Improvisation- the Concept
Master improvisors of the bebop style use four basic elements of music to create their solos: chord tones, arpeggios, scale passages and approach patterns. Watch how a classic bebop solo is deconstructed into these four components.

Lesson Objectives
To learn how four basic elements of music are used to construct a bebop solo.

Benefits of Achieving the Lesson Objectives
Understand how the building blocks of music can be assembled into meaningful and authentic jazz solos.

Lesson Stats
When added: 5/26/07; Duration: 13 minutes; Tunes used in lesson: Rhythm Changes

Prerequisites
Moderate keyboard proficiency. Ability to read notation. These are good prerequisite lessons: Four Components of Melodic Construction.

Quizzes
Quiz 1: practice identifying the four components of melodic construction.
Quiz 2: practice identifying the four components of meodic construction in excerpts of a solo over Rhythm Changes.

Practice Sessions & Playalongs
Practice Session 1: analyze the A section of a transcription of a solo over the tune Rhythm Changes.
Practice Session 2: analyze the A section of a transcription of a solo over the tune Rhythm Changes.
Practice Session 3: analyze the B section of a transcription of a solo over the tune Rhythm Changes.
Practice Session 4: analyze the A section of a transcription of a solo over the tune Rhythm Changes.
Practice Session 5: play the Rhythm Changes solo that you analyzed in the previous four practice sessions.
Practice Session 6: analyze a transcription of your choosing for the 4 components of melodic construction.

Includes play-alongs for all practice sessions in MIDI, Band-in-a-Box™ and GarageBand formats.

Resources for further Listening and Reading
Check out these featured books and recordings.