Jazz Guitar Lesson : 2-5-1 Pathways For Improvisation

Summary

In this jazz guitar lesson, Chris Whitman introduces a conceptual approach to building a '251 single note pathway' as a foundation for improvisation. He emphasizes the importance of memorization and physical reflex to manipulate the pathway into endless lines, rather than memorizing a single 'lick'. The lesson outlines constructing a pathway with harmonic clarity over a 251 progression, starting in C major and moving through all 12 keys. Whitman suggests a 90-day daily practice for solidifying the technique and mastering the concept.

Takeaways

• 🎸 The lesson focuses on building and internalizing a '251 single note pathway' on the guitar, which is a foundational framework for creating musical lines.
• 🛠️ The concept of a 'pathway' is distinguished from a 'lick', with the former being a flexible framework for improvisation, while the latter is a specific line to be played as is.
• 🔄 The purpose of practicing a pathway is to eventually manipulate and build upon it to create endless lines, as opposed to memorizing and playing a single lick.
• 🎼 The lesson is part one of a two-part series, with part one concentrating on constructing and reflexing the pathway through all 12 keys.
• 📈 The pathway is built by outlining each chord in a 251 progression and ensuring voice leading between the changes for harmonic clarity.
• 📍 The example starts in the key of C major with chords D Minor 7, G7, and C Major 7, using shell voicings for orientation on the guitar neck.
• 🎵 The pathway involves playing the arpeggio of the D Minor 7 chord, moving to the G7 chord with voice leading, and resolving to the C Major 7 chord.
• 🆚 The G7 chord is where dissonance and tension are added, using the flat nine as the first altered tension explored in the lesson.
• 🔄 The pathway pattern is then transposed through the cycle of fourths, adapting to different keys while maintaining the shell voicing orientation.
• 📚 The lesson includes a PDF with tabbed patterns and analysis of the notes against the chords for further study.
• 🔄 A backing track is used to practice the pathway through all 12 keys, first at a fast tempo and then slow for better understanding and reflexive learning.
• 🧠 The script mentions the importance of daily repetition for about 90 days to solidify new neural pathways, which is crucial for mastering new concepts on the guitar.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Chris Whitman's jazz guitar lesson in the provided transcript?

The main focus of Chris Whitman's lesson is on building and internalizing a '251 single note pathway' as a foundation for creating one's own musical lines, emphasizing the difference between a 'lick' and a 'pathway' in terms of musical concept and application.

What does Chris Whitman define as the difference between a 'lick' and a 'pathway' in jazz guitar playing?

Chris Whitman defines a 'lick' as a line you play verbatim, while a 'pathway' is a more fluid framework of how a line moves through changes, allowing for the creation of endless lines based on the foundational structure.

What is the purpose of practicing a pathway in the context of this lesson?

The purpose of practicing a pathway is to build a strong foundation that can be manipulated to create various musical lines, emphasizing the importance of memorization and physical reflex to allow for fluid and creative playing.

How does Chris Whitman suggest practicing the pathway initially?

Chris Whitman suggests practicing the pathway initially by running it over and over until it's memorized and physically reflexed, similar to how one would practice a lick, to ensure that it can be played without conscious thought.