The Art of Jazz Guitar

Cute Melodic Ideas for Improvisation

A Note On Jazz Guitar

Guitar is a unique and special instrument, known for its string/fretted design that introduces certain limitations on what can be played. Often, guitarists draw inspiration and material from what has already been performed by other guitarists, sometimes missing the beautiful concepts and innovations that come from other instruments.

In the world of guitar education, standard notation isn't as popular among some guitar enthusiasts. This has led to a gap where solos from instruments like saxophones, pianos, and trumpets rarely get translated into guitar tablatures, despite their potential to enrich a guitarist's repertoire.

"Jazz Licks for Guitar" addresses this gap by bringing high-quality material to guitarists eager to explore beyond the traditional boundaries. This book offers meticulously transcribed jazz licks and solos from a variety of instruments, adapted into guitar-friendly formats.

Despite recent advances in jazz education, there's still a significant demand for high-quality, diverse material tailored for the guitar. Whether you're a student, educator, or performer, this book provides the resources you need to broaden your musical horizons and enhance your improvisational skills with ideas inspired by the full spectrum of jazz instrumentation.

Jazz Licks

Jazz licks are short melodic ideas that can be selectively integrated into a solo to achieve a desired sound. The following lick starting with a quote by Charlie Parker is a great example of how beautifully a minor seventh chord can be enhanced with hidden voice leading.

This lick can be further varied depending on the musical setting to fit the material being played, for example, like this:

There may be several other variations of the same idea, reshaping the material to a preferred form and making it universally applicable to various playing scenarios. With this approach, one gains more freedom during performances while also maintaining individuality.

Content Quality

Showing a lick in a specific key and suggesting to transpose it to other keys makes a lot of sense from an educational standpoint, though it’s not always very convenient for the reader. It is much more user-friendly to present the material in all keys, allowing the reader to pick ideas for any instrument in any key, regardless of the setting.

And while the concept of compiling musical licks from renowned artists is not new, the limitations of print materials, both in terms of quality and quantity, hindered their effective utilization for building a comprehensive jazz vocabulary conducive to graceful improvisation.

The Major 2-5-1 Book

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What sets this book apart is its thoughtful structure and user-friendly design. We've carefully curated the content to present you with the cream of the crop – a collection of jazz licks that not only inspire but also enhance your playing.

Look Inside

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The book contains a compilation of captivating jazz licks over essential Major 2-5-1 chord progression that is encountered in almost every jazz tune. Every page corresponds to one of the 12 keys, providing material suitable for any musical setting. Each page features 5 jazz jazz licks in standard notation extended with guitar tabulatures for eaiser reading.

The table of contents lists keys along with chords, enhancing navigation. Ample margins and spine padding adjustments enhance the book's user-friendliness, ensuring ease of use and a comfortable reading experience.

Explore a variety of jazz licks crafted for different tunes in all 12 keys. Each key features a unique set of licks chosen for accuracy and distinctiveness. The layout is designed for easy reading, with each key presented on its own page. Seven licks per page provide a balance of variety and precision.

Secure your copy today

Explore the world of jazz at your own pace. Order your copy now for a deep dive into its rich content.

Looking for a discount?

The book can be purchased directly from our website. Enjoy shipping options within the US, UK, and EU, and use the code WELCOME20 at checkout for a 20% discount.