Target Tones and Enclosures - 58 Guitar Patterns

How to Target Chord Tones

There are many ways to target chord tones. You can use ascending or descending approach notes either diatonic or chromatic. The exercises below show you how to use approach notes in order to target a particular chord tone.

It goes without saying that these exercises may be used to any chord type as minor, dominant 7, half-diminished, diminished, etc. Please notice that the "target note" are usually played on the downbeat. 

Single Diatonic Approach Notes

The term “diatonic” means that we will use the notes of the major scale. The principle is to play the notes of the scale that are located just before (below) or after (above) the "target note".

  For example and for more clarity the chord tones are from a C major seventh chord, they represent the most important notes in the chord (root, third, fifth, seventh). So, the target notes will be C (the root), E (the third), G (the fifth) and B (the seventh).

The following diagrams show the relationship between the approach notes (represented by a transparent circle) and the target tones of a major 7 chord.

Here are eight patterns that show how to target a major 7 chord tone using the single diatonic approach technique.

Chord root

Chord root - Diatonic Ascending 

Chord root - Diatonic Descending 

Chord 3rd

Chord 3rd - Diatonic Ascending 

Chord 3rd - Diatonic Descending 

Chord 5th

Chord 5th - Diatonic Ascending 

Chord 5th - Diatonic Descending 

Chord 7th

Chord 7th - Diatonic Ascending 

Chord 7th - Diatonic Descending 

Double Diatonic Approach Notes

The double diatonic approach consist of playing two notes of the diatonic scale in order to target a chord tone.

When using this concept with the aim of targeting from below  :

•  The chord root, you always play the 6th and the 7th before.
•  The chord third, you always play the root and the 2nd before.
•  The chord fifth, you always play the minor 3rd and the 4th before.
•  The chord seventh, you always play the 5th and the 6th before.

When using this concept with diatonic notes from above :

•  The chord root, you always play the 3rd and the 2nd before.
•  The chord third, you always play the 5th and the 4th before.
•  The chord fifth, you always play the 7th and the 6th before.
•  The chord seventh, you always play the 2nd and the root before.

Here are eight guitar patterns based on a C major seventh chord which, it should be remembered, is built with : root (C), third (E), fifth (G) and seventh (B).  Each chord tone is approached diatonically from above and from below.

Chord root

Double diatonic approach from below

Double diatonic approach from above

Chord 3rd

Double diatonic approach from below

Double diatonic approach from above

Chord 5th

Double diatonic approach from below

Double diatonic approach from above

Chord 7th

Double diatonic approach from below

Double diatonic approach from above

Single Chromatic Approach Notes

The second way to target notes is to use chromatic approach tones. It means that you will be playing in your jazz improvisations, notes that don't belong to the tonality. Each chromatic tones will be played on an offbeat a semitone below or above each tones of a chord.

For the following exercises we will be targeting the root (R), the major third (3), the fifth (5) and the minor seventh (b7) of G7. Be sure to do the same work with the main types of triads (minor, major, diminished, augmented) and arpeggios as minor 7 (R-b3-5-b7), major 7 (R-3-5-7), diminished 7th (R-b3-b5-bb7), half-diminished (R-b3-b5-b7).

Chord root

Chord root - Chromatic Ascending 

Chord root -  Chromatic Descending 

Chord 3rd

Chord 3rd - Single Chromatic Ascending 

Chord 3rd - Single Chromatic Descending 

Chord 5th

Chord 5th - Chromatic Ascending 

Chord 5th - Chromatic Descending

Chord 7th

Chord 7th - Chromatic Ascending 

Chord 7th - Chromatic Descending 

Double Chromatic Approach Notes

Now that you understand the principle of the single chromatic approach you can make this concept more interesting by playing two chromatic notes from above or from below to target a note of any type of chord.

This technique is a terribly efficient tool when employed over a dominant 7 chord, this will allow you to create short chromatic lines as a bebop player would do.

These six short jazz guitar lines below show you how to approach chromatically each tone of a dominant 7 chord with two notes.

Please, notice that the two examples "chord third double chromatic approach from above" and "chord seventh double chromatic approach from below" imply two dissonant notes on the downbeat, the #11 for the first examples and the b13 for the second. They don't sound very good at all but can be useful for outside playing.

