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Approach Note-Guitar

Terence Wright provides a lesson on using approach notes when improvising jazz guitar. He discusses approaching chord tones like the root and third with single or double chromatic/diatonic approaches, as well as diatonic and chromatic enclosures. The lesson includes examples and exercises for practicing approaching the fifth and seventh of chords. It encourages familiarizing yourself with approaching the root and third first before applying the technique to other chord tones.

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450 views

Approach Note-Guitar

Terence Wright provides a lesson on using approach notes when improvising jazz guitar. He discusses approaching chord tones like the root and third with single or double chromatic/diatonic approaches, as well as diatonic and chromatic enclosures. The lesson includes examples and exercises for practicing approaching the fifth and seventh of chords. It encourages familiarizing yourself with approaching the root and third first before applying the technique to other chord tones.

Uploaded by

Atto
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR

Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer


http://terencewrightguitar.com

Approach Note Series #1: Root and Third


A true staple in the jazz improvisation world is the approach note technique. It is a technique that
has been used by all of the greatest jazz improvisers of the 20th century.

The approach note technique is an easy way to incorporate powerful jazz-sounding chromaticism
into your playing. In addition to adding a chromatic sound to your improvising, the approach note
technique will also bring out the harmonic content of the tune.

Working with the approach note technique greatly increases general awareness of arpeggios and
of the fretboard as it forces us to focus on chord tones other than then root.

In the first installment of the Approach Note Series, we will take a look at approaching chord
tones root and third. We will use a II - V - I progression as the model for developing the approach
note technique.

In approaching any chord tone, there are many different options available. There are a number of
approaches covered below but, they are by no means the only ways of approaching chord tones.
After working through the entire lesson, I would encourage anyone to experiment with other
enclosure and approach ideas.

Enclosure is a term used when a chord tone is approached from both above and below.

Be sure to check out more on the subject here:

Approach Note Series #2: Fifth and Seventh

Approach Note Series #3: Building a Solo

Playing Guide
Approach Note Technique for Chord Root and Third

The examples begin with the most basic of approaches, approaching the target note with a
single note. The target note is a note chosen from either the root, third, fifth or seventh of the
chord you are improvising over. Once you have decided on a target note , you can decide on your
method of approach. At first this process seems rather cumbersome, but over time with deliberate
practice the approach note technique will flow from your fingers!

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR
Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer
http://terencewrightguitar.com

The target notes featured in this article are the chord root and third. These are the most
important notes to be aware of with this technique. I advise that you familiarize yourself with root
and third first before applying the technique to chord fifth and seventh.

1) Single chromatic approach

Chord 5th Approach:

Chord 7th Approach:

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR
Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer
http://terencewrightguitar.com

Practice Suggestions

1) Practice slowly

2) Focus on tone and rhythmic accuracy

3) Play each example in every area of the guitar. Eg. if the first note you are targeting is a C on the
A-string, make sure you play the exercise beginning from all C's on the guitar (when possible).

4) Work out how to play the exercise, when possible, on a single string.

5) Play each example in every key

6) Take the exercise through as many tunes as possible. The third installment of the Approach
Note Series #3 will provide instruction and examples on playing the technique through tunes.

2) Single diatonic approach

Chord 5th Approach:

3/9
TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR
Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer
http://terencewrightguitar.com

Chord 7th Approach:

3) Double chromatic approach

Chord 5th Approach:

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR
Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer
http://terencewrightguitar.com

Chord 7th Approach:

4) Double diatonic approach

Chord 5th Approach:

5/9
TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR
Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer
http://terencewrightguitar.com

Chord 7th Approach:

5) Diatonic enclosure

Chord 7th Approach:

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR
Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer
http://terencewrightguitar.com

Chord 7th Approach:

6) Diatonic-chromatic enclosure

(diatonic above, chromatic below)

Chord 5th Approach:

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR
Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer
http://terencewrightguitar.com

Chord 7th Approach:

7) Chromatic enclosure

(chromatic below and above)

Chord 5th Approach:

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TERENCE WRIGHT GUITAR
Jazz Guitarist - Music Educator - Composer
http://terencewrightguitar.com

Chord 7th Approach:

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