The Ultimate Bebop Guitar Guide Part 1: From Basics to Mastery

ByDaniel Weiss
bebop guitar

Greetings,

As we embark on this journey through the thrilling, dynamic world of bebop guitar,
I’m excited to share with you today some of my insights and techniques gathered over two decades of guitar-playing experience.

I’ve been fortunate enough to share my passion for guitar on YouTube, on my online courses, and in private lessons,

And today, I will try my best to convey to you the significance of the fundamental rhythmic, harmonic, and melodic components of Bebop guitar through a series of videos and written materials so that both inexperienced and seasoned players can confidently explore its depths.

Let’s make this journey fun and start with the basics before exploring advanced concepts!

‘Jazz is not a what, it is a how.’ – Bill Evans.

Understanding Bebop Jazz Guitar

If you want to learn how to play Bebop jazz guitar, you should listen to the music as much as possible while diving into some of its most essential elements. 

First and foremost, it’s essential to learn and understand the proper techniques, such as chord tone targeting – and line construction, also known as “Playing the Changes” – and exploring relationships between triplets, sixteenth notes, and eighth notes, as well as those syncopated rhythms that make Bebop jazz come to life. 

If straight ahead bop is your goal, keep in mind that swing feel is critical for capturing the authentic Bebop groove.

Key Bebop Jazz Guitarists

To name a few, classic giants of Bebop Jazz Guitar include Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, Grant Green, and Joe Pass. Listening to their performances can provide valuable insights into more traditional bebop techniques and styles.

Beginning Your Bebop Journey

Let’s begin our Bebop Guitar lesson by understanding the essential components of this unique style.
Here are the basic building blocks:

At the very start of our journey with bebop jazz guitar,
it’s all about sparking that burning curiosity.

Take my word for it; pick up a few records that make your heart groove, and let them sweep you off your feet into the rhythms and cadences of this timeless style.

Believe me, when you can groove to the music and feel it in your bones, hear it in your head, Bebop just becomes a part of you, just like a language. -, trust me when I say that that makes the whole learning journey so much faster and more fun!

Chords:

Bebop harmony relies heavily on creating melodies over 7th chords (major, minor, and dominant), utilizing turnarounds, extended chords, and altered chords.

Imagine you’re walking down a musical path and suddenly see a turn in the road that leads you right back home. This, my friend, is a turnaround in the world of bebop tunes.
These little sidetracks pop up at the end of phrases or sections, returning you to where your chord progression kicked off.

To learn about different types of turnarounds, watch this video:

Hi everyone, how’s it going? In this video, I’m going to show you my take on turnarounds. What are turnarounds? The most basic diatonic turnaround you can know is C major, A minor, D minor, G. These chords represent the first degree, sixth degree, second degree, and fifth degree of the scale.

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You hear this in so many songs. You can play variations on this basic progression. For example, instead of playing the I chord, you can move to the III chord, E minor:

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This creates a more interesting sound because E minor is a bit more distant from C, the I chord. Instead of:

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You get something more like:

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This still follows a diatonic approach but adds a unique flavor. Another approach is to replace the A minor (vi) with a V of II chord, meaning A7. You get:

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You can also add tensions to this chord since it’s a seventh chord. For instance, add a b9:

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On the G7 chord, you can also add tension. Instead of playing diatonically, you might use a flat nine:

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This creates a familiar sound with some added complexity. For E minor, you can also use the V of II idea:

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You can also treat other chords as dominant chords, even if they’re not inherently dominant. This works because it’s all about creating tension and resolving back to the I chord. For instance:

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Here, D7 with a sharp nine is used, but you could play it with E minor as E7, A7:

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Now, all of these are dominant chords: E as the V of vi, A as the V of ii, and D7 and G7 leading back to C.

Another concept is tritone substitution. Instead of going to A7, you move to a tritone above, which is Eb. Similarly, replace D7 with Db7 before resolving to C:

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This creates a nice tension and works well for soloing. Let’s hear all these variations together:

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Here’s a more pop-sounding example. Moving to the minor third gives a more melancholic vibe:

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This sound feels a bit more somber. For a tenser vibe, use secondary dominants, which can introduce alterations like flat 9 and sharp 9:

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This sounds much jazzier. Finally, you can alter everything to dominant chords with substitutions:

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I can keep going, but I hope this gives you some inspiration. Feel free to ask questions in the comments. If you want to work on your fundamentals, unleash your creativity, and acquire the language of guitar, check out my Galactic Modern Guitar courses. The link is in the description below. The course includes 25 modules covering everything from melodic minor to triads and arpeggios.

