That idea of weaving a melody around the 3rds (or other interval) works really well Jens. Better than thinking arpeggios & scales.
@insidejazzguitar81122 жыл бұрын
I have found it very helpful to notice when the greats like Bird play the fourth degree over a dominant chord, because it gives you insight into their thinking about harmony. It’s often the back door dominant as a substitute for dominant chord. But it might be a suspension or extending the II minor chord across the bar, or repeating short II-Vs. just thinking of it as an avoid note would close off an important part of bebop harmony.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Indeed, they are all over the language so trying to not hit them is really not going to be very useful 🙂
@Arthur_My_Dear2 жыл бұрын
I think you’re an excellent teacher, Jens. As well as learning, your teaching makes me want to learn and makes it fun to. Thanks. Ans also for not hiding everything behind a paywall
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
You're very welcome! I am glad you like the videos!
@picksalot12 жыл бұрын
One of favorite guitarists is Django, who enjoyed sitting on all kinds of avoid notes and dissonances and making them work. Excellent lesson. Thanks
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Exactly :)
@gilfordmoore7062 жыл бұрын
You absolutely have the best videos with the most clear direction. I love listening to and watching them. They are very motivating! Thank you!! ☮️❤️🎶
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Thank you 🙂
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
*Imagine telling a student: "Here is a Kenny G album, don't play like that!" Compared to "Here is a Grant Green album. Try to play like that" What do you think is more useful?* ✅Melodic Skills You Need To Develop - Important Jazz Exercises: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4iodJybf9aEeJI ✅ How To Solo Over Chord Changes kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJCri4aLm7R-ra8 You Use Target Notes or Avoid Notes?
@AnnaPrzebudzona2 жыл бұрын
That line at 6:20 is so nice! Soft guitar tone with a pinch of spicy avoid note - my favourite snack ☺️
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Thank you :) We aim to make tasty licks 😁
@bobartur13862 жыл бұрын
This is why in jazz and in general in music there are no wrong notes! It depends only on how and in which context are played. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Jens!
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Exactly :)
@rubenmora98802 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much, Jens. The lesson is great. It´s a interesting tutorial for the improvisation.Un abrazo
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it!
@ChinqMiau12 жыл бұрын
Great lesson as always. Thank you.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it!
@michaelstevens82 жыл бұрын
Your absolutely right Jens. Any so called Avoid Note can be played as a Passing Note , Lower/Upper Neighbor or part of an Enclosure etc. then resolved. In some Genres of Jazz like Modal, Third Stream, Free Improvisation, you might even sit on the note a while. As far as Target Notes are concerned, both Bach and Charlie Parker would often put the Diatonic 1, 3, 5, or 7 on the downbeat of the 1st and 3rd beats which helps to Imply the Chord but, and this is Crucial, they were absolutely not Dogmatic about it otherwise it becomes way too predictable. Anyone that wants more information about this, and I may have said this in a previous comment but it bears repeating, check out Forward Motion by Hal Galper. Bach and Parker. Great minds that thought alike. Thanks.
@ericstrauch32152 жыл бұрын
Great lesson Jens! I was taught to not "land" or end a phrase on the F (4th). And, that the F (4th) is to be used as a "passing" tone.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Yes, that is a much more sensible than just saying not to use it.
@alfiesolomon35312 жыл бұрын
Finally someone who addressed with clarity the choices that sounds the best.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Glad you found it useful! :)
@ebestul842 жыл бұрын
I emphasize playing fearlessly with all of my students. Every note can be the right one in the right context.
@kevindonnelly7612 жыл бұрын
Looking forward to this video. Thanks Jens.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Hope you like it!
@benkatof58522 жыл бұрын
Great! - "Get used to the sound...." That's the key for target notes in my opinion. Big difference between knowing a note to target and hearing it.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Yes, it is indeed important to hear where the melody is going :)
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
That is also why I so often target the 3rd in the chord, it is the clear choice most of the time
@colburnmowry2 жыл бұрын
Jens you have made learning such a fun process for us. I often get lost in learning online and not focusing on playing enough, you make it that enjoyable. Thanks for making this collection of videos, and making them available to us all. It has helped me so much.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Really glad you like them 🙂
@guilhermemoura43792 жыл бұрын
Great lesson as always! Thanks, Jens.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it!
