guide tones
The third and seventh of a chord, which define its quality and voice-lead smoothly between chords.
In Depth
Guide tones are the essential notes that distinguish one chord from another. The root and fifth of a major seventh and a dominant seventh are the same; it is the third and seventh that differentiate them. In jazz improvisation, targeting guide tones on strong beats ensures that the melody outlines the harmony clearly. Guide tone lines, moving smoothly from one chord's third and seventh to the next, create elegant counterpoint within an improvised solo.
Jazz educators teach guide tone lines as the fastest path to playing over changes; by connecting just two notes per chord, students hear the harmony moving clearly through their solos.