Please make sure to subscribe for more videos, and if you haven’t checked it out yet, watch this video here:

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I’ll see you in the next video!

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Isn’t that a fun ride?

Bebop masters treat these turnarounds like their personal playgrounds, using them to stir up some magic and add a pinch of harmonic tension to their creative outpourings.

But wait, the fun continues. Let’s move on to what we call ‘Extended Chords‘.
Now, don’t they sound fancy? Extended chords are like the secret spices of bebop harmony. Musicians enjoy sprinkling these extras – the 9th, 11th, and 13th notes— to zest up their melodies. It’s like adding an explosion of colors to their sonic painting. And hey, these added notes are not just for show; they give our bebop maestros a broader canvas to craft intricate and heart-touching melodies.

And Here’s Another Fun Part: Altered chords. Oh boy, they are the real game-changers! ‘Altered chords‘ in bebop are the harmonic spices – often, Bebop Musicians play around by tweaking specific notes, sharpening or flattening the 5th, 9th etc., adding that unexpected crunch to the recipe, and giving our beloved Bebop sounds an intriguing and delicious flavor.

‘Music gives a soul to the universe’. – Plato

Scales:

Bebop scales are major or minor with an added chromatic note, typically the b6 in major or the #5 in minor scales.

If you want to learn the basics of Bebop, here is a must-watch video!
Get familiar with melodic elements like enclosures, bebop scales, and classic chromatic techniques.

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So how do you take a simple C major scale:

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and make it sound more like a jazz bebop line? Maybe something like this:

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There are a few things you need to practice. First, the bebop scale, and second, enclosures. After that, it’s like learning a language—you need to listen, transcribe, and get all those chops into your fingers and ears.

The first bebop scale concept I like to teach is “root goes to the five goes to the root.” This involves adding a chromatic note from the sixth to the five. So we get:

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Root goes to the five goes to the root. The chromatic note here is a flat six, leading into the five. This way, our chord tones land on strong beats—root and five—creating a more compelling rhythm.

Let’s practice that:

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Root goes to the five, goes to the root, goes to the five, goes to the root.

You can practice this ascending as well:

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Root goes to the five, goes to the root, goes to the five, goes to the root.

Try this exercise in other tonalities besides C major. For example, if you want to start from the third, you could do something like this:

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These two notes approach the third:

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This is an example of approach tones. An actual enclosure surrounds the note. Let me show you an example:

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Starting from the first inversion of C major, you can create a phrase with it:

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Root goes to the five, goes to the third. If you start from the five and want to go to the root, you could use:

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Five goes to the third, then a chromatic approach to the root:

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Third goes to the root, third chromatic note goes to the root.

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You see the rhythmic structure: one, e, and a two, e, and a three, and a four. Land on strong beats—one, two, three, and four.

Complete it by moving from this root to this five:

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This is the bebop scale approach where the six goes to the five. Practice this:

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From five to the root, you can just play the scale:

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Or:

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Try these exercises with minor chords. For example, in D minor, you can use triads and enclosures. Enclosure is like a cage surrounding a note. In D minor, if you want to emphasize the third, use an enclosure:

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Approach the third with a chromatic enclosure:

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Another approach could be targeting the fifth:

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Here’s how you might combine these techniques in D minor:

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A good way to practice is by counting rhythms:

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One and two and three, or one e and a two, I prefer:

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One e and a two, and a three.

Aim to land on non-chord tones, like the two. That’s more advanced, but start by aiming for chord tones first:

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Another common bebop technique is to balance strong movements—like chromatics and enclosures—with larger leaps or arpeggios:

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Here’s an example of a bigger arpeggiated sound:

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So, practice these three things: bebop scales, surrounding notes with chromatic approaches and enclosures, and balancing phrases with arpeggios.

I hope this was helpful! For a deeper dive into triads, arpeggios, chords, and scales, with tabs and notation, check out my Galactic Modern Guitar series. The link is in the description below.

Please like this video, subscribe, and support the channel by sharing and commenting. I’ll see you in the next video. New videos every week, so stay tuned!

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‘I’ll play it first and tell you what it is later.’ – Miles Davis.

Building Your Bebop Vocabulary

You’ve got some basics down, feeling inspired yet? Perhaps you’re craving a little more.

