Music Theory Modern Jazz Improvisation and 20th Century Classic lessons, Guitar Jazz Fusion John Mclaughlin Al di Meoala improvisation techniques explanations in notation, tablature and video
Today we will look at a concept that I have been asked about a lot recently. This is a contrapuntal string skipping intervallic “Mirroring” technique. It is intervallic by design and employs a Bachian Atonal “Question and answer” effect between the “Bass and Treble” with wide intervals. The string skipping inherent within this works especially well for atonal music, awkward intervals and polytonal scales.
The key to improvising is to do something creative with the melody. To recompose it or to broaden it out or to instinctively develop the harmony. Most people take to the modes though with a compulsion to play “Carte Blanche” scale over a chord ad nauseam.
In this Blog/Vlog we will look at some ideas for bringing out the actual flavour of the most talked about mode of them all the “Dorian Mode”.
Most people look at the dorian mode as being a scale of C major starting on the note D. But here is how it works.
ANSWER=D is one tone up from C for D Dorian, so C is one tone up from Bb for C Dorian.
C DORIAN MODE [D Dorian as people learn it]
Below we see the difference between C minor and C dorian. C minor has the semitone between the 6th and 5th whereas C Dorian has a tone between the 5th and 6th notes. Dorian Raises the 6th note up a semitone. Without the raised 6th note C would just sound minor and not dorian, so bringing out this 6th note [as it will be in a melody to imply that we are in the dorian mode] is essential to creating actual music and phrasing and not just playing a scale over a chord.
C DORIAN MODE and C Minor
In order to bring out that A natural note in C dorian an easy way is to employ an arpeggio like Bb major 7th. This is very useful, melodic and can be played in 4 note groupings.
Bb major 7th for C dorian Mode Improvising
Next we can employ some basic chord pairs.
C minor 7 and F major
Dorian Mode triad pairs
F major and Eb major
Dorian Mode triad pairs
Now we can broaden out on this with C minor and D minor
Dorian Mode Example of bringing out the flavour/sound
Bb and G minor
Dorian mode example for improvising arpeggios
We can also employ pentatonics to bring out the flavour [melody] of a tune.
Dorian Mode pentatonics example
Another example =Short pentatonic scale that ends/resolves with the A natural note [Raised 6th] and played in 4 note cells [Tetrachords]
Dorian Mode pentatonics example
Finally it’s a good idea to look at the arpeggios available that line up one after the other.
Dorian Mode Arpeggios
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The key to rapid learning and reaping the rewards of quality progress for musicians is to set “Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Yearly Goals”.
The next most important step is to write these goals down. If you do this then you will enact them and get into the habit of enacting them with greater and greater clarity. It will also instill a natural discipline, inspirational outpouring and perseverance.
These are the books that I use, but any creative goal setting book will do because the days weeks and month are already laid out for you, all you have to do is fill it in with your objectives.
Goal setting for MusiciansGoal setting for Musicians
If you follow this then you will rise through the levels. Talent only takes you so far. For musical development discipline and hard work account for everything. Goal setting will take you there on pleasant terms and give you back that which you craved for at the outset.
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Messiaen mode 6 notation and guitar tabMessiaen mode 6 with six transpositions
Messiaen’s 6th mode is great for manipulating “Diminished” and “Augmented” intervals.
Messiaen mode 6 notation and guitar tab
Mode 6 allows for this to be sequenced easily
Messiaen mode 6 Diminished and Augmented Sequences
Below is a descending Augmented sequence
Messiaen mode 6 Augmented descending sequence
For common sequences: The Augmented sequences move in tones whilst the Diminished sequences move in minor 3rds.
Although, Diminished intervals can move in semitones and tones. For Example:
Messiaen Mode 6 Diminished intervals in SemitonesMessiaen 6th mode
Getting back to our common sequences we can see below the brilliance of diminished intervals moving in minor 3rds with the employment of the simple triplet figure.
Messiaen mode 6 Diminished sequence
More examples of mixing up the Augmented and Diminished ideas to avoid the cliches and develop something fresh sounding
Messiaen mode 6 diminished and augmented mixMessiaen mode 6 diminished and augmented mix
We can also make interesting intervallic motifs from the notes of the Messiaen mode 6
