⚡️Master 10 Must-Know Jazz Licks Now!

Let's dive deep into 10 essential licks that will take your playing to the next level. Whether you’re new to jazz or looking to add more vocabulary to your playing, practicing this LANGUAGE will help you break free from simply running scales.

What makes these licks special? They’re drawn from the vocabulary of jazz legends. Each lick highlights simple, yet key aspects of the jazz tradition, from bluesy phrases to bebop lines, chromaticism, and more.

🔑 These licks are tools for learning the language of jazz, not just theoretical concepts. Practice them slowly, then integrate them into YOUR language.

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Check out my FREE "Jazz Warmups & Etudes" packet!
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CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro
0:44 The Importance of Language!
2:18 Forget About Being "Original"
2:59 Practice Tips for Each Lick
3:15 Lick 1 - Resolution to the Third
4:18 Lick 2 - Tonic Major / Dominant
5:00 Lick 3 - Minor 9 Arpeggio
5:50 Lick 3a - Minor 9 Triplet Variation #1
6:44 Lick 3b - Minor 9 Variation #2
7:18 Lick 4 - Tonic Major
8:38 These Licks Will Build Chops!
8:56 Lick 5 - Tonic Minor / Minor 7
10:13 Lick 6 - Minor Scale Phrase
11:36 Lick 7 - Diminish Arpeggio = Dom7b9
13:46 Practice Down By Key By Whole Step
14:57 Lick 8 - Bird Tonic Major
16:02 Lick 9 - Tonic Major with Triplet
16:52 Lick 10 - Altered Dominant
18:40 Practice these with your my own vocabulary
19:23 Combine Licks 3, 10, 2
19:51 Combine Licks 1, 8
20:18 Combine Licks 4, 9
21:16 Combine Licks 3, 1, 8, 9 along with my own vocabulary
21:38 Combine Licks 3, 10, 1, 8 along with my own vocabulary
22:26 Combine Lick 5 with my own vocabulary
23:06 Outro - TAKE YOUR TIME

[WhalenJazzLessons]

Thank you so much for checking out the video! Are there any particular lines / licks / language that you love to play? Let me know you found this helpful!

[rickg]

You’re preaching the gospel…as a saxophonist I wasted 20yrs trying to improvise with scales…great content

[MikeTsax]

This is one of the best Jazz Phrases Video I could find up to now. Great Job! It inspires me to practice these phrases slowly, in time and one by one. Even if it feels at the beginning as if your brain explodes, you get a little bit better each time. If you have more of the short ones I would watch another video like this. Thanks a lot!

[garywreford]

Really appreciated the lesson on language/licks. If you have any more language you can share it would be so helpful. There are are plenty of channels and videos focusing on scales, chords, theory, etc, . but few quality videos related to licks. Thanks !!!

[biro]

This is, by far, the most useful jazz lesson video I ever watched on YouTube!!! Amazing! Thanks a lot!

[arminburmeister]

Great lesson. I, as German, really love the calm way you are explaning thinks. Also your demonstrations are very helpfull. Thanks a lot

[jaybypass]

Amazing lesson! Very helpful! Was insightful to see how the Bird style line came together with combining the ideas 👍

[vincerobinson]

Amazing instruction. Extremely helpful. Thank you for your generosity! The licks I play are things that I have adopted over a lifetime of playing, but these are definitely things to add to what I already do. Much appreciated!

[jean-louissaillot]

Great content👍! Please keep it coming 😎🎶

[yngvi]

This really is, for me, a fantastic and timely video. Now, for transcribing and getting to my guitar. Thank you!

[josefranconline]

Excellent. Thank you. I have subscribed to your channel.

[waekwicku]

Very well thought-through and presented...Make for good warm-ups round the cycle to vary things up🙌

[abramson]

How's it possible I'm the first person to comment. This is a great video, just what I'm after. Well done.

[saranbiswakarma]

Thank you please keep uploading... it's very helpful ❤

[titocarbonelli-hernandez]

Well look what popped up on my algorithm… Nice work Tim! Good to see you brother!

[pvillez]

Great tutorial, thank you very much! Great work!

[rickrocketts]

This is a good lesson! I looked up your bio and saw you were in Phat Phunktion. I lived in Madison in the 90s and saw you guys a few times and it was always a blast. At the Union Terrace once if memory serves. Looks like you’ve become very accomplished since then. Thank you!

[andrewstrasser]

Is it better to learn bebop enclosures building blocks or full licks? Some people make you feel a bit sleazy for trying to learn licks instead of going through the building blocks of bebop enclosures. I have found that they don't always sounds that good though so I wonder what's the point of learning them if they are going to have to be applied the way that they have ended up sounding good in previously established jazz music. Would love to hear your thoughts on this!

[fabiancosster]

GodBless you and your channel i see that i gonna learn a lot of stuff with your channel.Could show me the left hand voicing in this video maybe later in another video? Many thanks

[SoleTownDuo]

That's all twelve? Ten! Haha! That cracked me up!