Essential Jazz Vocabulary for Musicians

  • Five essential pieces of jazz vocabulary every musician should know are: The Cry Me a River lick, the Embellished Minor Resolution, the Guide Tone Sequence, the Charlie Parker Lick, and the Honeysuckle Rose Lick.
  • Each of these pieces of vocabulary can be adapted and used in different contexts, and are commonly found in jazz recordings.
  • Learning these pieces in all 12 keys and understanding how to apply them to various chords can greatly enhance a musician's improvisation skills.

via Jazz Vocabulary Every Musician Should Know