How Cory Henry uses the diminished scale for jazz/fusion improvisation

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Please watch video above for a deeper analysis

Hi Guys,

Today we have a quick look at how Cory Henry employs the diminished scale to good effect for an original and unique sound.

Firstly we will take the whole step half step diminished scale starting on the note C

diminished- scale- Cory- Henry
Whole step half step diminished scale starting on the note C

From this scale there are 4 “Dominant” Chords that move in minor 3rds:

4-Dominant-chords-diminished=scale
4 Dominant Chords of the Diminished Scale

These could also be Dom7#9

Dom7#9-chords-diminished-scale
4 Dom7#9 chords from diminished scale

These could also be Dom7[#9]b5 Chords

Dom7[#9]b5 -Chords-diminished-scale
Dom7[#9]b5 -Chords-diminished-scale

Each of these chords can also be a, minor 7th, minor7b5 and a diminished 7th chord/arpeggio

Example for the chord D:

D Dominant 7th

Dom7-arpeggio-diminished-scale
D7 Dominant Arpeggio in the diminished scale

D minor 7th

minor 7th-arpeggio- diminished-scale
D minor 7th arpeggio in the diminished scale

D minor7b5

minor 7b5-arpeggio- diminished-scale
D minor7b5 arpeggio in the diminished scale

D diminished 7th arpeggio

diminished 7th-arpeggio-diminished- scale
D diminished 7th arpeggio in the diminished scale

All 4 of the above arpeggios/patterns apply to F Ab and B also.

Remember that these Major chords can now also become minor as in the example below:

diminished-scale-harmony-major-minor-triads
Major becomes minor with the diminished scale

Okay, here is the key to Cory Henry’s improvisational approach!

He employs inversion of the “Triads” of these 4 Dominant chords in Major, minor, minor7b5 and diminished 7ths.

Triads-diminished-scale-inversions
“Triads” of 4 Dominant of the diminished scale in Major, minor, minor7b5 and diminished 7ths and inversions

He exploits this further by employing a “Slash” chord style harmonic approach:

slash-chord-Cory-Henry-approach
“Slash chord” Cory Henry diminished scale improvising approach

Another concept with which to stretch the harmony is to join the triads together over a dominant chord: [Maj, min, min7b5, dim]

triads-diminished-scale-Cory-Henry
Cory Henry style Joining “Triads ” of the diminished scale for Dominant improvisation

Here is a harmonisation of the diminished scale: Notice that the diminished scale is present in all 4 lines: Soprano/Alto/Tenor/Bass

Cory-Henry-diminished-chord-scale harmonised-SATB
Cory Henry diminished scale harmonised with the scale in all Soprano/Alto/Tenor/Bass

Lastly, a nice little sequence:

Cory-Henry-Diminished-scale-chord sequence
Cory Henry Diminished scale chord sequence

IF THIS LESSON WAS OF VALUE TO YOU THEN PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO US ON YOUTUBE BELOW, THANKS!

THE DIMINISHED SCALE: Study on Slominsky’s Thesaurus

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THE DIMINISHED SCALE: Study on Slominsky’s Thesaurus

PLEASE WATCH VIDEO ABOVE FOR IN DEPTH LESSON:

Example 1: Two Diminished 7th Chords combined creating a Whole step Half step Diminished Scale.

 DIMINISHED ,SCALE: Study, on, Slominsky's ,Thesaurus,
Two Diminished 7th Chords together creating a Whole step Half step Diminished Scale

Example 1: Two Diminished 7th Chords combined creating a Half step Whole step Diminished Scale.

 DIMINISHED ,SCALE: Study, on, Slominsky's ,Thesaurus,
Two Diminished 7th Chords together creating a Half step Whole step Diminished Scale.

2 Diminished 7th chords In Major 3rds

 DIMINISHED ,SCALE: Study, on, Slominsky's ,Thesaurus,
2 Diminished 7th chords In Major 3rds

2 Diminished 7th chords In Perfect 4ths

 DIMINISHED ,SCALE: Study, on, Slominsky's ,Thesaurus,
2 Diminished 7th chords In Perfect 4ths

Perfect 4ths Played Together:

 DIMINISHED ,SCALE: Study, on, Slominsky's ,Thesaurus,
2 Diminished 7th chords In Perfect 4ths played together

2 Diminished 7th chords In Diminished 5ths

 DIMINISHED ,SCALE: Study, on, Slominsky's ,Thesaurus,
2 Diminished 7th chords In Diminished 5ths

2 Diminished 7th chords In Perfect 5ths

 DIMINISHED ,SCALE: Study, on, Slominsky's ,Thesaurus,
2 Diminished 7th chords In Perfect 5ths

2 Diminished 7th chords In Minor 6ths

 DIMINISHED ,SCALE: Study, on, Slominsky's ,Thesaurus,
2 Diminished 7th chords In Minor 6ths

2 Diminished 7th chords In Minor 7ths

 DIMINISHED ,SCALE: Study, on, Slominsky's ,Thesaurus,
2 Diminished 7th chords In Minor 7ths

2 Diminished 7th chords In Major 7ths

 DIMINISHED ,SCALE: Study, on, Slominsky's ,Thesaurus,
2 Diminished 7th chords In Major 7ths

Mark Koch’s Study Excerpt:

 DIMINISHED ,SCALE: Study, on, Slominsky's ,Thesaurus,
Diminished 7 Chord and Diminished Scale Study Mark Koch
 DIMINISHED ,SCALE: Study, on, Slominsky's ,Thesaurus,
Diminished Study on Slominsky’s Thesaurus
 DIMINISHED ,SCALE: Study, on, Slominsky's ,Thesaurus,
Diminished Study on Slominsky’s Thesaurus
 DIMINISHED ,SCALE: Study, on, Slominsky's ,Thesaurus,
Diminished Study on Slominsky’s Thesaurus by Mark Koch

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LINK: YOUTUBE Diminished Scale https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2eotxaAHFE