Chord root 

Double chromatic approach - Above

Double chromatic approach - Below

Chord third

Double chromatic approach - Below

Double chromatic approach - Above

Chord fifth

Double chromatic approach - Above

Double chromatic approach - Below

Chord seventh

Double chromatic approach - Above

Double chromatic approach - Below

What's An Enclosure

Enclosures are a very important part of the jazz language especially used by bebop players. They are present in many essential jazz lines. This technique consists in approaching a target note with a group of two, three or four notes from above or from below either with a whole step (2 semitones) or a half step (1 semitone).

Enclosures, also known as encapsulations, will help you achieve two main goals, they are a great way to  insert chomaticisms in your improvisations and great way to extend your jazz lines.

Diatonic Enclosures

A diatonic enclosure is characterized by surrounding a chord tone above or below using notes within the diatonic scale. You need to know first that a dominant 7 chord is built with Root (R), major third (3), perfect fifth (5) and minor seventh (b7) meaning that G7 contains G (R) - B (3) - D (5) and F (b7).

So, we can use two notes to approach diatonicaly each tone of G7. G, the root, can be enclosed with F# and A. B, (the third) can be enclosed with C and A. D (the fifth) can be enclosed with C and E. Then, F (the minor seventh) can be enclosed with E and G.

The four guitar shapes below help you see clearly the location of the approach notes (transparent circle) in relation with the dominant 7 arpeggios.

The eight enclosure patterns in fretboard diagrams, TAB and notation below show you how you can approach diatonically each note a G7 chord from above and from below.

Chord root

Chord root diatonic enclosure - Above and below

Chord root diatonic enclosure - Below and above

Chord 3rd

Chord 3rd diatonic enclosure - Above and below

Chord 3rd diatonic enclosure - Below and above

Chord 5th

Chord 5th diatonic enclosure - Above and below

Chord 5th diatonic enclosure - Below and above

Chord 7th

Chord 7th diatonic enclosure - Above and below

Chord 7th diatonic enclosure - Below and above

Chromatic Enclosures - Below and above

As the title of this chapter implies, a chord tone can be enclosed chromatically from below and above. This is the simplest way to target notes, but it should be played with care because some of these chromatic enclosure patterns can be very dissonant.

Therefore, if you want to bring a little bit of tension to your jazz improvisations, then you are at the right place ! Try these four easy jazz lines below and judge for yourself.

Chord root

Chord 3rd

Chord fifth

Chord seventh

Diatonic And Chromatic Enclosures - Mixed Enclosure

Many jazz musicians use a mix of chromatic and diatonic approaches to target a note. The next guitar lines involve targeting chord tones of G7 using scale tones above /  chromatic tones below and scale tones below / chromatic tones above. These are the most commonly used enclosures in jazz improvisation, both by guitarists and pianists and any other jazz musicians.

This chapter of this free complete guide for guitar student will run through eight easy examples of the diatonic/Chromatic enclosure on the root, third, fifth and seventh of a dominant chord. Don't forget to apply these concepts about target notes to any type of chord in order to create your own jazz lines.

Chord root

Chord root enclosure - Scale tone above - Chromatic tone below

Chord root enclosure - Scale tone below - Chromatic tone above

Chord 3rd

Chord 3rd enclosure - Scale tone above - Chromatic tone below

Chord 3rd enclosure - Scale tone above - Chromatic tone below

Chord 5th

Chord 5th enclosure - Scale tone above - Chromatic tone below

Chord root 5th - Scale tone above - Chromatic tone below

Chord 7th

Chord 7th enclosure - Scale tone below - Chromatic tone above

Chord 7th enclosure - Scale tone above - Chromatic tone below

Multi-note Enclosures

You can use more than two notes to target a chord tone while combining the previous concepts discussed in this lesson. This should add a lot of interest to your jazz guitar solos.

3 note enclosures

There are a lot of possibilities to enclosure a chord tone using three notes. A few examples of how it would apply to the root of a G7 chord are represented below. Be sure to use this concept of targeting with all the other chord tones (third, fifth and seventh) of any chord type.

Chord root - 3 note enclosure

Enclosure of root using whole-step above to half-step above to half-step below.

Chord root - 3 note enclosure

Enclosure of root using half-step below to whole-step above to half-step above.

