Bebop Question

[jason30]

Hi Jazzers!

Im trying to get into playing the bebop style of jazz, but im so lost as to where to start. Is there an instructional audio cd/dvd that will slowly walk me through the steps of how to become better at playing bebop? Most of the cds that i buy of the masters playing bebop are going so fast that all i can do is listen. Hope to hear from you guys!

thanks
jason30

[Scrybe]

I haven't tried bebop yet, but a lot of the changes seem pretty similar to my ears, so I'd suggest learning a few of the big bebop tunes from a real book or somesuch. Stuff like Cherokee. To my ears, bebop has a lot of i-V-I progressions, and the bridge always seems to modulate to the same degree. I also hear a lot of tunes as being blues progressions, albeit with jazzier connections (e.g. a ii-V-I or ii-vi-V-I turnaround in place of the basis V-IV-I-V turnaround). Were I delving into bebop right now, those are the places my ears tell me to start.

[FatJeff]

Originally Posted by jason30

Hi Jazzers!

Im trying to get into playing the bebop style of jazz, but im so lost as to where to start. Is there an instructional audio cd/dvd that will slowly walk me through the steps of how to become better at playing bebop? Most of the cds that i buy of the masters playing bebop are going so fast that all i can do is listen. Hope to hear from you guys!

thanks
jason30

There is a 3-volume book set available by David Baker that is very good. It is still published (although I can't find all 3 volumes on Amazon - in that case, you may want to have a go at scribd).

The Emily Remler bebop DVD is very good, although not comprehensive.

Have a look at this resource: OPUS 28 Promotions - Jazz Improvisation. The article on perpetual motion really nails the essence of what bebop solos rely on.

Finally - listen! Listen to tons of bebop: Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius Monk, Sonny Stitt, Sonny Rollins, Sonny Clark, Hank Mobley, Woody Shaw, Wes Montgomery, JJ Johnson...this list goes on!

[Reg]

Most Bebop tunes are just eight bar blues with a bridge. Usual form is A A B A. A typical 8 bar "A" sections for example; Bb6/9, G7#9 / C-9, F7#9 / Bb6/9, G7#9 / C-9, F7#9 / F-11, Bb7b13 / Eb6/9, Ab13 / D-7b5, G7b13 / C-9, F7b13 / , I spiced up the changes a little, but basically the first 4 bars are the I chord, bars 5 & 6 are the IV chord and 7th and 8th bar are your turn around, or the V chord. There are lots of versions, Parkers Comfirmation is still a blues, just goes to rel. min. as part of I chord. The "B" sections are usually extensions of the V chord or simple common chord patterns to blow over to break up the "A" sections. Not quite that simple, but for soloing it is. By blues I don't mean Rock & Roll...I'm not referring to pentatonics, although they have their place and are great. Another small detail, bop gets really old with out the ability to burn... not all the time, but much more so than standards...Reg

[cubemonkey]

for me, what got me going was Jimmy Bruno's no nonsense Jazz guitar DVD.
Then next it was Emily Remlers Advanced Jazz improvisation.

[jason30]

Thanks guys for all the input and advice that you've offered. It has been very helpful and i think im getting the hint of where to start and what i need to be practicing! Thanks alot!!!

jason30

[Zhivago]

Nice link FatJeff... checking it out ! thanks

[RememberClifford1]

Dave Baker books. The Improvisation books or (of course) the How to Play Bebop series. He's VERY academic so it might seem like there are too many rules and all at first but it's all good stuff. I wound up going through it and just taking what seemed reasonable and applying it. I forgot about the book until a teacher wanted me to started working out of it again so I just picked it up and looked through it and it all makes much more sense. Still think some of it's too dense but I'll just go through the same cycle again and pick some more stuff out next time. Great stuff. 100% worth the effort.