I get it; who doesn’t want to enrich their bebop skills ?
The secret? Listening, mimicking, and embracing the language of Bebop until it feels like second nature
Here is a quick solo over some ‘basic’ bebop harmony:

Kicking Off Your Journey with some Bebop Licks

Starting your bebop journey can feel like learning to salsa dance—tricky at first but rewarding once you get the rhythm. You can start by learning some bebop licks—those small yet potent nuggets of bebop.
They’re packed with nifty tricks like chromaticism, arpeggios, enclosures, and those all-important chord tones.

Colorful Interludes: Spicing Up Your Melodies with Chromaticism

Talking of Bebop, you can’t leave out chromaticism—it’s the cool kid in the playground. It’s all about sprinkling extra ‘zesty’ notes between your main ones. These chromatic touches are the secret ingredient that adds a hip, jazzy flavor to your melodies.

Harmonic Hugs: Sweetening Your Solos with Enclosures

Enclosures, ever heard of them?

Picture them as a warm, musical embrace for your key chord notes. Start above your target, dip below, and then resolve right back on it. This is an ingenious way to spotlight those vital chord tones and add extra panache to your solos.

Bulls-eye on Harmony: Unlocking Authenticity with Chord Notes

But if there’s one secret sauce to an authentic bebop melody, it’s all about targeting those chord notes. It’s like trying to hit the bulls-eye in darts;
only your target is those defining notes that bring harmony to life. By doing this, your tunes will sing with connectivity, rich harmony, and an authentic bebop vibe.

So, folks, if you’re ready to plunge into the bebop ocean, start with some bebop licks. Get a taste of chromaticism, deep dive into arpeggios, wrap your arms around enclosures, and aim for those chord notes. You’ll be creating some magical bebop tunes before you know it.

It is an excellent resource for learning Bebop licks.

Watch this video to learn how to create your own licks!

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Hey everyone, how’s it going? In this video, I’m going to show you four phrases at different levels, from basic to advanced, that you can instantly implement into your playing. You can start mixing these ideas into your language. We’ll start with basic diatonic lines using just the C major scale, then spice it up with chromatics, bebop language, and rhythms. Finally, we’ll explore modern concepts, including intervals like fourths and non-harmonic triads.

Let’s dive in. I hope you enjoy this. As always, please support the channel by subscribing, liking, hitting the bell, and checking out my website, wiseguitar.com, for more cool stuff. Let’s get started.

Here’s a line using only the C major scale:

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Two, three, four.

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Again: one, two, three, four.

So, this line is diatonic movement from the five to the six, with a double enclosure into the root. After hitting the root, I play a major seven arpeggio:

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Now that I’ve played the C major arpeggio, I can use approach notes from the six to the five, third to the two, root to the major seven, and five to the six:

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Two, three, four. One, two, three, four.

Let’s try this an octave lower. It’s a great exercise to ensure you really hear the line:

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That’s it. I can hear it.

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Playing it in different areas on the neck helps with your ear training. Move it to different keys and over different tunes. That was the first example—using a scale to create a melody.

Now, let’s add some chromatics and rhythmic variety, such as triplets:

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One, two, three.

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Again:

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The same idea, moving from the five to the six, but with triplets. It gives a different feel:

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One, two, three.

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Major seven to the five, with chromatic approaches. Add sixteenth-note enclosures, aiming for the third:

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Here’s the third:

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You can see the C major triad here, with an enclosure to the root:

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Adding thirds to your lines, you get:

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Root, third, fifth, major seven, and nine. Close it off with:

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The triad here:

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The third line is from my 51 Galactic Jazz Licks course, which is popular on Instagram. Make sure to follow me there for short lessons and ideas. The line goes like this:

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One, two, three.

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This line sounds more modern due to larger leaps and intervals like fourths. Here’s why:

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Approaching with chromatic tones and surrounding the third with a modern structure. Major seven to the five, with chromatic ideas:

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Add a major C triad into the six, then use some cool fourths:

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It sounds more modern and pentatonic:

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Next, we aim into the fourth degree of C major, which is F major 7:

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G, E to F, with chromatic notes into a diatonic arpeggio. Add the second degree into the arpeggio:

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Arpeggiating these voicings, landing on the major seven:

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These are drop twos of a minor seven and a sus two. For more on voicings and fundamentals, check out the Galactic Modern Guitar program linked below.

