THE CONCEPT OF TARGET NOTES FOR JAZZ IMPROVISATION

Abstract

The purpose of this academic article aimed to present the improvisation method with a various type of setting target notes. By explaining how to approach the melody towards the method of using target notes in various ways including: chord tones, scales and modes related to the chords, chromatic approach and enclosure. Along with examples of improvisations using target notes by 4 jazz saxophonists, who played an important role in creating various styles of jazz music, including: Coleman Hawkins, the tenor saxophonist who played a major role in the swing big band era, Charlie Parker, the alto saxophonist who invented a method of bebop improvisation, Paul Desmond, the alto saxophonist who played an important role in the creation of cool jazz and west coast Jazz, and John Coltrane, the tenor saxophonist who played a role in the creation of hard bop, modal jazz and free jazz. The performance of the four saxophonists demonstrates how to improvise with a different approach in target notes. Therefore, this article is useful for the musicians who want to study improvisation in an intermediate to advanced level.