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These 6 free guitar lessons are from Fareed Haque’s Bebop Improv Survival Guide, the essential, no-nonsense system for bebop improvisation. Fareed presents the underlying architecture of bebop demonstrating how bebop lines are built from arpeggios and jazz chords, and also how to create bebop scales and connect them across changes. He also goes through examples and examinations of chord types and other scales to shape your bebop prowess.

Bebop Improv Survival Guide #2: Arpeggios Into Scales

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As we mentioned earlier, this is one if the great benefits of an arpeggio based approach. No fancy Greek names needed. I see G7, arpeggiate G7, fill in to create multiple G7 scales….all using (and developing) my ear and simultaneously developing my own style.

Check it out! A scale for G7?? Gee , I dunno, how ’bout we call it a ‘G7 Scale’. Yea, that oughta impress ’em. A scale for G7#5??? Hmmm, I’m thinking, thinking, thinking…Got it! Let’s call it a ‘G7#5 scale” Brilliant! Awesome! Total GENIUSNESS!!

Bebop Improv Survival Guide #3: Soloing Example

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Here I leave the given chords and play on leading chords that I am hearing and thinking, but are not actually being played in the track. For example, listen for how I play Cdom7(b9) in the last 1/2 of the bar of Cm7 to lead to Fm.

Also listen for the use of D7 instead of D 1/2 diminished to get to G7 and the use of Db7 ( tritone sub of G7 ) to get back to Cm7. I also play Bb7 to get to Ebm7, the first chord of the bridge.

Bebop Improv Survival Guide #4: Outlining Ab7

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The basic chord, arpeggio and scales on Ab7. This dominant 7th chord is going to Db major so we will be less likely to use alterations when going to Db. That being said, using alterations like b9s, #11s, b13s sounds GREAT! Especially because its less common.

Explore carefully to teach your ear the different effects of each sound.

Bebop Improv Survival Guide #5: Ebmin7 to Ab7 to Dbmaj7

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This is the classic ii-V-I in a major key. Explore using b9 vs nat 9 on the Ab7 chord, as well as 13th, b13th and #11.

Bebop Improv Survival Guide #6: Chord Substitution

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Principle 2: Lead to any chord with its own dominant.

For ex: we can take our ii-V-I in C and lead to Dmt with its own dominant A7. we can even shuttle between a chord and its dominant as much as we want, and have time for, before moving on to the next chord. dm7 – G7 -Cmaj 7 can become A7 – Dm7 to A7 to D7 to G7-D7-D7-Cmaj7-G7-C7! All coming from adding dominants and leading dominants to a simple ii-V-I in C!

Bebop Improv Survival Guide #7: Bonus Performance

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Here’s another example of bebop playing in my style. I hope that these solos help to inspire you to pick up your guitar and join in some bebop jam sessions.

It’s a blast!

Dig these bebop improv lessons? Download Fareed Haque’s Bebop Improv Survival Guide for much more including tab, notation, and jam tracks!