Pat Martino’s Minor Conversion Jazz Technique: Chromatic Devices and Examples

Pat Martino’s Minor Conversion Jazz Technique: Chromatic Devices and Examples

Hi Guys,

Some of you have said “How do we make Pat Martino’s minor conversion technique actually sound jazzy?”

Okay, let’s take a closer look!

There are 5 essential devices to employ for this:

These are employed to target a specific note. In this case E the 5th note of Am.

The use of an anacrusis/upbeat works best with target tones as this also sets up the jazz phrasing.

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This is usually delivered in fragments:

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In this case we are moving the interval of a tone down a semitone:

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This is heard a lot in Charlie Paker’s playing as well as Pat’s improvisations.

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This is really useful and simple melodic tool for improvisational manipulation:

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In this example we can clearly see Pat’s exploitation of chromatics and how fluid they are in creating a long phrase.

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We can see the target tone set up with an upbeat. Next we can see the manipulation of the chromatic scale, also, with a chromatic mix of scale and target tones. The minor arpeggio descends easily whilst the classic jazz motif/melody comes into play to round the phrase off .

To complete this ii V7 I minor conversion we will exploit the minor7 arpeggio. From this, notice, the use of simple scale movement that finishes with a variation of the “Classic” jazz melody/motif:

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As an exercise to display the brilliance of Pat Martino’s minor conversion jazz technique we will take the minor 7th arpeggio from the previous bar in the previous example and sequence/juxtapose this to play through both major and minor ii V I’s

1] Example 1: “MAJOR”– the same line moves down a fourth to play a ii V7 I Vi

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2] Example 1: “MINOR”– the same line moves down a fourth to play a ii V7 i Vim7b5

pat-martino-minor-conversion-jazz-sequence-guitar-lesson

pat-martino-minor-conversion-jazz-guitar-lesson

This was a look at the essential devices any jazz guitar improviser needs to know and use for creative improvisation with the minor conversion, or minorisation technique.

As, I stated in the previous blog this simple method can save you 20 years of hard slog! Why? Because, Pat Matino’s minor conversion technique can be applied immediately!….

With these 5 musical improvisation tools anyone can create confident musical lines with strong and fluid jazz guitar phrasing.

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The Practice Notebooks Of Michael Brecker: Book Review

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The Practice Notebooks Of Michael Brecker: Book Review

IMPORTANT: Please watch video above for detailed info:

Hi Guys,

Today I am reviewing the amazing collection of entries from Michael Brecker’s practice notebooks. With over 700 entries there is a lot to choose from.

Okay, let’s get started.

This book goes through the different decades of Michael Brecker’s musical life, starting from 1967 through the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and up to 2002.

There are six books within this:

brecker-practice-notebooks-book-review

In order to do justice to this collection of entries I will analyse a few.

From this it is revealing and in many cases surprising because Michael Brecker starts with such a simple seed, an almost childlike simplicity which is then expanded on with many of his trademark improvisational techniques.

This in turn opens the door to Michael Brecker’s improvisational mindset, self study and developmental nature:

EXAMPLE/ENTRY 1:

michael-brecker-practice-notebooks-book-review-examples

Here, we can see a ii V7 I which becomes a turnaround: [Notice the employment of Dominants]. The Am7 chord slides up a semitone to the Bb7 chord which then moves in the cycle of 4ths to Eb7 to Ab7 which then slides down a semitone again to the tonic key G.

But, what makes this line unique is the connecting of the solo line: Because the harmonic rhythm is moving at such a fast rate [1 chord per beat] the solo line needs to connect seamlessly.

michael-brecker-practice-notebooks-book-review-examples

And so it does. Above we see the G to Ab to G back and forth employing the same smooth semitone connection which finally resolves an octave lower.

Joe Henderson Line

The next example is from an entry that Michael Brecker took from Joe Henderson:

michael-brecker-practice-notebooks-book-review-examples

This example is interesting because we see one of Brecker’s trademarks, “Sidestepping”.

michael-brecker-practice-notebooks-book-review-examples

This little line starts off with a simple piece of scale that then incorporates side stepping,

michael-brecker-practice-notebooks-book-review-examples

This then connects to a scalic bebop style lick which then cadences beautifully with a minor 6th interval.

michael-brecker-practice-notebooks-book-review-examples

MODULES

The next example demonstrates Michael Brecker’s use of 4 note modules.

michael-brecker-practice-notebooks-book-review-examples

This module is exploited in a short line.

michael-brecker-practice-notebooks-book-review-examples

Below we can see the module that then connects to a simple minor 7th arpeggio.

michael-brecker-practice-notebooks-book-review-examples

This then slides down a semitone to connect the module again. Finally, finishing with a lick

michael-brecker-practice-notebooks-book-review-examples

COUNTDOWN

The last example is a phrase from the classic jazz repertoire “Countdown”.

michael-brecker-practice-notebooks-book-review-examples

This again is unique due to its structuring with simple triads and motifs/modules:

Below we see the modules/motifs repeated, but, moving down in Major 3rds.

michael-brecker-practice-notebooks-book-review-examples

Next, we see the filling out with the simplistic employment of basic triads:

michael-brecker-practice-notebooks-book-review-examples

Below, we see the minor 7th arpeggio, triads and final rudimentary cadential lick.

michael-brecker-practice-notebooks-book-review-examples

CONCLUSION

This was just a quick look at a few entries that Michael Brecker would expand on, play in all 12 keys and use a as basis for extemporisation, composition and improvisation.

This book is for the serious student of improvisation, wether a beginner or pro and anyone seeking to get into Michael Brecker’s mind and understand his ways of working/practicing as an improviser.

Lastly, I would like to thank all the people at Sher.co music for putting me on to this amazing book!

Click Book Cover For Link

brecker-practice-notebooks-book-review

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