“Jazz Target Tones”- Alternate Picking Guitar Set-Ups Technique

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Target Tones- Alternate Picking Guitar Set-Ups Technique

Please watch video above for in depth analysis:

Hi Guys!

Today we will have a look at setting up “Jazz Target Tones” with alternate picking guitar technique for fast fluid improvising lines.

target, tones, jazz, guitar,
Target Tones- Alternate Picking Guitar Set-Ups Technique

The example above is the most common and best example of how target tones work and how they are set up. Notice that the weak beat or off beat is the starting note. So, we have [4] e and a as an “Up Beat” [or Anacrusis]. This leads to the strong beat 1 in bar 1.

Now, for alternate picking we need to be aware of what picking stroke we will start on for this weak “Off” beat. Being the “Off” beat and syncopated it will be the “Up Stroke” as in [Down] Up down Up.

target, tones, jazz, guitar,
Target Tones- Alternate Picking Jazz Guitar Set-Ups

In the Exercise below we will now employ Target Tones within the improvised line itself from the second beat. Again, notice that the target tones start on the “Up Stroke” and resolve to the on [1st] beat of the next chord smoothly with the down stroke.

target, tones, jazz, guitar,
Target Tones- Alternate Picking Jazz Guitar Set-Ups

With this method you will always know where you are in the bar rhythmically, when you are on the off beat [Up Stroke] and what stroke you will start the next “On” beat with [Down stroke].

Here’s another example:

target, tones, jazz, guitar,
Target Tones- Alternate Picking Jazz Guitar Set-Ups

It’s also helpful to accent the 1st note in each four note grouping as this will create the jazz feel and thrust the target tones along rhythmically whilst moving your fretting hand into position.

target, tones, jazz, guitar,
Target Tones- Alternate Picking Jazz Guitar Set-Ups

Exercise 1: Ascending Line:

target, tones, jazz, guitar,
Target Tones- Alternate Picking Jazz Guitar Set-Ups

Exercise 2: Descending Line:

target, tones, jazz, guitar,
Target Tones- Alternate Picking Jazz Guitar Set-Ups

Exercise 3: Extended Line: [Ascending and Descending]

target, tones, jazz, guitar,
Target Tones- Alternate Picking Jazz Guitar Set-Ups

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Michael Brecker II+ V7 I LICK LINE SIDE STEPPING/TARGET TONES

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Michael Brecker Jazz Sax II+ V7 I lick for Guitar [Improvising] Side Stepping/Target Tones

PDF: BRECKER JAZZ LICK DOWNLOAD

Hi Guys,

In the first part of this line we see target tones and side stepping two classic characteristics of Michael Brecker’s jazz sax style.

Michael, Brecker, jazz, lesson, target tones, side stepping
Michael Brecker Jazz Sax II+ V7 I lick for Guitar [Improvising] Side Stepping/Target Tones

In the next two bars notice the “Chromatic” movement:

Michael, Brecker, jazz, target, tones, side, stepping
Michael Brecker Jazz Sax II+ V7 I lick for Guitar [Improvising] Side Stepping/Target Tones

Michael Brecker “LICK/LINE” in Full:

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Michael Brecker Jazz Sax II+ V7 I lick for Guitar [Improvising] Side Stepping/Target Tones

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How Cory Henry uses the diminished scale for jazz/fusion improvisation

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Please watch video above for a deeper analysis

Hi Guys,

Today we have a quick look at how Cory Henry employs the diminished scale to good effect for an original and unique sound.

Firstly we will take the whole step half step diminished scale starting on the note C

diminished- scale- Cory- Henry
Whole step half step diminished scale starting on the note C

From this scale there are 4 “Dominant” Chords that move in minor 3rds:

4-Dominant-chords-diminished=scale
4 Dominant Chords of the Diminished Scale

These could also be Dom7#9

Dom7#9-chords-diminished-scale
4 Dom7#9 chords from diminished scale

These could also be Dom7[#9]b5 Chords

Dom7[#9]b5 -Chords-diminished-scale
Dom7[#9]b5 -Chords-diminished-scale

Each of these chords can also be a, minor 7th, minor7b5 and a diminished 7th chord/arpeggio

Example for the chord D:

D Dominant 7th

Dom7-arpeggio-diminished-scale
D7 Dominant Arpeggio in the diminished scale

D minor 7th

minor 7th-arpeggio- diminished-scale
D minor 7th arpeggio in the diminished scale

D minor7b5

minor 7b5-arpeggio- diminished-scale
D minor7b5 arpeggio in the diminished scale

D diminished 7th arpeggio

diminished 7th-arpeggio-diminished- scale
D diminished 7th arpeggio in the diminished scale

All 4 of the above arpeggios/patterns apply to F Ab and B also.

Remember that these Major chords can now also become minor as in the example below:

diminished-scale-harmony-major-minor-triads
Major becomes minor with the diminished scale

Okay, here is the key to Cory Henry’s improvisational approach!

He employs inversion of the “Triads” of these 4 Dominant chords in Major, minor, minor7b5 and diminished 7ths.

Triads-diminished-scale-inversions
“Triads” of 4 Dominant of the diminished scale in Major, minor, minor7b5 and diminished 7ths and inversions

He exploits this further by employing a “Slash” chord style harmonic approach:

slash-chord-Cory-Henry-approach
“Slash chord” Cory Henry diminished scale improvising approach

Another concept with which to stretch the harmony is to join the triads together over a dominant chord: [Maj, min, min7b5, dim]

triads-diminished-scale-Cory-Henry
Cory Henry style Joining “Triads ” of the diminished scale for Dominant improvisation

Here is a harmonisation of the diminished scale: Notice that the diminished scale is present in all 4 lines: Soprano/Alto/Tenor/Bass

Cory-Henry-diminished-chord-scale harmonised-SATB
Cory Henry diminished scale harmonised with the scale in all Soprano/Alto/Tenor/Bass

Lastly, a nice little sequence:

Cory-Henry-Diminished-scale-chord sequence
Cory Henry Diminished scale chord sequence

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