Single melody tones are cited and circled in the music notation. These include:

LT = Leading tone. A leading tone pushes toward an important melodic tone from a half step below -- in jazz typically to the root, 3rd, 5th, or 7th or to a nonharmonic tone.

LN = Lower neighbor. A note either a half step or whole step below a principal note. A lower neighbor is typically preceded and followed ("sandwiched") by the note that it decorates.

NH = Nonharmonic tone. These would include the 2nd or 9th, 4th or 11th, 6th or 13th, and major 7th degrees of the scale.

BN = Blue note. These include the flatted 5th/augmented 4th, the minor 3rd in a major or dominant context, and the minor 7th.

ACT = Altered chord tone(s). These would include the flatted 5th and 9th, and augmented 5th and 9th.

Larger structural devices such as specific figures of three notes or greater, noteworthy scales, theme or song quotes, and turnarounds are cited and bracketed in the notation. These include:

ARP = Arpeggio. At least three notes preceded by a corresponding chord name, such as "C arp."

CA = Chromatic ascent. Three or more chromatic notes in a row moving higher in pitch.

CD = Chromatic descent. Three or more chromatic notes in a row moving lower in pitch.

RM = Reverse mordent. A three-note ornament commonly found in jazz. It involves the alternation of a main note with its upper neighbor.

PED = Pedal tone(s). These are repeated notes within a musical passage. In jazz, these are often alternated with a primary stepwise or chromatic melody.

RF = Repeated figure. These are the basis for the riff concept of jazz and blues.

IMIT = Imitative procedure at work.

SEQ = Sequence. An imitative procedure involving the repetition of a figure on different scale steps.

TF = Target figure. This three-note melody pattern typically approaches a selected (target) tone by beginning on its upper neighbor, jumping to its lower neighbor, and then moving to the target.

VLF = Voice leading figure. A specific four-note pattern endemic to bebop and modern jazz styles. The all-important figure involves approaching a particular note first from a half step above and then from below (always by two half steps in succession).

SUB = Substitution. This refers to an alternate scale or melody substituted for a primary relationship. It is followed by a scale or chord name, such as "SUB Abm" (Ab minor instead of a more typical scale or harmony).

Q: and A: = Question and answer phrases. The "call-and-response" procedure is an important aspect of applying licks to form a larger melody structure.