Transforming Licks

Licks can be changed. Start them on a different note; make them longer; or even play them backwards. Here’s how:

TRANSPOSITION

In gypsy jazz we use transposition all the time: moving from key to key, but also when we use Minor Third and Tritone Dominant Subs. Transpose in first position only.

• Leading Note Lick

To practise transposing, move the lick up in semitones:

And so on. Then down in semitones:

STRETCHING

We also can make existing licks longer, for instance if the chord they are based on lasts a number of bars instead of just one. This is called stretching. Here are some examples with licks from our First Aid Licks chapter:

Leading Note Lick …

… becomes

Jessica Lick …

… becomes

Try this yourself with other licks from the First Aid chapter. Next up is a stretched Dominant lick.

Universal Dominant Lick …

… becomes

REVERSING

A lot of licks sound great played backwards, too:

• Leading Note Lick

• Reversed Leading Note Lick

Also, check out the Descending Coltrane Lick.