Harmony Masterclass
Bebop Flow: Connecting Harmonic Concepts with the Family of 4
“This is a course that I've gone through several times over the years. I've actually also attended Sheryl's live workshop on the topic when I was living in California which was amaz…”
About this masterclass
Sheryl Bailey teaches her "Bebop Flow" system for creating long, fluid bebop lines: the dominant 7 bebop scale combined with a group of chord substitutions she calls the "Family of 4." One compact idea — her "microcosmic bebop line" — demonstrates how four related chords (F7, Am7b5, Cm7, Ebmaj7) stack on top of each other, letting you flow through major and minor II-V's, vamps, and virtually any chord you'll meet in a jazz progression.
What's covered
- The dominant 7 bebop scale: why chord tones must land on the downbeat, with fingerings from all four chord tones in up to three octaves
- The microcosmic bebop line, analyzed note by note
- The Family of 4 substitutions, including the "James Brown chord" (F7#9 / Am7b5 plurality) and the Cm6 / Eb6 relationships
- Getting the Lydian sound on major 7 chords by playing a dominant bebop scale up a whole step
- The "plus 1": adding D7 altered for minor II-V's and the altered (#9) sound
- Written two-bar and four-bar bebop lines, fully analyzed, plus assignments for writing your own
- Applying it all to "Just Friends," with performances and improvised solo examples
Includes PDFs in standard notation and a study suggestion from Az Samad. Read a full review in Guitar International Magazine, then continue with Bebop Flow Part 2.
"Sheryl Bailey shares her approach to practicing and developing strong sounding bebop lines and gives specific examples to demonstrate the concept. This is a lesson from a real performer so it's real practical application rather than just theory!" ~ Az Samad
"Application of the Micro-cosmic bebop line to the family of 4 plus 1 chords came very easily after taking this lesson. The application to tritone subs was excellent. Great lesson!" ~ Mark B.
Lessons in this masterclass
Section 1
- 1Bebop Flow: Connecting Harmonic Concepts with the Family of 41h 22m
- 21: Intro1m 23s
- 32. Just Friends - Intro Solo2m 50s
Lessons
- 43. What is the Flow? Dominant 7 Bebop Scale Example3m 44s
- 54. F7 Bebop Scale Fingerings From All Chord Tones (3 and 2 octaves)2m 3s
- 65. How to Use The Flow29s
- 76. The Micro-Cosmic Bebop Line - Intro2m 8s
- 87. The Micro-Cosmic Bebop Line - The Line38s
- 98. The Micro-Cosmic Bebop Line - Analysis1m 58s
- 109. The Family of 4 - Intro1m 4s
- 1110. The James Brown Chord and Pluralities2m 22s
- 1211. Am7b5 and Cm62m 30s
- 1312. The Bebop Scales4m 38s
- 1413. Nice Fingerings for Ebmaj7 and Am7b5 Arpeggios50s
- 1514. How to get a Lydian Sound1m 1s
- 1615. The Flow on Vamps1m 1s
- 1716. Major II-Vs41s
- 1817. Minor II-Vs and The Altered Sound2m 59s
- 1918. Learning to Hear on Major and Minor II-Vs2m 45s
- 2019. Learning to Hear over Major71m 23s
- 2120. II-7 V7 with Dom7 Bebop4m 34s
- 2221. Minor II V with Dom7 Bebop1m 52s
- 2322. Family of 4 Bebop Lines7m 6s
- 2423. All The Possible Sounds - F7 Cmin7 Ebmaj7 Cmin7 F7 Amin7 D7b93m 21s
- 2524. Improvised Solo Example2m 54s
- 2625. Just Friends Ala Bebop - Explanation6m 52s
- 2726. Just Friends Ala Bebop - Solo Example and Thoughts4m 17s
- 2827. Substitute II-Vs3m 10s
- 2928. Light and Dark on C74m 3s
- 3029. Just Friends (Slower Tempo)3m 34s
- 3130. Just Friends - Improvised Outro Solo2m 9s
- 3231. Conclusion3m 4s
- 33MMC Study Suggestion by Az
Reviews & Ratings
"Outstanding Classic"
Sheryl is a superlative instructor and a fabulous Jazz guitarist. This lesson captures her charisma and her knowledge and her style of instruction and even voice is well suited to Jazz instruction. She is an old soul and I keep coming back to this lesson series for its well paced atmosphere and review the material every once in a while. Top notch!
"Baileys Bebop flow"
I found this course to be very insightful. The family of 4 concept is great and provides the player multiple melodic options. Sheryl's 8 Bebop lines are very cool and I'm having fun working them into Just Friends. So glad I took this course.
"Very Well presented, really useful information"
Great foundation for anyone who wants to learn more about bebop guitar playing. Sheryl does a great job teaching this and there are excellent examples in the pdfs. To me the stuff at the end about using tritone subs in your bebop lines could probably be a separate course all by itself (since learning how to get the tension and resolution right would be so important) but that's just a suggestion, not a complaint.
"Useful, clear and precise"
This is a course that I've gone through several times over the years. I've actually also attended Sheryl's live workshop on the topic when I was living in California which was amazing. Experiencing it again now, I can say that this video is a real gem for those interested in getting the "flow". Sheryl Bailey shares her approach to practicing and developing strong sounding bebop lines and gives specific examples to demonstrate the concept. This is a lesson from a real performer so it's real practical application rather than just theory! Some bebop lessons that I've encountered at times tend to be dry and removed from the melodic flow and intensity of the real music. The best part for me is the accompanying PDF files that she uses as the basis for the demonstrations. It really helps me to study the ideas, pausing the video after she plays the examples so I can digest the sound and the fingerings for the lines. Sheryl refers to the handouts and this is helpful in pacing as well as creating a clear format for the class. For anyone interested in developing bebop chops, this is a good investment to help develop your skills.
"Big Thumbs up!"
Just wanted to add my voice to all the positive reviews of this lesson with Sheryl. This topic is something she has touched on over at Truefire, but the sum of the whole lesson is of great value in teaching this idea of 'Flow', even if you have seen those snippets. The teaching style, the playing, the pace, are all first rate and I can't recommend this lesson highly enough.
This lesson is crucial for everyone who wants to approach and get inside bebop language. Sheryl is an amazing teacher, capable to make all the concept understandable. Reccommended!
Sheryl lays out the material in a very intelligent & organized manner! Her concept is nothing short of brilliant. It's easy to understand and implement into one's playing. Mind you, it does require practice to get the scale & family of four into your fingers & mind. Much easier than learning modes and altered dominat types of scales. Great examples presented through her playing! Video quality is very good - overall, a superb presentation!<br /> <br /> Stephen "Weet"Larcovic
I just went through this lesson for the first time. I pretty well versed in theory but this put some things together for me. I shall practice and and try to perfect it. Then order another one of your courses very soon.
I think this is simply the best instructional video I've ever seen. Very practical, very clear, sick lines. Sheryl is just an amazing teacher who not only teaches very well but plays smoking lines too. By the end of the video you finally understand the concept of substitions and how to play the bebop scale. <br /> Get this !
This video is great for anyone who's studied some bebop and wishes to expand on that concept and understand the bebop language on a deeper level.<br /> <br />
Practice Etudes
Royalty-free practice pieces based on concepts from this course — included with membership.
Bebop Line Practice Etude in Bb
Just Friends Bebop Flow Etude in C
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About the instructor
