"Anyhow, guide tones typically refer to the 3rd and 7th
of a chord. They tell you if it's minor or major, and whether or not
it's a dominant type chord or a major7 type chord. I had gotten a
suggestion off of Emily Remler's video that one way to begin soloing is
to try to hit a guide tone of each chord on beat one of each measure. In
the intervening space, she suggested using blue scale phrases, or even
just to experiment with anything, but using the guide tones to stay on
the changes. She suggested it as a learning tool."
In my very humble opinion, if the accomanipment players are doing their job,
they are playing the guide tones enogh so the listener knows where things are.
(hopefully) So if you just stick within the chord change that is happening,
no matter how wierd or sparce you are, you should sound ok. Therefore, I am
saying that even thinking about the guide tones is a way to ruin your mind.
If you only have guitar and bass or guitar alone, a few well placed strums
will do the job. I believe that Wes Montgomery played that way, among others.
The pianist's left hand also works as well in a piano trio.
hava nice day,
jules