CHOPS

"matt sorum is so precise with his chops" - Slash

what are chops? matts a drummer by the way

later Axl

Chops is a term refering to the ability to play your instrument very well . It is usually used in Jazz, but you could also say "he shreds" for a rock guitarist. You would say 'Joe PASS has awesome chops" (it's one of his CDs title actually) and "Satch shreds"...

LOL . . . isn't 'chops' more of a generic term. I mean, I've heard people say, "Satch has got some chops."

yeah I think it's just a generic term to describe technique or style. Like if a guy is really fast you might say "He's got wicked chops"... you know?

'shred' sounds more rock 'n' roll ya know?

Shred= 80's word for Chops, I can't remember hearing the term "Shred" before about 86 or 87, a term used by some English players that you don't hear used anymore is "Blow", it now seems to have the opposite meaning it once had....

Hmm.. well in Scotland and maybe in England too i think, Chops means cheeks/face. You may say "oi mate! am gonnae punch you in the chops!"

later Axl

In Australia, a chop is a cut of meat.
And you can punch someone in the chops (in the jaw basically).
But we also always use the term "chops" meaning technical ability. If someone can't keep up with the changes, it's because they just don't have the chops.

So not having great chops could be the butcher's problem too!

Yeah we have pork chops too!

(Musician's Jargon)
I'm sure this term was used by Horn players first in
Jazz music.(Look it up on the web?)
Chops in music could mean Fast Licks Speed ect.
They might say hey this cat has got some wicked chops
you gotta hear him Louie Armstrong ect.
Anyway this was really used by jazz Musician's
when talking to each other even today you might hear
a country guitarist say hey man did you bring your axe
or did you hear the guy in that club down the street hes
got some fast chops ect.(Musician Jargon)
Chops is used for all instruments today.
But the Word Chops was first used by Brass players
It ment the muscles of the mouth with which a Brass
player kisses the horn Chops are vulnerable playing
hard,fast,and loose can damage them.Plus not useing
Warm-ups.
Mark
You Dig Man ,Axe,Chops,=Jazz Music carried over to Rock&Roll Musician's later.
All this jargon goes back a few years ago so i don't expect
younger Musicians of today to know what it means plus
being on the road alot and talking music with other Musicians plus this is used in some Studios yet today.
Here's one for you younger Musicians if your out on the road (Paying your Dues)This means That your a Union Musician that has to pay a percent of his earnings on
a contract that you use for each Gig=Job that helps protect
you in case they try and cancel your job and not pay you.
Also you carry a Union card that says you belong to the
(The Federation of Musicians Union)Also if you say you payed your dues means you put in alot of years on the Road
plus played alot of music in your time .

[Edited by skee1 on 04-17-2002 at 03:13 PM]

it's louis armstrong that first used the term in the sentence 'chops was flyin' everywhere' in a very hot jam session.

Originally posted by lalimacefolle
it's louis armstrong that first used the term in the sentence 'chops was flyin' everywhere' in a very hot jam session.

Lalimacefolle
Your Right!
Mark
Note:Really the question that axl ask belongs more
in (The Musician's Life Form)It's really a Pro Musician
Question it has nothing to do with Theory!


[Edited by skee1 on 04-17-2002 at 01:20 PM]

Lali & Skee.......you cats are too hip with all that jive!!

Someone once gave me a link to a site that had all these old jazz slogans on it, it was pretty cool.

Hi Chris i am a cool cat.ha ha
And (Cool was used in the 50s.
I found one jazz hand book for you below:

http://jazzscene.no/jazz/glossary.html

Anyway mabee this will help the younger want to be jazz players talk the jive talk or know what these slang terms
mean.
Really today some of these terms are used in all styles
of music by alot of Pro Musicians.(Plus some new ones)
There have been alot of changes in meeting Musician friends that you know down in Tenn that you havn't seen for awhile i don't know if they do this in other states but down south they give you a hug and kiss you on the cheek.This was a strange feeling when this first happen to me.My friend down south told me this is done all the time among Musician friends down in Nashville.

Mark



[Edited by skee1 on 04-19-2002 at 01:27 PM]

So-and-so really "blows" the guitar.

LOL . . . not sure about that one.

Originally posted by chris mood
Lali & Skee.......you cats are too hip with all that jive!!

Someone once gave me a link to a site that had all these old jazz slogans on it, it was pretty cool.

I knew it because it's written in the liner notes of the album 'chops' with Joe PASS and Niels Pedersen... And dude, that album rocks!!

Yea Christoph
If he really blows the guitar i bet he must really Smoke the neck when he plays guitar!(Fingers on Fire could cause
alot of smoke)ha ha
Heres one i have heard alot by guitar players that think
thier really tough on guitar.
I've heard em say hey i bet i can cut or smoke that guitar
player in that other club.
Then i would go down to see them cut some heads and the
guy that said it got blowed away. ha ha
Moral=You never know what the other guy can do untill
you step on the stage with him, plus he might have just
been doing some basic stuff on request.

Mark




[Edited by skee1 on 04-19-2002 at 03:06 PM]

that the old funk/r/b guys use the term Motherf***** if you're good..and you'll never know when you might meet a real motherf......

"Crazy"

how does the word "chops" refer to skill and technical ability anyways? ...I can see where "shred" comes about...going so fast that you "shred" the guitar or something like that..but chops?