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Forums :: Ask Instructor David Barrett

Licks for I, IV and V chord wanted

3 replies [Last post]
Fri, 04/19/2013 - 12:41
Paolo
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Joined: 11/15/2010

Dear David

in improvising study 4 we can practice V-IV-I transitions
in improvising study 5 we can practice turnarounds
in improvising study 6 we can practice endings

Are you planing some lessons with some classic licks for I, IV & V chord?

Best regards

Paolo

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Fri, 04/19/2013 - 19:30
#1
David Barrett
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ExpertHead InstructorTeacher 10Level 10
Joined: 12/20/2009
Answer

Hello Paulo. Great question... you're the first to ask this on the site... but it's a common question asked in lessons and workshops.

I Chord
Licks for the I Chord are plentiful... they're all over your study songs on the site (bars 1-4 and 7-8 in each chorus of the 12 bar blues). So... no need for a "special" study of them, they're all over the place.

IV Chord
IV Chord licks are interesting animals.

1) Due to the fact that the IV Chord (C E G referencing a C Harmonica in 2nd Position) shares the root of the I Chord in it (G of G B D), many of the I Chord licks work well there.

2) In the use of Chorus Form phrasing, you learn that you can play the same lick as presented in the opening four bars for a Chorus Form such as AAA, AAA with Fills, AAB and AAB with Fills). For this reason, again, the IV Chord isn't a "special" chord.

3) The G Blues Scale (home blues scale) already contains three of the four notes of the IV Chord... so licks that are blues already commonly contain chord tones of the IV Chord.

4) With all this said... as you advance in your skill set and study 1st Position (maybe you're ready to study this?), the I Chord licks in 1st Position create the coolest IV Chord licks due to them being focused on C, the root note of the IV Chord. Most pro players think "play 1st Position licks" when on the IV Chord. So, the coolest licks come as you study 1st Position (more info on this in Understanding Position Playing lesson).

V Chord
The V Chord only happens in two places... in the V-IV-I... covered by the V-IV-I lesson... and in the Turnaround... covered in the Turnaround lesson. So we're covered here.

The main reason why V-IV-I's, Turnarounds and Endings are more of a focus is due to the fact that these are areas that are commonly weak in even the best of players. Thus the study, to up everyone's game.

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Sun, 04/21/2013 - 00:17
#2
Paolo
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Joined: 11/15/2010
Thanks David. I find point 4)

Thanks David. I find point 4) very interesting:

"play 1st Position licks" when on the IV Chord

Never thought about it. It will help me a lot.

Paolo

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Sun, 04/21/2013 - 07:56
#3
David Barrett
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ExpertHead InstructorTeacher 10Level 10
Joined: 12/20/2009
Comment

Yes, a VERY important piece of information for an advanced player. IV Chord is 1st Position and V Chord is 3rd Position. Best wishes on your journey... this will tie together your position knowledge in all of your soloing.

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