@tspicks43602 жыл бұрын
Great lesson. I've long had the idea in my head of "target notes" in terms of singing musical phrases and melodies ... what note to "aim for" or emphasize as one goes along. Can clearly hear this in great singers like Sinatra or Ray Charles. Love seeing this so clearly explained in a jazz instrumental context, even more applicable, imo.Thanks!
@GMAtheory2 жыл бұрын
I just recently discovered your channel and although I am already a professional player I love the way you get to the basics. And, you are helping me be a better teacher. Thanks for the videos I really appreciate them.🎵
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Glad they are useful! It is indeed important to find new ways to teach things 🙂
@etiloyon36812 жыл бұрын
Thank you, Jens another clear and helping tutorial.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@The2378AlpacaMan Жыл бұрын
i gotta say this and your other videos really help resolve some of the mystery that is improvising like i'd watched your videos before, but maybe it makes more sense to me now because i'm absorbing some of the more basic stuff first (using the scale, looking at the melody, target notes of the chords, etc)
@brentmadden7892 жыл бұрын
Great lesson! I was taught many years ago playing horn to avoid certain notes instead of intelligently improvising with chord tones and triadic inversions (chord-scale theory was the norm). Spitting out blues scales and Dorian mode just made me sound like a robot. This lesson is also aptly applied to life in general: focus on creating the life you want instead of what you don't want! Cheers!
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Thank you, Brent! Yes, I think this does indeed apply to life as well :)
@breakfastplan45182 жыл бұрын
Another winnning video, Jens! Loving your new format! :)
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Thank you 🙂
@alanl25502 жыл бұрын
For what it’s worth I’ve just bought a 2005 Korean made Epiphone Sheraton II. I’m very excited about it and I had to let you know as your Epiphone was my inspiration. Many thanks Jens.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Congrats! That is great Alan! They are really good instruments!
@djmileski2 жыл бұрын
Man, your advice on how to approach this is awesome. Thank you
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@thingsivelearnedfrombarryh26162 жыл бұрын
I think it's important to point out that Barry doesn't see that G as the 5th of C minor as much as he thinks of it as the 2nd of F7. He thinks of that whole 2 bars as F7. I think this is a point that gets misrepresented a lot. Also, I think the phrase starts with Bb major not Bb7 so it's A natural not Ab.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Yes, that is certainly an A, I even remember it from writing it out for Patreon. Did I manage to make it an Ab now? I don't think it really matters whether you want to think of it as a target for F7 or a target for Cm7. The point is that the melody (clearly?) leads there, and it is such an obvious G7 Cm7 that it would more confusing to call it an F7 in this context.
@novembrinewaltz902 жыл бұрын
That's clearly a B°7 arpeggio resolving on the 5th of Cm7. F7 comes clearly later, when the 3rd (A) is used as a target note in bar 4. This "there's no II, only V" thing is getting a bit out of hand.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
@@novembrinewaltz90 That doesn't really matter too much here, and Chris is right that Barry would explain it like that, that is a part of his system :)
@novembrinewaltz902 жыл бұрын
@@JensLarsen Trying to see and hear a b9 of a dominant chord resolving to the major 9th of a dominant chord a whole-step down (G7b9 -> F9) seems very difficult to me, compared to a typical V-I cadence where everything runs smoothly. But everyone has their own way to see things, I guess.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
@@novembrinewaltz90 Yes, it is not something to get all worked up about 🙂
@laphrase12 жыл бұрын
Very Great lesson as Always
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Thank you 🙂 Glad it was useful!
@sonnyobrien2 жыл бұрын
Reading Forward Motion now. Thanks JENS!!
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Glad you like it 🙂
@jamescopeland53582 жыл бұрын
This lesson has given me ideas and a way to approach the targets
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Go for it 👍
@MorningCarnival Жыл бұрын
Bullseye! Just what I need this week!!!
@JensLarsen Жыл бұрын
Great 🙂
@Alan-zi2rs2 жыл бұрын
Great video Jens much appreciated 🎶🎸👌👍
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
My pleasure!!
