Bebop Leaps

Jeff Ellwood
Mt. San Antonio College

Leaps are an essential sound in the bebop language, the leap of a 7th especially. This is
found throughout the Charlie Parker Omni Book. In addition to the leaps, there is a
large amount of chromatic surround tones. This handout will focus on that leap of a 7th
with chromatic surround tones to target primary chord tones. This exercise will focus
the shape built from the 3rd, 5th and 7th of the chord.
7 7 (b 9) 7 7
C C C mi C ma
4
& 4 b b b n b b
b
b
C7 C ma7 C 7( 9) C mi7
# b b n b
&
b9
C7 C mi7 C 7 {b13} C ma7
b # b # b #
& b b
b b b
C mi7( 5) C mi7( 5) C mi7( 5)
b b b
& b b b b
b
b
C mi7 F7 B ma7
b b b N b
& b
b
14

B ma7b
#
C mi7 F7
b b # n
&
b
17

C mi7 F7 B ma7
b N b b N
& b # b
b
20

2 Bebop Leaps

C7
b b # n N b #
& b
23

&
26

&
29

&
32

&
35

&
38

&
41