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The fourth and final phrase takes the modern concept further with non-harmonic triads—triads not diatonic to the scale. In C major, this includes D flat, E flat, G flat, A flat, and B flat. Here’s the line:

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Approaching the five chromatically and adding a non-harmonic triad:

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F sharp, a non-harmonic triad, then back to C:

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The second non-harmonic triad is D flat six:

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Moving from five to six and back to C major:

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Finish with C major seven arpeggio, incorporating fourths between the second and the fifth:

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Root, second, fifth:

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That’s it for today. I hope you learned something new that inspires your practice. Even if some concepts seem advanced, just start incorporating them into your routines and listen for them in your favorite music. If you need step-by-step guidance, check out Galactic Modern Guitar and 51 Galactic Jazz Licks, links below.

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Leave a comment with what you’d like me to cover next or any suggestions. I love talking with you. Thanks for watching, have a happy practice, and I’ll see you in the next video!

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Harmonic Architects: Laying the Foundation with Arpeggios

Next in line— Arpeggios.
The harmony heroes in your bebop melodies create a rock-solid foundation. Like layering bricks one by one to build a sturdy wall, playing chord notes in sequence weaves a smooth, flowing musical tapestry that fits the chords like a glove.

Unlock your arpeggio mastery now – watch this:

Intro

Plain arpeggios are one of the most essential things you can practice. Today, I’m going to show you an exercise to really get familiar with arpeggios across the neck. Let’s dive right in.

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We’ll start by playing the diatonic arpeggios of C major, beginning with the sixth degree, A minor. We’ll use two notes: root and seventh. Then, we’ll jump a string to play the fifth and third, and return to the root. The structure is: root, seven, five, third, root.

Here’s how it sounds:

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Notice that I’m only using one pick per string, incorporating hammer-ons and pull-offs. It will be: pull, pull, pick, pull, pick.

[Applause]

Pick, pull, pick, pull, pick.

We’ll move to the following chords: G7, F major 7, E minor 7, D minor 7, C major 7, B minor 7 flat 5, and back to A minor 7.

Let’s play this in time now. I’ll play these notes as eighth notes, which gives us a group of five—a somewhat asymmetrical feel. Here it is with the metronome at 85 BPM:

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[Applause]

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We can also play this ascending:

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Using Four Strings

We used three strings to play the arpeggios earlier, but you can also utilize four strings. For example, the A minor 7 arpeggio we played can also be positioned like this:

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So you can practice four-string arpeggios as follows:

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A minor 7, G7, F major 7, E minor 7, D minor 7, C major 7, B minor 7 flat 5, back to A minor 7.

Combining Both Arpeggios

To combine both types of arpeggios—three-string and four-string—we’ll move to an arpeggio a third below. For instance, from A minor 7, the arpeggio a third below is F major 7, played on four strings:

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Or the other way around:

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Shifting this structure diatonically, we get G7:

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Followed by E minor 7, which is a four-string arpeggio:

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Previously, we had G7 on three strings; now we have E minor 7 on four strings. Moving from G7 to E minor 7 involves a diatonic third. We continue with F major 7 to D minor 7, E minor 7 to C major 7, D minor 7 to B minor 7 flat 5, C major 7 to A minor 7, and B minor 7 flat 5 to G7, resolving to C.

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Again, we’re playing groups of five, so the eighth notes will feel like this:

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[Applause]

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Let’s move to triplets:

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And then sixteenth notes:

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Outro

That’s it for now! Please make sure to subscribe and like this video. Drop me a comment—it really helps. If you want to dive deeper into these subjects and get a solid understanding of the fretboard, check out my 51 Galactic Jazz Licks and Galactic Modern Guitar courses. Also, check out my album “Dive” on Spotify.

Let me know what you’d like my next lesson to cover in the comments below. See you in the next video!

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The following exercises are based on the evergreen topic of continuity. Which can be found in almost any art form, including: Literature, dancing,songwriting, theater etc.

Playing Bebop Jazz Guitar

Having gained knowledge and honed your skills, it’s time to play Bebop Jazz Guitar.
Remember, Bebop is more than just scales and chords; it’s about expressing yourself through your instrument.

Improvisation: Bebop is mainly improvisational, so feel free to experiment and make the music your own. Consider incorporating elements of swing and blues into your playing for a more authentic bebop sound.

Rhythm: Rhythm is just as essential as melody in Bebop. Practicing with other musicians and working on your time feel with a metronome will help you become more comfortable with the various tempos and time feel typically found in Bebop.