@JohnHorneGuitar2 жыл бұрын
Funny story about "avoid notes" (though I don't think I knew the term at that time) when I was in high school I got really into the older instrumental George Benson recordings. My guitar teacher at the time dug up some transcriptions from Blue Benson, Giblet Gravy, etc. I saw that in many of his minor lines Benson was playing the major 3rd over minor chords. I knew this was a basically an avoid note that somehow sounded good but I was too dumb to consider just learning the lines. I wanted some kind of *concept* to use. And so, not understanding the minor bebop scale or what constituted typical bebop language, I spent several frustrating days really trying to force major thirds to sound good on minor chords and sounding worse than ever.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Yes, making rules for what should work never works. Good story 😂
@The2378AlpacaMan Жыл бұрын
your explanations were already good, but i can tell they've improved
@djmileski2 жыл бұрын
Good point. And the avoid notes seem to give character
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Indeed :)
@ChrisBuonoGuitar2 жыл бұрын
TRUTH. All of it. Well done, brotha.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much Chris! Glad you think so!
@markslist15422 жыл бұрын
An excellent video. Thank you.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@timrush13152 жыл бұрын
Id like to just say that while I get the that we need to focus on what notes to play, you can simultaneously be conscious of what not to. A way this was taught to me clearly is by sharing intervals that were kosher for certain chord times and ones that aren't ( like a fourth in the bass over a major chord). Another reason this isn't helpful is because the tonal "glue" and physics of theory allow for an F to be more digestible if it is what we call an 11. Bass notes carry much more weigh and are more susceptible to causing dissonance or tension. Another important factor is what beat or down beat the note is occurring on and if there is intentional atonal intervalic approaches to the target note
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
But surely that is not focusing on "what not to play"?
@timrush13152 жыл бұрын
you are right, I guess a topic I take for granted
@Crowsinger2 жыл бұрын
Awesome! I thought of something similar recently - instead of calling notes "target" and "avoid", I tried explaining them to a student as "different levels of tension" and, frankly, I think that's how they should have been known as in the first place. Even among the "target notes" I would consider the degrees of varying tension - the first being of the lowest tension, then the fifth - fitting well with the overtones of the first, then the third, and then the seventh. I wouldn't consider them tense, but more like "of varying levels of distinguishability among the chord tones".
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Remember that using something as a target note does not say anything about the note, it could be any note. The target note strategy is a method and a way of playing music not really a description of the notes.
@Crowsinger2 жыл бұрын
@@JensLarsen yes, yes, that's why I used the quotation marks around "target notes", i.e. I meant "chord tones", not your definition of target notes, with which I agree very much and which I prefer, compared to the other one.
@insidejazzguitar81122 жыл бұрын
Some target notes are more easily interpreted by your ear as indicating a chord change. I love hitting the fifth degree of certain chords, but it can be a little more ambiguous. But ambiguity is good sometimes too.
@bradford_shaun_murray2 жыл бұрын
2:26 that's interesting, ironically an avoid note as a target note probably could open up some extra creative passing lines that are very different from the norm. 4:15 the new album title
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
There is an example of how an avoid note as a target note can work later in the video :)
@paulpmanhowland78182 жыл бұрын
Great video.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it, Paul!
@fredericoferreira83882 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much!
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
You're welcome!
@buzz56472 жыл бұрын
Jens, love these presentations, always informative. Have a question regarding Omni books. Hal Leonard sells these books covering Joe Pass and the likes. Have you ever used them? Would you recommend any?
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Thanks! I have no experience with those books, sorry :)
@BluegillGreg2 жыл бұрын
What I'm getting from this lesson is "Don't target the IKEA Strat with a hammer. Gently target a screwdriver at the Tele."
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
That's more or less it.... 😂
@cbolt44922 жыл бұрын
Loving the humour #IKEA 😄
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Christian! :)
@davidwyman89462 жыл бұрын
This is a great channel!! Thanks for posting. One thing about this video--I kind of like the sound of the chord, f over CM7. I like dissonance in music, for some reason I can't identify. Do you have video[s] on where this can be used? I'll take a look on your channel myself but it would be interesting to see this. I also like 12 tone music too so...
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Thanks! There is an example of how that works later in the video. There are some videos like that on the channel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH_OnHV9ZtajgJo kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGi7pZ6rp6x4ntk
@Aaron_French2 жыл бұрын
Amazing
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful 🙂
@diegomaugeri40382 жыл бұрын
The truth about 'avoid notes' is that they derive from the god awful concept of 'chord scale.' For as long as boppers had a strong grip on the chords, and of course the implied 'chord tones,' there were no avoid notes: anything would work because it would resolve on a chord tone. Once you lose sight of the chord for the scale, and players begun not resolving their modal phrases, then you'd find yourself in the mine field of the 'avoid notes!' Thanks Mr Larsen for another great lesson!
