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This etude is deceptively SUPER hard!!! I think when we have chord melodies, we rely heavily on our knowledge of voicings, and that helps guide us through tunes.

But when you do something with two voices, it's almost like there's more to think about in some strange way. Anyway, try this etude to see whatI'm talking about :)

Read the pdf for all the information. Using licks to learn vocabulary and to practice moving harmony around in different keys is great! Take all your licks and move them around!

Find variations of them as well. Then you won't be a copy and paste player. You'll understand vocabulary and harmony and harmonic sound.

I posted a lesson recently where I posted the voicings and you guys supply the rhythms. Here is an etude of my rhythms and chords.

You put the chords in. It will help you memorize them. Note the upper partials and add them in as well. Play the etude!

Day 3: You will notice some open position chords in this progression. They are on the ii-V part. The tonic chords are still closed. Make note of the crunchiness in the closed chords.

Motivic Playing on the first 8 bars of "Take The A Train"

Motivic Playing is one of the chapters that will be addressed in Volume Two of The Complete Guide To Improvisation. Here is an example of motivic playing on the first 8 measures of Take The A Train. (Thanks to Gustavo Agatiello for his input with the text).

Link to 8 measure music example on Motivic Playing:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0TwrpqjL6dQdVhkXzN1WXVhLVk/edit?usp=s…

Link to download the following text on Motivic Playing:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0TwrpqjL6dQdS1SalFMR0NEN3c/edit?usp=s…

We played a blues and passed the choruses around the room. Our goal was to not mess up the form or the time. We did pretty good. Just a couple of glitches!!!