7 Bebop Lines Over a 1-Chord (-7) Groove – Enclosures, Approach Notes, and Anticipations
Learn 7 variations of my favorite bebop-flavored lines that sound great over static minor 7 chords.
The Philosophy of 60 Bpm
Using a metronome at 60 BPM doesn’t mean only practicing slowly, it’s all about your relationship to the pulse.
Metronome on 2 & 4 – Quick Tip To Get Comfortable (& Why Do It)
If working with a metronome on beats 2 & 4 is giving you trouble (as it does for all at first), start here.
A technique for making your 8th note lines swing harder & some tasty shortcuts to add flavor to dominant chords and ii Vs
Learn some of my favorite “go-to” harmonic substitutions for dominant and minor chords (and thus ii Vs), as well as a technique for making your 8th note lines swing harder.
Practical Ways to Use a Metronome
A reminder about the many different ways you can use a metronome in the practice room.
The Rhythmic Density Scale will improve your technique, time feel, and improvisations
There’s more to “60 bpm” than just a metronome setting. Use this important technique to open new levels of accuracy and rhythmic control in your improvisation.
Focus On Feel: An Exercise to Improve the Way You Deliver Vocabulary
Ever feel like you’re just not “putting it all together”? This exercise will help you get away from thinking note to note, chord to chord, and instead focus on a phrase, delivered with style.
Get Your Reps In: Use Repetitive Phrases to Improve Your Time Feel and Groove
Looping short phrases slowly and repeatedly can make any difficult passage less daunting. You might even lull yourself into a “flow” state.
Listening Lab: Using Straight 8th Notes to Make Your Lines Swing Hard (Ryan Kisor’s solo on “I Think My Wife Is A Hat”)
You know those medium swing tempos where it’s somehow so difficult to get your 8th notes to swing? This solo offers an ideal example of one solution.
Transcription Challenge: “Sign On” by Earth, Wind & Fire
This groove is so tight it just makes you wanna get up and dance!
Subdividing the beat
Playing quarter notes at 60 bpm is a worthwhile and challenging way to work on many things, but if you want real accuracy, you need to do this.
Add More Grease to Your Groove Playing (by Practicing This)
A (conceptually) simple way to get to the next level when playing over static, repetitive, or loop-based chord sequences.
Make It FEEL Good: Do This to Get Better at Keeping Your Place and Landing Your Phrases in the Pocket
Pat Metheny and Eric Clapton have it. Charlie Parker did, too. Regardless of where you are on your journey as an improviser, understanding this feel will make you sound better. Quickly. This simple exercise will help.
Avoiding Common Problems: Pinched Tone, Jerky Time-Feel, & Wandering Scale-Based Improv
A few suggestions for getting past these common issues.
Practice Your Execution With This Coltrane Changes Exercise
A practical way to improve your time while getting comfortable with a challenging set of chord changes.
Improve Your Time Feel with This Long Tone Exercise
Practice getting comfortable with a medium tempo swing feel while simultaneously improving your tone quality.
Why 2 & 4 Are Important (and Should You Tap Your Foot?)
Why feel 2 & 4 (vs. 1 & 3) and what you should know about tapping your foot.
Playing Bebop Over a Dominant 7th Groove
Making a straight-ahead bebop line work over a one-chord groove.
Groove Playing: Noticing the Kick and Hi Hat Relationship
A funky groove to play along with to help you get more comfortable with this key.
How to Come up with New Rhythmic Ideas When Improvising
A few simple ideas that will get you out of your “always starting phrases on 1” rut.
Odd Meter Bebop
In this lesson series, I’ll show you how to dive into the world of playing in odd meters. You’ll learn how to feel time in 7/8, and then how to practice applying increasingly challenging pieces of bebop vocabulary in this time feel.
Grooving over a Minor Blues with a Backbeat
Several simple ways to sound hip over a minor blues
How do you improve playing solo with a metronome?
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The Holy Grail of Practice Tempos
This one lesson revolutionized my playing more than anything else. Ever.