How to Practice Guide Tones (The Step-by-Step Method Jazz Musicians Use)
You might understand guide tones conceptually, but how do you actually practice them?
Step 1: Start with two chords
For example, you could start with the Dm7 - G7 two chord flow in my 15 Minute Warmup Routine.
Dm7 Guide Tones:
3rd = F
7th = C
G7 Guide Tones:
3rd = B
7th = F
Step 2: Move to the Nearest Guide Tone
Play:
F over both Dm7 and G7
Then play:
C over Dm7 to B over G7
(The nearest guide tone to C is B.)
Use the two chord flow backing track to help you hear the guide tones.
Bonus Tip for Pianists: Guide Tones are “Shell Voicings”
Guide tones are also called shell voicings.
Rule:
Don’t play the root
Just play the 3rd and 7th of the chord at the same time
This is especially useful for:
Pianists comping
Horn players outlining a melody
Arrangements
Impromptu backgrounds
Why this Works
When you practice guide tones over a backing track, you are training your ear to hear the 3rds and 7ths of each chord. Then, when you go to improvise, you need to connect your ear to the chord progression so you quickly execute the correct 3rd or 7th for each note. By playing guide tones, it increases your harmonic awareness and helps you play within the changes, if that is what you are aiming to do. Work on resolving your phrases on the guide tones for better sounding improvised solos.
Inside the Jazz Improv Institute, I’ve written these out for you and created a play along with a backing track. Notice whether you start on the 3rd or the 7th of the chord, and whether the next note is the third or the seventh of the chord. Then, take a solo on that chord progression, aiming to resolve to a guide tone for each chord. You can access each of these in our 15 Minute Warmup Routine eBook. You can also download them separately for free on the website.
View the video below to learn more about guide tones. Put your requests for guide tone worksheets in the comments on YouTube!
