Clint's authentic phrasing guide

[Strat-itis]

Soul Bop - Melody Phrasing Module

A framework for phrasing jazz lines that sound animated, composed, and natural rather than noob or overblown.

Melody Contour Types - Scales, arpeggios, intervals, chromatics

Chromatic Types

Neighbor tone - Half step above or below. Includes drop-back (OS term): main note, half step down, main note.
Approach - 2+ chromatic notes from below or above.
Enclosure - Scale tone above, half step below, main note. With variations.
Run through - Similar to an enclosure but starting on the main note: main note, scale tone above, main note, half step below, main note. With variations.

The 3 Melodic Content Categories

Motif - Short, repeatable cell using 1-2 contour types. Rhythmically distinct, can be sequenced, inverted, or developed. Breaks up linear playing and prevents endless running. Can be purely scales, arps, or intervals since brevity carries it. The 'word' of the language.
Line - The grooving connective tissue of the music. 2-3 contour types. Less architecturally dense than a full phrase. Moves through changes, maintains blues gravity and rhythmic propulsion. Not a lick, not a statement - the bloodstream. Should generally open with a chromatic to avoid sounding like plain noodling.
Phrase - A fully constructed bop line built from 3-4 contour types combined into a complete musical statement. Types connect sequentially, each handing off to the next to create forward motion - for example: enclosure into arp up into scale descent into interval tag. 4 types is deluxe. Used occasionally when there is space and processing room - this is where the music sounds composed and melodic.

Note: The category names - Motif, Line, and Phrase - are intentionally repurposed in the spirit of Barry Harris, whose terminology (e.g. calling a 4-5 note arpeggio a 'chord') redefines common terms to reflect how they function in the music rather than their standard definitions.

Guideline - Open lines and phrases with a chromatic. Plain scale or arp openings sound noob on anything longer than a short motif. An interval can also be used.

Balance - Only short motifs sounds amateur. Only long lines sounds overblown. The meat of the music is lines, punctuated by motifs, with occasional fully constructed phrases that stand out precisely because they aren't constant.

[charlieparker]

Soul Bop - Melody Phrasing Module

A framework for phrasing jazz lines that sound animated, composed, and natural rather than noob or overblown.

Contour Types - Scales, arpeggios, intervals, chromatics

Chromatic Types

Neighbor tone - Half step above or below. Includes drop-back (OS term): main note, half step down, main note.
Approach - 2+ chromatic notes from below or above.
Enclosure - Scale tone above, half step below, main note. With variations.
Run through - Similar to an enclosure but starting on the main note: main note, scale tone above, main note, half step below, main note. With variations.

The 3 Melodic Content Categories

Motif - Short, repeatable cell using 1-2 contour types. Rhythmically distinct, can be sequenced, inverted, or developed. Breaks up linear playing and prevents endless running. Can be purely scales, arps, or intervals since brevity carries it. The 'word' of the language.
Line - The grooving connective tissue of the music. 2-3 contour types. Less architecturally dense than a full phrase. Moves through changes, maintains blues gravity and rhythmic propulsion. Not a lick, not a statement - the bloodstream. Should generally open with a chromatic to avoid sounding like plain noodling.
Phrase - A fully constructed bop line built from 3-4 contour types combined into a complete musical statement. Types connect sequentially, each handing off to the next to create forward motion - for example: enclosure into arp up into scale descent into interval tag. 4 types is deluxe. Used occasionally when there is space and processing room - this is where the music sounds composed and melodic.

Note: The category names - Motif, Line, and Phrase - are intentionally repurposed in the spirit of Barry Harris, whose terminology (e.g. calling a 4-5 note arpeggio a 'chord') redefines common terms to reflect how they function in the music rather than their standard definitions.

Guideline - Open lines and phrases with a chromatic. Plain scale or arp openings sound noob on anything longer than a short motif. An interval can also be used.

Balance - Only short motifs sounds amateur. Only long lines sounds overblown. The meat of the music is lines, punctuated by motifs, with occasional fully constructed phrases that stand out precisely because they aren't constant.

Strong?

[Strat-itis]

Me

[AllanAllen]

Couldn't be you, that Clint was banned like 3 times. LOL

[pamosmusic]

Strong?

So strong.

[pauln]

We have to be strong! We need strength to resist
playing in such a manner that people recognize a
guide utilized to discover and develop our playing.
Music; invisible illusion; a spell best left unbroken.

[Strat-itis]

So strong.

Thx

Couldn't be you, that Clint was banned like 3 times. LOL

Not me

We have to be strong! We need strength to resist
playing in such a manner that people recognize a
guide utilized to discover and develop our playing.
Music; invisible illusion; a spell best left unbroken.

Mad at theory.

[pauln]

Mad at theory.

Hallelujah!

[callouscallus]

Cool guide. Now develop a video or short video series clearly demonstrating the concepts and demonstration methods.

There's a lot of info out there lately and some of it can be helpful when presented in the right way from a person who has both the knowledge and communication skills to share it.

I've found a few jems out there. Open Studio on youtube is amazing as is this more recent find:

[Strat-itis]

Cool guide.

Thx

Now develop a video or short video series clearly demonstrating the concepts and demonstration methods.

Yeah nah. People don't even like my posts, I'm not gonna do all that work for zero benefit.