Category: jazz improvisation

Fretboard Harmony: Harmonising the Dorian Mode

Posted on by Modern Music Theory

Harmonising the Dorian Mode video: Please watch for explanation:

In the exercises below you will see how to make the dorian mode sound “Jazzy”. We do this by harmonising the scale [Mode] in chords made of 4ths.

Not all are perfect 4ths though as you will see in the example below:

1

Here is the Dorian mode harmonised in 4ths. This use of 4ths creates what is known as quartal harmony.

C DORIAN MODE HARMONISED IN 4THS [QUARTAL HARMONY]

Dorian Mode Harmonised in chordsC DORIAN MODE BROKEN UP INTO 4THS

Dorian mode chord scale 4ths outlineC DORIAN MODE “CHORDAL PICKING” IN 4THS

Dorian Mode fretboard harmony scale chordFor more on the dorian mode, quartal harmony and modal jazz in general take a listen to the great Jazz pianist Mcoy Tyner.

 

 

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Which Jazz theory practice book to start with?

Posted on by Modern Music Theory

When Looking for jazz improvisation literature people will walk into a sheet music department and sometimes be astounded at the prices of the theory and practice books. A concise quality book that contains all of the essential information and is well written and easy to follow can start anywhere from $30 to $150 plus for the Lydian Chromatic Concept!

So I have whittled it down to 3 books. [I am sure there are some other very well written books out there that is not on my list] but any of these three books will hold you in good stead when you are starting out.

The first 2 books are “Inexpensive” and contain a mountain of material.

 

BOOK 1: JAZZ SOLOS BY LES WISE. THIS BOOK IS IDEAL FOR GUITARISTS BECAUSE IT HAS TABLATURE

JAZZ SOLOS BY LES WISE

BOOK 2: JAZZOLOGY BY ROBERT RAWLINGS AND NOR EDDINE BAHHA

JAZZOLOGY BY ROBERT RAWLINGS AND NOR EDDINE BAHHA

BOOK3: A BIT MORE EXPENSIVE BUT IT IS A COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA BY MARK LEVINE CALLED “THE JAZZ THEORY BOOK”

MARK LEVINE "THE JAZZ THEORY BOOK"

As I state in the video you can get these books secondhand on Amazon [CLICK LOGO/LINK BELOW] even cheaper or you can try your local library. But, I would suggest owning a copy of one of them in order to pencil in your own thoughts, directions and favourite exercises etc.

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John Mclaughlin Jazz Fusion Line Breakdown

Posted on by Modern Music Theory

There are two parts to this. The second lesson is a variation. The dominant chord in this 2 5 1 is altered.

This creates a nice way to create flow with the fingering when alternate picking in the style of John Mclaughlin. As you play through the Notation/Tab [below] this will become apparent very quickly.

 

John Mclaughlin guitar lesson finishing with a D flat Triad for G7 alt

 

John Mclaughlin Jazz Improvisation guitar lesson jazzimproviser

LINE BREAKDOWN: Breaking down the line into 4 note cells [Tetrachords]

TETRACHORD 1

jazzimproviser

TETRACHORD 2

this is the way I do it

TETRACHORD 3

this is the way I do it

TETRACHORD 4

This is the way I do it

TETRACHORD 5

Mclaughlin this is the way I do it

TETRACHORD 6

This is the way I do it

TETRACHORD 7

This is the way I do it John Mclaughlin

TETRACHORD 8

This is the way I do it

VARIATION of the John Mclaughlin jazz fusion improvisation guitar lesson finishing with an E flat Triad for the G7 alt

John Mclaughlin Jazz Improvisation guitar lesson. Altered scales

For more info John Mclaughlin has a DVD:

John Mclaughlin This is the way I do it