Guide Tones for Creating Jazz Solos

This video is a preview from John Goldsby’s course:
Tell Your Story: Soloing Concepts for the Jazz Bassist

This lesson with John Goldsby explores how to use guide tones to create jazz bass solos, using the example of the popular jazz standard, Autumn Leaves. Guide tones are typically the notes which define the character of a chord, such as the 3rd or 7th, or upper partials like the 11th, 9th, and 13th. A melodic line can be formed by linking guide tones in a chord sequence. Find out how John uses guide tones and follow along with his solo in this preview lesson.

To follow along with John on the lesson including music for the guide tones and the solo, download the free transcription below.

Tell Your Story: Soloing concepts for the jazz bassist

Tell Your Story is an online course by John Goldsby to help intermediate to advanced bassists perform their original ideas with confidence. John presents his unique approach to improvising and structuring solos, with over 100 exercises, patterns, and licks to get you soloing on classic tunes such as 'Moose the Mooche', 'Giant Steps', 'Tricotism', and 'I got rhythm'. A live band provides the backing tracks and there are over 150 pages of sheet music to spark your creativity and get you grooving. Lessons include how to use patterns and cycles, soloing with the bow, thumb position, taking inspiration from great solos, practicing round the circle of 5ths, & much more!

John Goldsby’s courses with Discover Double Bass

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