Challenges of Playing on the High End - Octave Substitution, Part 2

You can also move licks down one octave to better understand their movement and note selections. Here's a Lee Oskar lick in its original form on the high end and then down one octave...

9+ 9 8, 8+ 8 7, 7+ 7 7 6 6+ (played in a triplet rhythm)

6+ 5 4, 5+ 4 3, 4+ 3 3" 3+

Note that the 6 turns into 3". If you have a lick that relies on the 3" in the lower octave, it may be a smart choice to play that lick one octave higher so its easy availability as a 6. In this case, the high end version of the lick is much more fluid, requiring less movement.

While we're on Lee Oskar, here's his famous "Low Rider" lick moved up one octave...

Original: 3 3 3 3 3 4+ 4, 2 3 4+ 3 2, repeat, 2" 2" 2" 2" 2", 2" 2" 2" 2" 2", 2" 2

Up an octave: 7 7 7 7 7 7+ 8, 6+ 7 7+ 7 6+, repeat, 5 5 5 5 5, 5 5 5 5 5, 5 6+