Jazz Phrasing Lesson

Phrasing Parts 1 & 2

Scott Devine

Jazz Phrasing Lesson Part 1 (L#28)

"Breathe, I want you to leave space between your ideas" 03:05

Ex.1

C‹7

™ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ ? bb 44 Œ ‰ J b

"Breathe"

F‹7 œ œ œ ˙

œ œœœœ œ

"Breathe"

Œ

Ó 3

12 12

¤

13

12

13

3

12

15

15

13 15 17

15

15

18

17

TAB ADAPTED FOR 4 STRING BASS

D‹7(b5)

“w”

G7

œ nœ œ

"Breathe"

? bb b

œj

œ.

Ϫ

Œ

"Breathe"

œ ˙ J

∑

. 17

19

16

20 20

19

19

12

¤ E¨‹7 ”

A¨7 D¨Œ„Š7 “ œ œbœ œœ œ œ œ œ œbœnœ œ œ œj ? bb ‰ R Œ ‰ Œ ≈ ‰ Ó b 3

"Breathe"

∑

3

20 22 23

15 22 20

19

22

20

19

17 18 19 20

¤ D‹7(b5)

G7 C‹7 “” œ œ œ œ œ . nœ œ œ œ ™ œ œ œ œ ˙ ? bb Œ J b

"Breathe"

Œ

3

œœ œ œ œ œœ

Œ œ œ J 3

3

3

Etc 19 19

17 19

16

12 19 19

12 19

20 12

12

10 12 10 12 13

¤

8 10 10 11

Copyright © 2013 Scott's Bass Lessons

2 Example of a good phrasing

05:38

F‹7 C‹7

“” œ œ œ œ œ ˙™ ? bb ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ b J 3 3

œ œ w Etc

F‹7 12

12

13

17

17

17 19

13

19

17

17

19

20

17

18

¤

09:00

Ex.2

C‹7

F‹7

“” ™ ? bb œ™ œ œ œ œ œ™ œ œ œ œ ˙ b 12 13

13

¤

12

12

13

>œ œ œ ™ œ œ œ œ œ™ œ œ œ ˙ ‰

17

17

13

20

20

13 20 12

12

Œ ‰ œœ

13

17

13 15

15

15

D‹7(b5)

G7 C‹7 :“; œ™ œ œ œ œ œ™ œ œ œ œ nœ ™ œ œ œ œ œ™ œ œ œ œ œ ™ œ œ œ œ œ ™ œ œ œ œ ? bb b

19

19

17 19

19

17

18

16

16

16 19

18

19

12 19

20

20

12 19 17

17

19 20

17

¤ E¨‹7

A¨7

D¨

:“; œj

˙™

? bb b

œœ

b œ ™ œ œ œ œ œ b œ œ œ™ œ œ œ b œ œ œ œ œ ™ œ œ b œ œ œ œ œ œœœ

‰ 3

22 24

22 20

23

23 23

22 20 20

20

20 23

22

22

20 18

3

20 22 20 22 23

¤

Copyright © 2013 Scott's Bass Lessons

20

3

18 17

15 17 20 18

3

:“; D‹7(b5) G7 bœ œ œ œ œ ™ œ œ œ ? bb œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ nœ œ ‰ œ œ n œ œ b 3 3 3

18

18

17

15

13

10 12

13

13

12

10 12

10

12

13

12

4

4

10

12

12

¤ :“; C‹7

? bb œ b

œ œ œ œ œ J

œ œ œ œ J

œ œ œ œ œ J

œ

œ œ™ œ J 3

3 3

3

3 3 3

10 13

13

10

12

13

13

10

12

13

10

10 12

12

12

12

13

¤ "Everythings linked, there's a theme running through the solo."

The 2 concepts discussed today are: 1. Leave space 2. Think rhythmically

Copyright © 2013 Scott's Bass Lessons

Phrasing Parts 1 & 2 (L#28/29) Your Action Plan 1. In the video tutorial I use the jazz standard 'Blue Bossa' as a backdrop for the ideas and concepts I'm presenting. Starting on a jazz standard like this straight away can be a little tough as you have to think of the chord changes at the same time. If you're just starting to work on your phrasing a better starting point could be to start with a sustained chord. For instance you could simply use a static D minor groove to practice these ideas upon. This would give you the ability to concentrate 100% on the phrasing and not get caught up in chord changes. 2. Whether you're practicing over a static groove or a jazz standard your first focus should be trying to 'frame' your ideas. This will prevent you falling into the '16th note machine gun trap'. Set rules for yourself such as: Each phrase can only be two bars in length, or each phrase can only be one bar in length, or you have to solo for two bars and then rest for two bars. I used to take a lead sheet and actually draw where I wanted my phrases to begin and end. Experiment with these different rules and see if you can come up with some of your own.

Copyright © 2013 Scott’s Bass Lessons

3. Now it's time to work on linking up your rhythmical ideas (as demonstrated within the video tutorial). Choose a rhythmical phrase and see how far you can run with it. You should aim to stick to that one rhythmical phrase as long as possible and when all your inspiration has gone start to let the rhythmical phrase develop. So you're not changing the phrase completely, you're just letting it morph into something else. When you listen to the greats soloing you can hear them using this technique time and time again.

Scott Devine

Copyright © 2013 Scott’s Bass Lessons