How to apply Arpeggio in Jazz improvisation

[Double 07]

Originally Posted by Flyin' Brian

Both of these are loaded with arpeggios.

Well if yous guys (lol) have read many of my posts here you'll know that this guy (Metheny) is my favorite jazz guitarist. Yes I really dig his playing. Anyway he's gone on record numerous times saying that a full 50% of what he plays in his improvisation are arpeggios. Having transcribed enough of his solos to speak knowledgeably about this I would say it's true. There is really so many things you can do with arpeggios. Frankly I don't see how you can play good jazz without making copious use of arpeggios. I use arpeggios all the time myself when I play. Learning how to use them really helps you get the sound of the chords "etched in your brain" for improvising and also keeps your solos from sounding "vague". Like if you took away the bass, keyboards and other chordal instruments I should still be able to hear the changes your playing over in your solo even without the band. Unless of course you're purposely playing free.

It takes practice time to get good at using them but once you really get it you'll realize you can play a whole guitar solo just limiting yourself to arpeggios and still sound good. There are some recordings online where Metheny is doing just that at some seminars, only chord tones soloing, and still sounds amazing.

I actually wrote a great book on using chord tones in improvising that I put together from all the notes I took when I was learning. It also has a fantastic section on getting the most out of the major scale and a method I developed to easily keep all the information organized. I never published it because at the time I didn't think anybody would be interested. Gee wiz I see so many questions about it it's got me thinking maybe I should publish the book. It's all condensed down to the real "nuts and bolts" of using them effectively. Anyway just thinking out loud.

[JensL]

[quote=Kman;192259]

Originally Posted by Flyin' Brian

Don't apologize. Which solos are you taking about? I would love to check them out. I recently transcribed this Chet Baker solo and there are not many arpeggios used at all.

ladybird.pdf - File Shared from Box - Free Online File Storage

You are right that there are not that many arps in that solo, but they are there though.

Here:
http://pubcs.free.fr/jg/jg_CBaker_Lo...d_Far_Away.pdf

http://pubcs.free.fr/jg/jg_CBaker_Autumn_Leaves.pdf

http://pubcs.free.fr/jg/jg_Out%20Of%...ere_CBaker.pdf

All transcriptions start with the melody, so look at the solo in teh 2nd chorus.

How often does somebody have to use a harmonic device for it to be part of their style?

How often do you need to use something for it to make sense to practice it?

Jens

[AmundLauritzen]

Originally Posted by Double 07

Anyway he's gone on record numerous times saying that a full 50% of what he plays in his improvisation are arpeggios.

I think he talked about chord tones in general more than arpeggios.
The reason why is that the term "arpeggios" implies chord tones in a specific sequence more than lines that have a strong emphasis on chord tones.
Of course Metheny plays both.

Not meaning to nitpick, but it is an important distinction.

[brwnhornet59]

Originally Posted by Melissa536

This is a good book that covers that subject well:

For some reason I cannot see your links.

[Kman]

Originally Posted by AmundLauritzen

I think he talked about chord tones in general more than arpeggios.
The reason why is that the term "arpeggios" implies chord tones in a specific sequence more than lines that have a strong emphasis on chord tones.
Of course Metheny plays both.

Not meaning to nitpick, but it is an important distinction.

Yes, I always thought of arpeggios as three or more chord tones in sequence up or down.

[Flyin' Brian]

Originally Posted by Kman

Yes, I always thought of arpeggios as three or more chord tones in sequence up or down.

OK the Chet records I listed have several. Since you mentioned him, the collection The Artistry of Stan Getz has many many examples.

[Double 07]

Originally Posted by AmundLauritzen

I think he talked about chord tones in general more than arpeggios.
The reason why is that the term "arpeggios" implies chord tones in a specific sequence more than lines that have a strong emphasis on chord tones.
Of course Metheny plays both.

Not meaning to nitpick, but it is an important distinction.

Yes good point. In my zeal for writing about the subject I may have gotten a little fast and loose with the semantics there. Right, effectively using and emphasizing the chord tones, which are found in the arpeggio, is probably a better way of saying it. Thanks for pointing that out

[bluewaterpig]

Originally Posted by Kman

Yes, I always thought of arpeggios as three or more chord tones in sequence up or down.

By definition you're correct, but people don't always play them perfectly in order.

I personally think it's pretty ridiculous to say that some jazz icons don't use arpeggios very often. Yes they do. They just don't play them 1 3 5 7 perfectly in order right up front for you to see.

An arpeggio is really any 3 notes stacked in 3rds. I would almost guarantee that you find some sort of arpeggio in almost any improvisation by a well known jazz guitarist.

Let's say somebody plays G D B F. By definition, that isn't really an arpeggio I guess, but that person is still thinking of a G7 arpeggio, and just breaking up the order.

Essentially all of the well known, developed jazz guitarists use arpeggios pretty regularly. They just don't play them the way that you practice them.



And of course remember, it is much more common to see substitute arpeggios being played over different chords.

[Rustic]

Good points 007, agreed about the use of chord tones/arpeggios - publish your book!

The absolute masters of arpeggios (and superimpoising them to get colors/extensions) are sax players. Going back to the roots of modern jazz, listen to Parker and Coltrane from this perspective...