Most Popular Lessons

Check out the attached PDF!

Check out the attached PDF!

A little abstract (is that the word?). But it's how I practice playing over tunes. 

🚨 Soloing Through the Changes Pt. 6 – Bebop Scale Variants on the Blues

In Part 6, we continue exploring scale-based soloing over the blues in F, this time using bebop dominant scale variants enriched with added chromatic passing tones. This lesson focuses on creating longer, more fluid lines that still clearly outline the changes—using the dominant bebop scale as a flexible framework, not a strict formula.

TOTM - Israel - Soloing Tips by Behn Gillece

🚨 Play a Great Blues in 3 Months – Week 5

So far in this series, we’ve focused on building a strong comping foundation:

• Guide tones in the left hand
• Smooth voicing movement
• Consistent time and rhythm

This week, we shift the focus toward line development.

👉 Using 3rds and 7ths, we begin outlining the blues with single-note lines, helping you connect harmony in a clear and musical way.

🚨 Play a Great Blues in 3 Months – Week 7

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been working with phrases drawn from Milt Jackson’s vocabulary, building full choruses from short melodic ideas.

This week, we continue that approach—but with a specific focus:

👉 Using augmented triads over dominant chords

You’ll notice that certain moments in the chorus highlight the sound of the augmented triad (1–3–#5), giving the lines a bit more tension and forward motion.

Check out the attached PDF!

Check out the attached PDF!

Assignments Due

• Open Closed with minor 2 5 1 iib5 V7b13b9 I-maj7
• Play the melody to Donna Lee, rootless voicings for one chorus, chord tone solo for one chorus, melody one chorus
• Post all of Friedman #10
• Joe Locke - Sticks and Strings
  • When did Joe Locke die?
  • Who is on this cd?
  • Do you like this cd?
  • Can you think of how this CD is a little different from the rest?

Where to go from here

• Talk about transcribing

Assignment

• Trans