Chromatic Approaches for Improvisers

Group guitar class taught by Kris Johnson

1 hour per week

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Bored with the same old licks you always play? Join Kris Johnson for a 4-week course that will help you unleash the power of chromaticism in your playing. You'll learn all about using approach tones and bebop scales-- two of the main ingredients in bebop vocabulary-- to build and expand your own lines, and study how masters like Charlie Parker and Clifford Brown used these concepts. You'll get the information you need, presented with the infectious and supportive enthusiasm of Kris Johnson's signature teaching style. By the end, you'll not understand the concepts, but be able to execute them on your instrument. Chromatic Approaches for Improvisers will be taught on trumpet and piano, but is appropriate for intermediate-level musicians on any instrument. PDF handouts will be provided for all transpositions.

What's included

Video chat lessons

Learn and ask questions with Kris Johnson every week.

Lesson replays

Unlimited access to recordings from class.

Private community

Practice with people who share your love of guitar.

Taught by Kris Johnson

Teaching on Til since 2022

3 students · 4 lessons

I'm Kris Johnson, a trumpeter, composer, and educator. I've appeared on five Grammy-nominated albums and composed the original score for an Emmy-nominated webseries, toured the world with the Count Basie Orchestra as trumpeter and arranger from 2008-2019, and I'm a former college professor.

What you'll do

Meet Approach Tones

We'll start out with introducing approach tones by studying transcription excerpts, then learn the four types of approaches and apply them to the circle of fourths. Be ready to play along!

Meet Approach Tones

We'll start out with introducing approach tones by studying transcription excerpts, then learn the four types of approaches and apply them to the circle of fourths. Be ready to play along!

Using Approach Tones with Chords

In this class, we'll expand our capacity by applying approach tones to Major 6 and Dominant 7 chords. Bring your axe and be ready to learn by playing together!

Using Approach Tones with Chords

In this class, we'll expand our capacity by applying approach tones to Major 6 and Dominant 7 chords. Bring your axe and be ready to learn by playing together!

Combining Bebop Scales with Approach Tones

Now that you can execute approach tones, we'll review bebop scales and work on combining them with approach tones. As usual, be ready to play!

Combining Bebop Scales with Approach Tones

Now that you can execute approach tones, we'll review bebop scales and work on combining them with approach tones. As usual, be ready to play!

Use Approach Tones and Bebop Scales to make Original Lines

Today's the day we put it all together. First, we take another look at transcriptions to see how the masters did it, then we use "target lines" to create our own lines as a class.

Use Approach Tones and Bebop Scales to make Original Lines

Today's the day we put it all together. First, we take another look at transcriptions to see how the masters did it, then we use "target lines" to create our own lines as a class.

Who you are

This information is appropriate for intermediate-level musicians familiar with the concept of improvisation. If you can read music and have some basics of music theory (such as a working knowledge of major scales, basic seventh chords, and intervals) you'll be good to go! This class is appropriate for all instrumentalists and singers.

What to bring

You'll need: 1) An instrument (a voice counts!) 2) A location where you can play along 3) A reliable internet connection 4) A good attitude Helpful but not required: 1) A decent camera/microphone on the device you're watching the class on

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