amcguiness
Verified buyer
05/17/26
Well worth the time
Gil demonstrates a thorough awareness of techniques and ideas from many well-known jazz musicians, including non-guitarists.
50 Smooth Jazz Licks You MUST Know
Learn how to play smooth jazz guitar licks inspired by the genre's greats
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About this course
Countless top-notch guitarists, from many different genres, have released records in the radio format known as Smooth Jazz. And why not?! Smooth Jazz has a wide and enthusiastic audience and it’s also commercially successful.
That’s why so many of our guitar heroes dabble, if not specialize in the format. And that’s also why we asked NYC-based recording and performing artist, Gil Parris to put this versatile collection of 50 Smooth Jazz Licks You MUST Know together for your playing pleasure.
Smooth Jazz favors melodic lines played over down-tempo grooves with an ear-pleasing palette of jazz, funk, blues and pop feels and textures. Gil’s handpicked collection of licks pay homage to the best in the biz…
“The collection features many versatile licks and moves from guitarists such as George Benson, Pat Metheny, John Tropea, Chuck Loeb, Earl Klugh, Phil Upchurch, Larry Carlton and many others. But I’ve also included great lines from sax and keyboard players like Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Norman Brown, Gerald Albright, Rick Braun, Red Garland, Cannonball Adderly, David Sanborn, Kim Waters and David Mann.”
Speaking of hit-maker and monster Grammy nominated sax player David Mann… kudos and much thanks to David for providing the killer rhythm tracks that Gil uses to demonstrate over and that you get to practice with on your own.
Gil demonstrates the licks over the rhythm tracks for musical context, and then breaks them down with special emphasis on the correct right and left-hand techniques required to play the licks just like the artists who inspired them. All 50 of the licks are also tabbed out and notated, plus you’ll get Guitar Pro files as well (Windows & Mac compatible).
50 Smooth Jazz Licks You MUST Know is a virtually bottomless resource of lines, licks and moves that you can draw on across jazz, funk, R&B and pop. Combine them, speed them up, slow them down, change the feel or timing and tweak them to your heart’s delight — they’ll serve you for a lifetime.
Get smooth. Click now…
That’s why so many of our guitar heroes dabble, if not specialize in the format. And that’s also why we asked NYC-based recording and performing artist, Gil Parris to put this versatile collection of 50 Smooth Jazz Licks You MUST Know together for your playing pleasure.
Smooth Jazz favors melodic lines played over down-tempo grooves with an ear-pleasing palette of jazz, funk, blues and pop feels and textures. Gil’s handpicked collection of licks pay homage to the best in the biz…
“The collection features many versatile licks and moves from guitarists such as George Benson, Pat Metheny, John Tropea, Chuck Loeb, Earl Klugh, Phil Upchurch, Larry Carlton and many others. But I’ve also included great lines from sax and keyboard players like Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Norman Brown, Gerald Albright, Rick Braun, Red Garland, Cannonball Adderly, David Sanborn, Kim Waters and David Mann.”
Speaking of hit-maker and monster Grammy nominated sax player David Mann… kudos and much thanks to David for providing the killer rhythm tracks that Gil uses to demonstrate over and that you get to practice with on your own.
Gil demonstrates the licks over the rhythm tracks for musical context, and then breaks them down with special emphasis on the correct right and left-hand techniques required to play the licks just like the artists who inspired them. All 50 of the licks are also tabbed out and notated, plus you’ll get Guitar Pro files as well (Windows & Mac compatible).
50 Smooth Jazz Licks You MUST Know is a virtually bottomless resource of lines, licks and moves that you can draw on across jazz, funk, R&B and pop. Combine them, speed them up, slow them down, change the feel or timing and tweak them to your heart’s delight — they’ll serve you for a lifetime.
Get smooth. Click now…
What you'll learn
- Apply the same lick over both major 7 and dominant chord contexts
- Use chordal licks for both comping and soloing applications
- Execute a chromatic blues lick in the style of George Benson
- Navigate chromatic movement with triplet phrasing
- Adjust the ending of the lick based on harmonic context (major vs blues)
Release date: 05/30/2014 • 3h 06m runtime
Sample lessons
Come to Phil's Church
Lick 1
Braun-y Chromatics
Lick 8
Benson Chromatic #1
Lick 11
Garland's Valentine
Lick 17
What's included
52 lessons • 50 charts • 50 Jam Tracks
50 Smooth Jazz Licks
Welcome to "50 Smooth Jazz Licks You Must Know". We are going to be covering a lot of ground in this course including classic ideas like; George Benson-isms, Earl Klugh Nylon-String moves, Pat Metheny Chromatics, Larry Carlton Triads as well as contemporary ideas from Chuck Loeb, Norman Brown, etc...I'll even show you amazing ideas from other great instrumentalists like saxophonists David Sanborn, Gerald Albright and even keybordist Chick Corea.Grab your guitar and get ready to pop and burn with "50 Smooth Jazz Licks You Must Know"!
Come to Phil's Church
This chordal lick, courtesy of Phil Upchurch, utilizes a harmonized flat 5 and ends with a classic Bensonism.
Classic Cannonball
This is a classic soul jazz saxophone lick that is on many smooth and straight-ahead jazz recordings.
Stormin' Norman #1
Here's a pentatonic repeat phrase inspired by the work of Norman Brown.
Stormin' Norman #2
Another pentatonic repeat phrase inspired by the work of Norman Brown. This one features little sweeps.
Carlton's Triads
This lick contains Carlton's wonderful chord on chord approach to improvising.
Carlton's Cute Triad
This is a tasty little idea Larry plays on the fade of a Michael Franks vamp. It's based on a minor triad.
+ 45 more lessons
Reviews
18 results
yattajazz
Verified buyer
10/13/25
50 jazz guitar licks
Absolutely 💯 Amazing
sosioloco
Verified buyer
10/30/22
Great
sindibad
12/27/20
50 Smooth Jazz Licks You MUST Know
A very good tool for giving musical ideas.
ibanezjs20
Verified buyer
12/06/20
This is a 50 tasty and sweet jazz licks, a unique selection of licks to study and add it to your lick arsenal!!! A must have course
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