Here's a whole section on scales. Very complete! Between Behn and myself it has lots of ideas and explanations to you help with chords and scales and improvising!
https://www.vibesworkshop.com/book/scales-and-modes/tonymiceli/050316
Dan here's the etude I promised you.
It would be great if you recorded a version for the site.
Everyone else, maybe we should do this as our next TOTM. It's a GREAT tune.
Write the chords in. Learn the tune. Check out the etude. Check out the bass line. If you have a synth play the bass line on the synth. Do you understand it? See the notes, the upper partials I stick in because of the melody of the bass line?
I posted a lesson recently where I posted the voicings and you guys supply the rhythms. Here is an etude of my rhythms and chords.
You put the chords in. It will help you memorize them. Note the upper partials and add them in as well. Play the etude!
 Minority was written by Gigi Gryce |
Here's one chorus of Minority. Your job is to memorize the changes and then you comp and add the rhythms. |
OK guide tones. I'll do a video and talk about them very soon to go along with this TOTM.
But they are super important. If you know your guide tones then you understand how the harmony works. If you can improvise guide tones, then you can make up accompaniment parts behind a singer. You can make up other parts with other musicians quickly. Guide tones are important!
Here's a two chorus line etude on Minority. Take notice of some of the diatonic phrases in the beginning. Remember that even simple ideas can really outline the chord if you end on 3rds and 7ths in the right way!
Check out my chord melody. Can you come up with a different one?
Another study of upper partials based on the tune Minority. Write the chords in and then study the notes and see what they are.
Check out all the triads in the solo that don't relate to the main triad of the chord.
I.E. the chord is F7 and I play a D maj triad. Get it? It looks like a triad. but it's the 13th the b9 and the 5th of the chord.
Remember: One way to tell how experienced a jazz vibe play is is to listen to how far up the chords they go in the solos. How comfortable are they in making melodies out of the upper partials of the chords.
Fill in the chords yourself :-). It will help you study the harmony. Write in all the upper partials. You can do it!
Minority is a study of 9ths and 13ths, the upper parts of the chords. So this is a study in upper partials!