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Yes, I think there is certainly some truth to that in terms of scales being a bit too important in Jazz education.
@alexdebling15642 жыл бұрын
The concept of the "avoid note" always seemed so juvenile to me. It's like walking down the street and superstitiously obsessing over not stepping on cracks ("or you'll break your mother's back!") and awkwardly breaking your stride. Cracks in the sidewalk are nothing to worry about if you know how to walk ;) If anything positive can be learned from the avoid note, I would think it would be learning how NOT to avoid them as a creative challenge.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Exactly 🙂
@AZURLITENTERTAINMENT2 жыл бұрын
Does anybody know what the double cut solid body is?
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
It is a Yamaha SG1000 😁
@AZURLITENTERTAINMENT2 жыл бұрын
@@JensLarsen thanks
@skineyemin42762 жыл бұрын
Why didn't you use an example from one of Barry Harris' tracks from one of his albums instead of that excerpt from a video from one his his jazz classes? i mean, of all the jazz musicians you've named in your video, Barry Harris would be the best point of reference because he was a modern day bebop purist.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Because I had written out a few things from the videos for my Patrons and already had that.But, I have to say that I find his examples strong enough to work for this, and also that the fact that he uses this when he teaches also even more clearly emphasizes that he does it on purpose, so in that way it is maybe a stronger example than a transcription, now that I think about it.
@LostSoulAscension2 жыл бұрын
Any thoughts on Ted Greene's Chord Chemistry? I have the book but... xD haha That bach to bebop book sounds good!
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
I don't have that one, I believe I studied some stuff from another book of his, but I only got copies from my teacher.
@LostSoulAscension2 жыл бұрын
@@JensLarsen ah okay cool, yeah I think he has that one and another one on melody but the chord one Ive understood is just how to play the same chord almost every possible way to make points but its hard to apply with that overwhelming kind of a start. I do have the mickey baker jazz book 1, but have lately been considering just going into modern metbod for guitar cause I do feel like my overall goals pertain more to a pop style, but I do love jazz and classical and try my best to refer to those styles as ways to challenge my approach to music overall, with the presumption that it should expand my vocabulary and ability in slightly "easier" genre's like rock, blues, or metal. Definitely am appreciating your videos, espeically the one with the 7th chord scale horizontally up the neck. I do recall barry harris saying in one of his videos to really learn the names of all chords in every key, like every major and minor chord belongs to 3 keys, each key has 1 dominant 7th and a diminished that we should know, etc. Those have been kinda my basic approaches to theory so far and really sticking with the triads as I know you and a few other teachers have mentioned on youtube, like tomo fujita, and I also like pebber brown too.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
@@LostSoulAscension Glad you like the videos 🙂 When Barry talks about every chord in the key, then he means all the diatonic chords, not all possible voicings
@johnjacquard8632 жыл бұрын
lol :D i thought you said.. "Johnny Parker" i was like " what?....., who is that? lol
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Maybe don't put your amp so loud when you practice? 😂
@johnjacquard8632 жыл бұрын
@@JensLarsen lol :D
@rillloudmother2 жыл бұрын
Now I know where the ikea shredder gets his guitars, now I can switch to hair metal.
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
Go for it! 🙂
@tonyfaelens36262 жыл бұрын
Anthony Jackson : There are no wrong notes .
@captainkangaroo43012 жыл бұрын
I do like to use a very big hammer on IKEA furniture.
@123jkjk1232 жыл бұрын
My advice - if you hit an "avoid note" accidentally, keep hammering away at it until it sounds like you intended it!
@noi5emaker2 жыл бұрын
Alan Holdsworth only played avoid notes. There, I said it...
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
😂 Well....
@noi5emaker2 жыл бұрын
@@JensLarsen No I'm not going to play all avoid notes, before you ask haha!
@vertyisprobablydead2 жыл бұрын
That Cmaj7add11? I just played it. I hate it. It sounds really, really bad!
@JensLarsen2 жыл бұрын
And this was a surprise? 🙂
@vertyisprobablydead2 жыл бұрын
@@JensLarsen lmao
@andyshaw325 Жыл бұрын
@@JensLarsen So are you saying that an 11th on a C chord is an avoid note?
@JensLarsen Жыл бұрын
@@andyshaw325 no, I am saying that a maj7(11) is not stable because of the b9 between the 11 and the 3rd. It does not mean that you have to use inefficient soloing strategies 🙂