Harmony

🚨 Tune Deep Dive: “Wave” – Pt. 6: Soloing with Motifs 🚨

In Part 6, we focus on building solos using motifs—short melodic ideas that you can develop, repeat, and vary throughout the form. This exercise takes one simple motif and applies it across all the chords of the A section, showing how a small, clear idea can be adapted to fit shifting harmony.

🚨 Tune Deep Dive: “Wave” – Pt. 5: Scale and Arpeggio Options 🚨

In Part 5, we focus on outlining Wave with scale and arpeggio shapes. Each chord in the A section is approached with either a diatonic arpeggio, a scale fragment, or a tension tone (like ♭9 or ♯11) to bring out its unique color.

See if you can grasp this. It's a simple way to work on progressions. 

🚨 Tune Deep Dive: “Wave” – Pt. 4: Chord Voicing Variations 🚨

In Part 4, we explore different ways to add motion and color to your chord voicings throughout Wave. Small shifts—like alternating between a major 7th and a 6th, or sliding inner voices by a half step—can create beautiful forward momentum while keeping the harmony clear.

This lesson focuses on several spots in the tune where these ideas really shine:

🚨 Tune Deep Dive: “Wave” – Pt. 3: Comping Rhythm Variations in the Intro 🚨

In Part 3, we continue working with the intro vamp (Dm7–G7) of Wave, this time focusing on comping rhythm variations. Instead of just outlining the harmony, we’ll explore how subtle rhythmic shifts can transform the groove and add variety without losing the bossa feel.

In this lesson we’ll:

🚨 Tune Deep Dive: “Wave” – Pt. 2: Guide Tone Movement in the Intro 🚨

In Part 2, we dig into the intro vamp of Wave (Dm7–G7) and explore guide tone movement. This exercise builds from a single voice to two, three, and finally four voices, showing how harmonic richness can grow naturally out of simple lines. By working through these patterns, you’ll train your ear and hands to connect chords smoothly while keeping the groove intact.

In this lesson we’ll:

🚨 New Tune Deep Dive Series! 🚨
Pt. 1: “Wave” – Establishing Form & Groove

We’re kicking off a brand-new Tune Deep Dive with Antônio Carlos Jobim’s Wave—a bossa nova classic that’s as groovy as it is deceptively tricky. This tune has a 44-bar form (A – A – B – A, with 12-bar A sections and an 8-bar bridge), so memorizing the structure is step one.

🚨 Soloing Through the Changes Pt. 8 – Soloing with the Altered Scale

In Part 8, we explore the altered scale (seventh mode of melodic minor) as a way to create tension over dominant chords before resolving back to the tonic or next chord. This scale contains altered chord tones—♭9, ♯9, ♯11, and ♭13—which provide a wide palette of colors for jazz soloing.

🚨 Soloing Through the Changes Pt. 7 – Soloing with the Diminished Scale

In Part 7, we explore the half-whole diminished scale as a tool for soloing over dominant chords in the blues. This symmetrical scale creates tension and color that can really open up your sound—especially when used sparingly and with intention.

🚨 Soloing Through the Changes Pt. 6 – Bebop Scale Variants on the Blues

In Part 6, we continue exploring scale-based soloing over the blues in F, this time using bebop dominant scale variants enriched with added chromatic passing tones. This lesson focuses on creating longer, more fluid lines that still clearly outline the changes—using the dominant bebop scale as a flexible framework, not a strict formula.