LJS 158: Using Chromaticism to Develop Your Jazz Lines




Welcome to episode 158 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to add chromaticism into your jazz lines. Chromaticism is one of the characteristics of a classic "jazz sound" and so we take a close look at how to implement it. We go over 5 different licks and gradually introduce chromaticism into them.
Listen to episode 158







Chromaticism is what I consider a prominent characteristic of the classic "jazz sound." Classic, meaning, some of the more traditional languages of jazz like bebop.
Anyone can add chromatic notes into their jazz lines, but doing it in a way that is tasteful and makes musical sense takes some study and understanding.
Beboppers like Charlie Parker were experts at utilizing chromaticism in a tasteful way. That's where this concept of "there are no wrong notes" comes from.
The idea being, as long as you resolve a chromatic note to a diatonic note properly, it's going to sound good. This is the concept of tension and resolution.
In this episode, I go over 5 licks that I composed that slowly introduce chromaticism. Let's dig in!







In this episode:
1. Definition of chromaticism.
2. Example of a diatonic line with no chromaticism.
3. 4 licks that introduce chromaticism into the diatonic line.







Lick With No Chromaticism


Lick Adding Chromaticism


Lick Adding More Chromaticism


Lick Exaggerating Chromaticism


Short ii-V-I Using Enclosure


Thanks for listening to this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast. If you aren't already, make sure you are subscribed on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
I look forward to having you join me in the next episode!
Important Links
The Jazz Standards Playbook
LJS 150: Using Enclosure to Create Bebop Lines Over a Jazz Blues



Om Podcasten

The LJS Podcast is the podcast where you get weekly jazz tips, interviews, stories and advice for becoming a better jazz musician! Hosting the show is the jazz musician behind learnjazzstandards.com, author, and entrepreneur Brent Vaartstra, who’s one goal is to answer any question about playing jazz music you may have. Jazz can be a challenging music to learn and play, but it doesn’t have to be so hard. Each episode features a specific musical challenge that jazz students may come across, where it is discussed and answered. Special jazz guests frequent the show, sharing their expertise on an array of different musical subject matter. Listeners are invited to call in with their jazz questions to the podcast hotline, where it could get answered on a future LJS Podcast episode. Join thousands of other listeners getting free jazz education every week!