2-5-1 Smooth Jazz Guitar Lick By George Benson On Affirmation

George Benson’s Affirmation is a must-study solo for any jazz guitar student.

It’s full of memorable licks, smooth lines, and expressive phrasing that show exactly how Benson blends technique with melody.

This lesson offers a 5-bars lick implying a major 2 5 1 sequence.

By working through this transcription, you’ll develop stronger improvisation skills, improve your sense of rhythm, and pick up ideas you can use right away in your own solos.

Brief Analysis

Affirmation is built on a smooth, Latin-influenced groove in Bm, cycling primarily between B minor 7 and E minor 7, a classic ii–v relationship that creates a modal flavor centered around E Dorian and B Aeolian.

The short solo transcription below is about the part where the song modulates to produce a major 2 5 1 in G major : Am7 (ii), D7 (V), Gmaj7 (I).

Bar 1 and 2 : This B Aolian line, starts with the fourth (E) and the minor 3rd (D). Then, you can hear the ninth (C#) and the flat ninth (C), followed by a chromatic approach from below to target the minor sixth (G).

Bar 3 : E minor 7 arpeggio to emphasize the fifth (E), minor seventh (G), ninth (B) and eleventh (D) of Am7, then Cmaj7 arpeggio which highlights the minor third (C), fifth (E), minor seventh (G) and ninth (B).

Bar 4 : Two altered notes are highlighted in this dominant lick : the augmented fifth (A#) and the minor ninth (Eb).

Bar 5 : Gmaj7 arpeggio.

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Last edited: 2025-10-02

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