Jazz Lick
major 7th
type Chords
Scott Devine
Jazz Lick For Major 7th chords #1 (L#25)
Start point Practice pattern using 8th notes, triplets and 16th notes
02:05
CŒ„Š7 œ œ œ œ œ
°? 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
w
4œ
1 4 2 1 4 1 2 1 4 4 1 3 4 3 1 4 1
9 12 16 12
9 12 9 10 14 9 12 10
¢¤ 8 12
10 15
12
Tab adapted for 4 string bass
Copyright © 2013 Scott's Bass Lessons
Major 7th Jazz Lick (L#25)
Your Action plan
1. All these 'jazz type' licks originate from the bebop
era. Bearing this in mind, it's really important that you
have a good knowledge of the players that were at
the cutting edge of this style of music when it was
originally happening back in the 40's and 50's. I want
you to make a study of this music. Choose at least
three of the top bebop players (see list below) and
then choose one album from each of them to study.
By study, I don't necessarily mean learn each of the
songs within the albums (but that would be great if
you wanted to take it that far). I actually mean make
a 'listening study' of each album. Listen to the
differences in phrasing of each player, their timing,
their pace, and their tone. Really get into each player.
I recommend studying one album per week.
Here's a list of top bebop musicians:
• Charlie Parker
• Thelonius Monk
• Coleman Hawkins
• Lester Young
• Bud Powell
• Dizzie Gillespie
• Clifford Brown
Copyright © 2013 Scott’s Bass Lessons
• Sonny Stitt
• Cannonball Adderley
• Dexter Gordon
2. The lick demonstrated within the tutorial should be
practiced and learned in all keys. Once you have
done that, make sure you can apply the lick when
improvising.
Take a jazz standard such as 'All The Things You Are'
and every time a major chord occurs try and apply
the lick to that chord. It's important to note that you
wouldn't do this in a live situation. This is purely an
exercise to get the lick under your fingers so you can
call upon it at any given time. Playing the same lick
over and over in a live situation is not what we're
aiming for.
3. Now repeat this, but this time every time you play
the lick you must alter it in someway. You could alter
the rhythmical phrasing, the articulations and
dynamics, or you could even start with the lick but
end the lick in a different way.
Here you are learning to use the lick as inspiration,
it's giving you an idea, a starting point. You then take
that starting point and take it in any direction you
want. Ultimately this is how you will take your
improvising to the next level and is what most
players are doing 99% of the time. They have pre-
learned melodies/licks that they can simply use as
starting points for other improvised ideas. It's almost
like having a road map when improvising.
Scott Devine
Copyright © 2013 Scott’s Bass Lessons
