Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

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Before we look at the diminished scale it is worth noting that we can find  two different modes within the scale:

diminished, scale, jazz ,improv, composition
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

To begin with we will use the E diminished scale as it is an easy guitar fingering.Screen Shot 2019-02-09 at 20.13.10

From the diminished scale we can use Dominant chords in Minor 3rds.

 

diminished, scale, jazz ,improv, composition
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

Tetrachord line ascending in Minor 3rds played over a C7 dominant chord.

diminished, scale, jazz ,improv, composition
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

Tetrachord Root flat 5 over C7 Dominant Chord

diminished, scale, jazz ,improv, composition
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

Below is a fingering that is from a John Mclaughlin sequence using the E diminished scale and is [To Me] a very comfortable fingering. The key is to connect each 4 not grouping [Tetrachord] with the 1s finger. This way the scale flows really easily and comfortably.

Dim Scale

ANOTHER IDEA AND VARIATIONS:

diminished, scale, jazz ,improv, composition
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

From C diminished scale we go up in minor 3rds with 7#9’s

diminished, scale, jazz ,improv, composition
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

Here we Employ Minor 7ths in minor 3rds

diminished, scale, jazz ,improv, composition
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

Next we employ Dominant 7ths in Minor 3rds

diminished, scale, jazz ,improv, composition
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

In this example we employ Slash Chords

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Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

To finish with we have some more chord ideas but this time from the g sharp diminished scale.

diminished, scale, jazz ,improv, composition
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts

THE 13 FLAT 9 dominant chord

This is the common “Altered” dominant for this scale.

Below is a John Mclaughlin minor 7 flat 5 to a 13 flat 9 This has a masterful and great original fusion sound to it that avoids the predictable diminished cliche

diminished, scale, jazz ,improv, composition
Diminished Scale Jazz Improv and Compositions Concepts
Diminished Scale Jazz and Compositions Concepts

 

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