How to Improvise Bebop Jazz Guitar Lines

First of all, what is a "digital pattern"? The word digital, in this case, has nothing to do with a computer, but rather your 'digits'; your fingers!

Since chord changes in bebop often occur 2 to the bar, it is useful to be able to navigate this fast changes accurately. In this way, listeners can hear the changes in your single-note lines. Joe Pass used this method all the time, although it originated with horn players.

Practice playing a few basic digital patterns. A pattern is read like this: "1-2-3-5" tells you to play the root, second, third and then fifth of a chord.

If your current chord is a Bb7 chord, "1-2-3-5" = "Bb - C - D - F"
If you need to learn more about chords on the guitar, please check out my "Ultimate Chord Gide" at www.joedocmusic.com - it is a great way to learn harmony on the guitar, and is loaded with audio examples from pop to rock to jazz.

Now you need to learn a few more popular digital patterns, such as "5 - 6 - b7 - 8", "5 - 6 - 8 - b7" and "b7 - 8 - 7 - b7". Also, learn to work in the b9 over dominant 7th chords by creating lines such as "3 - b9 - 8 - b7"

Try to move from the b7 of the chord you are on into the 3rd of the following chord. This is generally a half-step motion (unless you move to a minor chord) and makes for a very solid sounding line. If you do it too often, it does get tiring, so try landing on other target notes.

Here's an example of a digital pattern played through a ii - V - I. Let's take the progression Cm7 - F7 - Bbmaj7. Over Cm7 play "5 - 6 - 8 - b7", over F7 play "3 - b9 - 8 - b7", and then you'll land on the 3rd of Bbmaj7!

The notes are: (Cm7) "G - A - C - Bb" (F7) "A - Gb - F - Eb" - (Bbmaj7) - "D"

A typical ending for a short phrase such as that could be a move to the root, 2nd, and 6th over the Bbmaj7 chord. The notes over Bbmaj7 would then be "D - Bb - C - G".

Drop me a line at www.joedocmusic.com - I will be adding a jazz forum soon, and adding my next release "The Road to Bebop". The currently available "Charlie Christian Method" is an excellent way to start jazz improv. Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, Joe Pass and Barney Kessel all cited Charlie Christian as a major influence - so give it a try yourself! The book is reasonably priced, and a fast download after your order. Audio samples at slow and normal speed will get you cookin' in no time!