10 Great Chromatic Ideas in Jazz Licks (Easy to Weird)

One of the things that really got me into Jazz was the sound of the chromatic jazz licks. This is such a huge part of the Jazz sound, especially from Bebop and beyond.

In this video, I am going to show you 10 examples of some great sounding Jazz licks with lots of chromaticism used in different ways: Passing notes, Enclosures, Shifting Patterns, Chromatic interval melodies and more Atonal or completely far-out ideas.

The examples are borrowing from people like Charlie Parker, Doug Raney, Pat Metheny, and Herbie Hancock.

The PDF of the examples is available on Patreon including one with the analysis.

Content:
0:00 Intro - Jazz and Chromatic melodies go together!
0:28 Simple II V I - From Passing Notes to Chromatic or Atonal Ideas
0:50 Example 1 - Passing Notes
1:05 Example 1 Analysis
1:12 Example 2 - Basic Enclosures and Octave Displacement
1:27 Example 2 Analysis
1:35 Example 3 - 4-Note Enclosures and Bebop Chord Tone Enclosure
1:50 Example 3 Analysis
2:00 Example 4 - Arpeggio Leading notes and Shifting 3rd intervals
2:14 Example 4 Analysis
2:24 Example 5 - Borrowing from Melodic Minor and Longer Runs
2:38 Example 5 Analysis
2:47 Example 6 - Dissonant Enclosure and Chromatic Turns
3:01 Example 6 Analysis
3:10 Example 7 - Side-Slip reharmonization
3:26 Example 7 Analysis
3:35 Example 8 - Shifting 3-note phrase
3:49 Example 8 Analysis
3:58 Example 9 - Chromatic 3rd melody
4:14 Example 9 Analysis
4:22 Example 10 - Chromatic or Atonal 4th melody
4:38 Example 10 Analysis
4:46 Like The Video? Check out My Patreon Page!

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Edited by Luciano Poli

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[JensLarsen]

Do you have a great way to add chromatic things to your solos? Or something you would like to see a video on?
Content:
0:00 Intro - Jazz and Chromatic melodies go together!
0:28 Simple II V I - From Passing Notes to Chromatic or Atonal Ideas
0:50 Example 1 - Passing Notes
1:05 Example 1 Analysis
1:12 Example 2 - Basic Enclosures and Octave Displacement
1:27 Example 2 Analysis
1:35 Example 3 - 4-Note Enclosures and Bebop Chord Tone Enclosure
1:50 Example 3 Analysis
2:00 Example 4 - Arpeggio Leading notes and Shifting 3rd intervals
2:14 Example 4 Analysis
2:24 Example 5 - Borrowing from Melodic Minor and Longer Runs
2:38 Example 5 Analysis
2:47 Example 6 - Dissonant Enclosure and Chromatic Turns
3:01 Example 6 Analysis
3:10 Example 7 - Side-Slip reharmonization
3:26 Example 7 Analysis
3:35 Example 8 - Shifting 3-note phrase
3:49 Example 8 Analysis
3:58 Example 9 - Chromatic 3rd melody
4:14 Example 9 Analysis
4:22 Example 10 - Chromatic or Atonal 4th melody
4:38 Example 10 Analysis
4:46 Like The Video? Check out My Patreon Page!

[jayp]

I really appreciate the color coded exposition. Very helpful & informative, you certainly deserve more views & subs!

[michaelraysgo]

All your videos are good Jens, but these ones where you annotate what is going on in the licks are pure gold! Thank you!

[rccarsandmusic]

One of your best lessons. this explains a lot using chromatic and staying melodic and jazzy.

[michaelbartlett]

Some great phrases here, Jens. Those V7 chords are so awesome that they take any note with ease. I find the I to be the most challenging in making chromatic ideas work well. Thanks for the video.

[emmettmeehan]

Just wanted to say that I really enjoyed this format of video! I know that a lot of your material is focused on broader topics, but having videos from time to time that just have a couple of interesting licks with analysis is a great variance. I always appreciate your content, Jens, and always push you as a resource for other players. Keep it up, and thank you!

[kendevries]

Jens, chromaticism is ***exactly*** what has drawn me to jazz as well. At my age, I don't know that I will ever master the genre as you have but I can use your concepts to enhance my playing and sound "jazzy." Great lesson. One of your best.

[binface]

I really enjoyed the format of this video. 5 minutes to watch but it's several hours worth of work to learn on the guitar. I also enjoyed the brief analyses printed in on-screen text.

[stuartarnold]

another good clear lesson. The ideas are easy to follow and like a book easy to go back or stay on the page with this type of video. Thanks again

[danield]

I am 1:15 minutes into the video and Ive been practicing for thirty minutes. At this rate Ill never finish all of my Jens Larsen homework! Continued thanks for all the great material.

[samuelemahtolo]

Thanks, thanks, thanks ! This video is of course connected to the one I'm currently studying, the one I wrote to you about last time. Can't wait to get my hands on a guitar. This is excellent stuff, really...

[ammiammi]

Thank you Jens. Great help as always. Much appreciated. Cheers.

[BlueSkies]

This is a very helpful video. The presentation is excellent, thank you!

[alboumcinen]

I like that I can just learn these if I want with the tabs/ notes and that's fantastic. Later I can look at the explanations, in my opinion a great video. No talk only showing! Talking is important but a video like this is also nice!

[FrantzesElzaurdia]

Love the title! Not easy to hard, but easy to *weird* lol

[maksymilian]

Jens, thanks for that piece. It's fantastic !!!

[frankvaleron]

Great ideas here as always Jens thanks. Really enjoying your book so far - you should consider mentioning it more in your videos as many people probably don't know you have these Modern and Advanced volumes available

[dkwvt]

Great ideas, the development from first to last is really interesting and the notation sidebars are a big help...! Thank You. 😎

[RCSmiths]

Chromatics are essentially to Jazz soloing indeed! After all, there are no wrong notes in the chromatic scale haha! Great work indeed!

[Samuelee]

Jens you are amazing. I'm happy I bought your book!