To learn the rhythmic secrets of bebop, watch this video:

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When it comes to practicing Bebop, one key approach is to think like a drummer. Let’s take a simple phrase like:

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You can target the third in various ways, which is already pretty cool. For example, you can use this device:

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This is all centered on F. If you play an F, you can use this approach. Connecting to the drummer point is crucial because it involves hearing the subdivisions, dynamics, and articulation, similar to how a drummer applies them.

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For instance, you might have a rhythm that’s super funky, like swing or funk, which all falls into the same family.

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Another classic example would be:

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Here, you’re spelling out the arpeggio of the first chord and aiming for the third of C, emphasizing the flat nine and landing on the five of F. The key is to incorporate the emphasis on the flat nine.

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When practicing, instead of just learning the phrase and moving on, you should focus on articulating and emphasizing different elements. This approach also ties into the importance of voice leading in Bebop phrasing—telling a story or having a narrative backbone.

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To move from A to B, there are countless ways, and a developed language on the instrument is crucial. Reflecting on your approach, was it more about focusing on voice leading, or did you start with transcribing solos to learn?

For me, it started with transcribing a lot of solos. I transcribed many sessions, like 15 or 20 solos from Parker. The melody itself is so significant that even without the notes, it sounds like a drum solo.

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This rhythmic quality makes the melody engaging and moving. I teach many students, each talented in their unique ways. Rhythm comes naturally to some, while others learn and become masters. For me, rhythm was intuitive because I started as a drummer.

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If someone doesn’t have a natural sense of rhythm, how can we teach them to become better rhythmic improvisers? Initially, I faced challenges with complex rhythms in recording sessions; it sounded like the rhythm was rushing. Working with a metronome helped, but the essence is understanding subdivisions.

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For instance, let’s take this head and play it without subdivisions:

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Without subdivisions, it might not sound bad, but adding them provides contrast in rhythm, which improves timing and storytelling in music. Dividing rhythms into smaller units, like three instead of four, creates more dynamic and engaging music.

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Mastering Bebop Guitar

Becoming a master of Bebop Guitar takes time and dedication, but the rewards are worth it. Build your vocabulary, refine your techniques, and explore new licks and solos.

Performance: Remember to put your skills into practice. Whether playing for friends or performing at gigs, every performance opportunity is a chance to improve.

This video showcases a live Bebop Jazz Guitar performance, giving you an idea of what to aim for.

To learn the rhythmic secrets of bebop, watch this video:

Building a Practice Routine

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect – and nowhere is this truer than mastering Bebop Jazz Guitar. Establishing a consistent practice routine will help you reinforce the skills you’ve learned and develop new ones.

Regularity: Aim for a regular practice schedule. Even if it’s just 20 minutes a day, consistent practice is more beneficial than long, sporadic sessions.

Technique Practice: Dedicate some of your practice to honing specific techniques, like fast picking, scales, and chord voicings. It will improve your skills and muscle memory.

Bebop Licks: Set aside time each session to practice different Bebop licks. Start slow and gradually increase your speed to maintain accuracy.

Transcription and Imitation: Transcribe solos from your favorite Bebop Jazz Guitar masters and try to imitate their playing. It will help you understand the genre’s unique rhythm, phrasing, and melody.

Expanding Your Bebop Repertoire

In addition to practicing Bebop Guitar, you should listen to a wide range of Bebop music to expand your repertoire.

Listen Actively: When you listen to Bebop Jazz, make it an active experience. Pay attention to the intricacies of the music, the chord changes, the improvisation, and the interaction between musicians.

Learning New Tunes: Regularly learn new bebop tunes to diversify your playing and challenge yourself. It will also give you more material to draw from during improvisation. Every jazz tune has unique lessons and challenges that help you grow as a musician.

Bebop Guitar: Challenges and Overcoming Them

Bebop Jazz Guitar can be challenging, but don’t let that discourage you.
Here are some common challenges and how to overcome them:

Speed: Bebop is often characterized by its fast tempo. Start by practicing slowly and gradually increasing your speed as you become more comfortable.

Complex Chords: Bebop features complex chord progressions that can be difficult to navigate. Take the time to study and understand these progressions, and practice arpeggiating through them.

Improvisation: Improvising can be daunting, especially in a genre as complex as Bebop. Remember, improvisation is a skill that can be learned. With practice and patience, you’ll get there!

Bebop Jazz Guitar is a fascinating style, and this comprehensive Bebop Guitar lesson should provide you with the foundation needed to dive into this rich musical world. Remember, the key to mastering Bebop lies in consistent practice, so pick up your guitar and start exploring those Bebop Licks.

Check out my YouTube channel!

Daniel Weiss