain, only the eighth notes are altered by the "swing."
Singin' in the Rain - with swing
Singin' in the Rain - straight (incorrect)
And here's what it sounds like "straight." WRONG!
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Here's an example from the beloved Christmas song Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer . Listen to the phrases "had a very shiny" and "you would even say".
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - with swing
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - straight (incorrect)
Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
Here's an example from Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! . "Swing" does not change the value of the quarter notes, just the eighth notes.
Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! - with swing
Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! - straight (incorrect)
This is what it would sound like if you played it "straight" as written.
City of Stars
Here's an example from City of Stars from La La Land.
City of Stars - with swing
City of Stars - straight (incorrect)
This is what it would sound like if you played it "straight".
Moondance
In Van Morrison's Moondance, once again, the syllables in caps are held longer than the other syllables. .
Moondance - with swing
Moondance - straight (incorrect)
Penny Lane
In Lennon & McCartney's Penny Lane, swing doesn't change the value of the triplets, just the eighth notes.
Penny Lane - with swing
Penny Lane - straight (incorrect)
With a Little Help from My Friends
Here's another Lennon & McCartney example: With a Little Help from My Friends.
With a Little Help from My Friends - with swing
With a Little Help from My Friends - straight (incorrect)
Where can you get this music? Right here!
The Addams Family and Happy Together are in Sylvia Woods'
Groovy Songs of the 60s book or PDF.
26 Miles and Singin' in the Rain are in Sylvia's Favorites from the 50s book or PDF.
Rudolph and Let it Snow! are in Sylvia's Four Holiday Favorites book or PDF.
City of Stars is in Sylvia's La La Land sheet music or PDF.
Moondance is in Sylvia's 22 Romantic Songs book or PDF.
Penny Lane and With a Little Help From My Friends are in Sylvia's Lennon & McCartney book or PDF.