Before we dive into the next steps—where we’ll explore a wide variety of melodic phrases over all kinds of ii–V–I settings—let’s take a moment to set the stage.

The topic of learning and practicing vocabulary is often discussed, and occasionally debated, but one thing most agree on is this: learning lines you love—especially ones drawn from the masters—is a vital part of the jazz guitar journey.

That said, how we approach learning vocabulary can make all the difference. It’s not just about memorizing licks—it’s about absorbing them in a way that helps us internalize the sound, feel, and purpose behind each phrase. So before we jump into all the musical material, I’d like to share a few thoughts on how to approach vocabulary in a way that sets you up for long-term success and creativity.

Lesson Video

Key Learning Outcomes and Topics Covered

• Learn how to rework familiar licks in new and creative ways

• Discover alternate fingerings and positions across the neck

• Understand how to treat a lick like a musical “starter” for improvisation

• Adapt phrases to fit different harmonic environments (major, minor, dominant)

• Break out of mechanical playing and into true improvisation

• Build full solos from a single musical idea

• Strengthen musical fluency and deepen fretboard awareness

Introduction

We begin with a common scenario—having plenty of licks under our fingers, but feeling like they always come out the same way. This lesson takes a close look at what happens when we memorize something without exploring its full potential. By shifting the way we think about licks—not as fixed objects, but as flexible starting points—we open the door to more expressive, engaging improvisation.

Lesson Summary

The main concept here is transformation. When we take a good lick and move it to different positions, shift the octave, or rework the rhythm, we start to see how much creative potential lives inside a single phrase. Even something we’ve played a hundred times can feel new again when we change the context.

We’ll start by examining one great-sounding ii–V–I lick and learn how to:

• Move it around the neck using different fingerings

• Alter the phrasing and articulation

• Introduce chromaticism and contour changes

• Play it in new keys and over different types of chord progressions

By doing this, we build fluency and flexibility. We also explore the idea of using a lick like a “sourdough starter”—a living, musical foundation that can be fed, stretched, and shaped into endless variations. With this mindset, our improvisation becomes more personal and responsive, fueled by presence and curiosity rather than muscle memory alone.

Practice tips from the lesson:

• Learn familiar licks in several neck positions

• Try phrasing them differently—change the start, the rhythm, or the direction

• Adapt the lick to different harmonic settings, like minor and dominant

• Use the lick as a base and build new ideas on top of it

• Keep exploring—don’t settle for the first version that comes out

Soundbites

• “Don’t think about licks as one thing—think about them like a sourdough starter.”

• “The photographic image of the lick suddenly was dissolved a little bit.”

• “Use one idea to generate a whole bunch of actual, spontaneously improvised ideas.”

• “We don’t need 10 new licks—we need to discover what one good idea can really do.”

Closing Thoughts

There’s real joy in taking something we already know and finding new ways to express it. This lesson encourages us to stay curious and creative—to dig deep instead of always reaching for something new. Whether we’re improvising over a ii–V–I or exploring a tune, the idea is the same: stretch what we’ve got and let it grow. That’s how we build a more personal voice on the instrument. Keep experimenting, enjoy the process, and above all—have fun with it.