Where did the language of bebop really come from? In this lesson, I explore the fascinating possibility that Charlie Parker drew inspiration from the contrapuntal writing of Johann Sebastian Bach—particularly the logic and motion found in Bach’s inventions. By looking at bebop through this lens, we can better understand why the lines sound the way they do and how to create them ourselves.
A major focus of the lesson is the role of harmonic minor and the Phrygian dominant scale, two sounds that appear constantly in bebop vocabulary and help outline dominant chord tension with clarity and direction.
We also examine the three primary ways dominant chords function in jazz harmony:
• Dominant chords resolving to major
• Dominant chords resolving to minor
• Non-resolving dominant chords that function as color or tension without traditional resolution
Through clear musical examples, you’ll see how these harmonic functions influence melodic choices and how bebop lines are constructed to reflect the underlying harmony.
A detailed PDF is included with 35 musical examples in notation and tablature, giving you practical material to study, practice, and incorporate into your own playing. This lesson connects historical insight with concrete musical tools so you can better understand—and play—the language of bebop.
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