Jazz Guitar : Guide-Tones in Forward Motion

Many thanks to Marc-Andre for creation of this website! :)


I have learned all of the basic scales - Major modes, Harmonic Minor, Diminished, etc and their respective arpeggios but I was wondering if you have any tips/exercises for landing the guide tones on beats 1 and 3.

Thanks in advance
_______

Excellent question, and yes I do.

I practiced long and hard to have control over what notes would "fall" on the beats 1 and 3.

After extensive questionning, researching and practicing on my own, I stumbled upon a book titled Forward Motion. This book, along other teachings by pianist Hal Galper, really opened my "rhytmic ears".

First thing I discovered is that 1 and 3 and the strongest beats in the bar. The second thing I discovered is that for music to have any kind of direction (forward!), the melodies cannot start on these beats : 1 and 3 are points of arrival, NOT starting points.

So I tried to come up with ways to "land" on beats 1 and 3, as you asked in your question.


It's fairly easy after all. You have to reconsider the way you "hear" the regular bars of 4/4 like this :





If you start your scales/modes/arpeggios like that, with a pickup on the "and" of 3, you'll create a rhythmic momentum. You'll really hear the "points of arrival" on the strong beats.

I created a few online examples for you to practice. They're G major and melodic minor modes (with "bebop" passing tones) and arpeggios with pickups on the "and" of three. (TABS included)

Before you start, remember :

1- The PDF's are just examples, create your own exercises and fingerings.

2- Check out Hal Galper's Forward Motion book, it will surely give you a lot more ideas.


Here :

-Bebop Modes : G major with Forward Motion

-Diatonic Arpeggios : G major with Forward Motion


-Bebop Modes : G melodic minor with FM

-Diatonic Arpeggios : G melodic minor with FM


I hope it can help you hear the guide tones landing on the strong beats.


Practice Well,

Marc-A Seguin


PS:

Once that Forward Motion concept makes sense to you, take a look at Connecting Chords with Linear Harmony.