Swing 8ths
Jazz Musicians often play 8th note patterns in what is called Swing 8ths where the downbeat of the 8th note is held longer then the offbeat. Swing 8ths feel like skipping compared to Straight 8ths which feel like walking.
To gain this goal, many teachers recommend you play the downbeat 8th note twice as long as the offbeat 8th note to create a 2:1 ratio or 66⅔% : to 33⅓%, but the reality is that this ratio is rarely played. More often the ratio is closer to 3:2 or 60%/40%. The faster the tempo the closer to even length 1:1 or 50%:50% of the 1/8 notes.
The best way to internalize Swing 8ths into your playing is to listen to recordings of great players you like and emulate how they play Swing 8ths.
Here is an interesting article "Computer-Assisted Swing!" by Richard F. Rose that was published in a 1985 NAJE Journal that goes into details about the different ratios of Swing 8ths by masterful jazz artists.
To gain this goal, many teachers recommend you play the downbeat 8th note twice as long as the offbeat 8th note to create a 2:1 ratio or 66⅔% : to 33⅓%, but the reality is that this ratio is rarely played. More often the ratio is closer to 3:2 or 60%/40%. The faster the tempo the closer to even length 1:1 or 50%:50% of the 1/8 notes.
The best way to internalize Swing 8ths into your playing is to listen to recordings of great players you like and emulate how they play Swing 8ths.
Here is an interesting article "Computer-Assisted Swing!" by Richard F. Rose that was published in a 1985 NAJE Journal that goes into details about the different ratios of Swing 8ths by masterful jazz artists.