Chord root - 3 note enclosure

Enclosure of root using whole-step above to half-step below to half-step above.

4 note enclosures

The three following patterns illustrate the notes of a G7 chord being enclosed with 4 notes. The possibilities are almost unlimited, so you have to experiment with this technique of targeting with four notes in order to create your own bebop lines.

Chord root - 4 note enclosure

Enclosure of root using whole-step above to half-step above to whole-step below to half-step below.

Chord root - 4 note enclosure

Enclosure of root using whole-step above to half-step above to half-step below to whole-step below.

Chord root - 4 note enclosure

Enclosure of root using whole-step below to half-step above to half-step below to whole-step above.

• 

  40 II V I Jazz Guitar Licks

  This pdf method for guitar contains 40 II V I jazz guitar lines with tab, standard notation, analysis, scale charts and audio files.
• 

  50 II-V-I voicings

  This guitar method is a printable PDF eBook containing 50 exercises with audio files, analysis, tab & standard notation.
• 

  40 Minor 2 5 1 Chord Voicings

  This PDF method contains 40 exercices with tabs, scores and audio files for practicing jazz guitar chords over the minor 2 5 1 progression.
• 

  40 Minor II V I Licks

  This guitar method is a printable PDF with tabs, diagrams, theory and audio files providing 40 minor II V I jazz licks.
• 

  II V I Bundle

  This package contains 3 PDF methods for jazz guitarists with tabs, audio files, analysis about the II V I progression.
• 

  40 Mixolydian Jazz Guitar Lick

  This package contains a guitar method available as a PDF with tabs, audio files and theory providing 40 dominant jazz guitar lines for teachers and students.
• 

  40 Minor Jazz Guitar Licks

  This printable guitar method in PDF format contains 40 easy minor jazz guitar lines based on the Dorian mode.
• 

  40 Major Jazz Guitar Licks

  Printable PDF eBook method containing 40 major jazz guitar licks with tab, standard notation and audio files for beginners and intermediates.
• 

  Diatonic Licks Bundle

  This package contains 120 jazz guitar lines based on diatonic modes as Mixolydian, Dorian and Ionian. PDF format with tabs, audio files and analysis.
• 

  Guitar Walking Bass Lines

  This jazz guitar method about walking bass lines and chords is available as a PDF files containing 35 exercises with tabs, analysis and audio files
• 

  101 Dominant Arpeggio Patterns

  This printable PDF method provides 101 dominant arpeggio exercises with tab, theory and standard notation for the jazz, blues and rock guitarist.
• 

  49 Essential Jazz Lines

  This printable eBook method in PDF format provides 49 jazz solo transcriptions of the greatest jazz musicians of all times with TABS, standard notation, audio files and analysis both for guitar teachers and students.
• 

  11 Jazz Blues Studies

  This PDF method contains 11 guitar lessons with chord studies, tabs, standard notation, analysis & audio files about the main blues progressions used in jazz music.
• 

  25 Altered Jazz Guitar Lines

  This PDF eBook method contains 25 altered jazz guitar licks with tabs, patterns, scale charts and audio files to master, apply and develop the altered scale.
• 

  40 Blues Dominant patterns

  This printable method is available as a PDF file containing 40 easy dominant jazz-blues guitar lines with tabs, standard notation, analysis, audio files and scale charts.
• 

  Mastering Pentatonic Scales

  This jazz guitar method is an eBook available as a PDF with standard notation, guitar tabs, diagrams, analysis, audio files and backing tracks. You will find in this booklet 25 easy jazz guitar lines with theory using common and rare pentatonic scales.
• 

  25 Soul Jazz Guitar Licks

  You will find here an eBook available in PDF containing 25 soul jazz and hard bop guitar licks in the style of Grant Green, Melvin Sparks, George Benson. These jazz lines come with tabs, standard notation, guitar neck diagrams, backing track for practice and 25 audio files for each riff.
• 

  25 Diminished Patterns

  This eBook PDF with audio files contains 25 dominant diminished jazz guitar patterns using the half-whole diminished scale and diminished 7th arpeggios.
• 

  6 Tritone substitution licks

  This Printable PDF eBook available for free download contains 6 easy jazz guitar licks with tabs/notation, youtube video link and analysis about the tritone substitution.