Harmonizing Minor Scales for Guitarists:

Modern Jazz Fusion Chords part 2. Steely Dan, Dan Chord and Slash Chords

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick look at creating colourful and interesting harmonisations of the minor scale.

We will employ the A minor scale for simplicities sake and see where this leads….

In this first example, we will stack fourths on top of each other and harmonise A Dorian:

Here, is the outlining chord of Am7add6. Here, we see the Dorian implication by the F# note.

harmonising_minor_scales_guitar_lesson_example

A Dorian as scale:

Now, let’s harmonise the scale with Quartal Dorian Voicings:

Sheet music notation for the dorian mode "Quartal Dorian" voicing's for harmonising chords on the guitar with tablature
Quartal Dorian Voicing’s.

We will now exploit the melodic minor scale:

Once again, we will stack 4th’s together. This creates a cool minor/major harmonic approach.

Am/Maj7 melodic minor implication. Notice the C natural [imply minor]and the F# and G# [imply Major]

quartal_harmonising_minor_scales_guitar_lesson_example

A melodic minor scale:

Here, is the chordal harmonisation:

Sheet music depicting the A melodic minor scale chordal harmonisation, with standard notation for the melody and tablature for guitar.
Chordal harmonisation example for the A melodic minor scale, showcasing its unique minor/major harmonic approach.

In this example we will add a three note voicing to A Dorian. This will be a root with a 2nd and then a 3rd up.

harmonising_minor_scales_guitar_lesson_example

BEWARE: This employs quite wide stretches.

cluster_harmonising_minor_scales_guitar_lesson_example

In this last example, we will harmonise the A natural minor scale.

harmonising_minor_scales_guitar_lesson_example_chord

A natural minor scale:

Once again: BEWARE: There is some stretching.

harmonising_minor_scales_guitar_lesson_example

This was just a quick look at how to harmonise a scale and what can be done with it.

This, is a great idea for use when stuck in one minor key or on one minor chord, as, this creates colour and movement.

The quartal harmonisation work especially well for syncopated and quick chord movement over a static chord.

Modern Jazz Fusion Chords part 2. Steely Dan, Dan Chord and Slash Chords

Exploring Messiaen’s 7th Mode of Limited Transposition:

Modern Jazz Fusion Chords part 2. Steely Dan, Dan Chord and Slash Chords

Hi Guy’s,

Today, a quick look at the amazing 7th mode of limited transposition employed by the great French composer Olivier Messiaen.

This is a ten note scale [and is almost a chromatic scale apart from two notes: In this blog Bb to E as a tritone]. It has 6 Transpositions:

This mode consists mainly of half steps [semitones], but, there are two whole steps that divide this and give this mode its unique sound.

messiaen_mode_7_limited_transposition_lesson_diagram

Let’s now create an interesting guitar line from this mode 7.

This works well as a Robert Fripp style phrase/line as the intervals lend themselves well to tritone developing material.

messiaen_mode_7_limited_transposition_lesson_diagram_example

Messiaen’s 7th Mode
messiaen_mode_7_limited_transposition_lesson_example

messiaen_mode_7_limited_transposition_lesson_example

messiaen_mode_7_limited_transposition_lesson_example

This line is devised from various intervals like 6ths and 7ths and 3rds that are nice to alternate pick on the guitar for that angular sound once again. This also shows how easy it is to exploit various intervals with this mode/scale form.

Bar 1:

messiaen_mode_7_limited_transposition_lesson_example_guitar

Bar 2:

messiaen_mode_7_limited_transposition_lesson_example_guitar

Bar 3:

messiaen_mode_7_limited_transposition_lesson_example_guitar

These modes works well with 2 note chord voicing’s as Dyads or Double Stops: These are great for comping or creating composition from on the guitar. Also, they are useful for plucking and then playing a lead mode 7 line on.

messiaen_mode_7_limited_transposition_lesson_example_dyads

messiaen_mode_7_limited_transposition_lesson_example

Modern Jazz Fusion Chords part 2. Steely Dan, Dan Chord and Slash Chords

Happy Birthday John McLaughlin! 2 Guitar Licks/Lines

Modern Jazz Fusion Chords part 2. Steely Dan, Dan Chord and Slash Chords

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Hi Guys, and Happy Birthday John!

Here, are the two licks from the latest Youtube video!

I am starting this phrase on an “Up” stroke with strict alternate picking guitar technique.

The phrasing of this line feels like two groups of sextuplets. It’s a sort of juxtaposed phrasing as it is picked in 4 note tetrachord groupings starting on an up beat.

john-mclaughlin-guitar-lesson-alternate-picking

In the second part of the first bar, the fretting is simplified as it works into basic 2 notes per string pentatonic style phrasing:

john-mclaughlin-guitar-lesson-alternate-picking

In the last bar we are playing over the Dominant 7th chord with the the same mixed phrasing as the first bar:

john-mclaughlin-guitar-lesson-alternate-picking

Finally, we finished with 2 triads of Eminor and F Major:

john-mclaughlin-guitar-lesson-alternate-picking

This line, once again employs strict alternate picking guitar technique.

I am starting with an upbeat on the open E string. I am also starting my alternate picking on an upstroke.

As you will see, the “Up” stroke on the “Up” BEAT means that the 1st beat of the next bar will be on a Down Stroke.

From here, we can connect the Tetrachords [4 note groupings] together:

john-mclaughlin-guitar-lesson-alternate-picking

Finally, we have the same juxtaposed notes/groupings as in the first exercise. This line comes to rest on the tonic chord of C Maj7:

john-mclaughlin-guitar-lesson-alternate-picking

Modern Jazz Fusion Chords part 2. Steely Dan, Dan Chord and Slash Chords