Part 6 · Jazz · Chapter 76
In jazz, pairs of eighth notes are not played evenly. The first is longer and the second shorter, like the first and last notes of a triplet. This is the swing feel.
Jazz is written with ordinary eighth notes, and the players swing them automatically. Compare the two examples below: they sound the same.
The first and last notes of each triplet.
Ordinary eighth notes, played swung.
Slow jazz swings heavily; very fast jazz swings less and the eighths get closer to even. Listen to records at different tempos.