The C Major Lick You’ll NEVER HEAR at a Guitar Store!
In this lesson, you’ll learn a “IN OUT” lick In C major that will give you a taste on how to build tension and release structure to your lines In a unique, and modern way.
- How to Implement IN/OUT lines in Your Playing
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What’s the difference between using F# and Db as ‘out devices’ in C major?
- How do I practice this C major lick without just memorizing it?
- Can I use tritone ‘in/out’ phrasing in other keys besides C major?
- What makes this lick sound ‘modern jazz’ instead of just a regular C major lick?
This phrase is arranged in a unique structure that gives us a glimpse into the fresh sound of modern jazz style playing in a way that you can easily implement in your own playing. When you listen to solos of great modern jazz players, you can tell that they are very organized both in their “In” and “out” phrases. Their motifs, tension and release, and beginnings and endings of each phrase are clear.
01 How to Implement IN/OUT lines in Your Playing
- Notice the different “out devices” I have used in this phrase – F# In relation to C Is a tritone apart, Db to C Is a half step etc.
- Try and come up with variations inspired by the logic behind this line.
- Immediately implement them in your playing. Improvise for a few bars using your current vocabulary, then play the lick.
- Repeat this process while always focusing on the lick as the main motive.
By focusing on this lick as an aesthetic/logical idea you unleash your creativity into new possibilities.
And by doing so, you are taking take your improvisation to the next level.
Love to hear your thoughts and answer any question you may have.
About Daniel Weiss
Berklee-trained jazz fusion guitarist, Guitar Idol 2016 finalist, and praised by Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater). Daniel has taught over 5,000 students worldwide through his Fretboard Freedom Path method. Learn more
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Frequently Asked Questions
02 What’s the difference between using F# and Db as ‘out devices’ in C major?
F# is a tritone away from C, creating maximum tension that demands resolution, while Db is just a half-step away, offering a smoother, more subtle tension. Both work as out devices, but the tritone gives you that edgy, modern jazz sound, whereas the half-step feels more grounded and bluesy.
03 How do I practice this C major lick without just memorizing it?
Instead of repeating the lick in isolation, improvise freely for a few bars using your existing vocabulary, then play the lick as your resolution. This trains your ear to understand the tension-and-release logic rather than just copying the notes.
04 Can I use tritone ‘in/out’ phrasing in other keys besides C major?
Absolutely – the concept is universal. In any key, find the note a tritone away from your root (for example, G in the key of C#) and use it as a tension device before resolving back to your target chord, just like the lesson demonstrates in C major.
05 What makes this lick sound ‘modern jazz’ instead of just a regular C major lick?
Modern jazz solos use intentional, organized phrases with clear tension-and-release structures and specific resolution devices like tritones and half-steps. This lick mirrors that approach by building predictable tension through F# and Db, then resolving purposefully – something most beginner licks lack.
