Jazz Soloing Tip #2b - The Blues

Here I talk about the use of Mixolydian Scales when playing in the blues.

The progression is a very simple, stripped down blues progression...

|A7|A7|A7|A7|

|D7|D7|A7|A7|

|E7|E7|A7|A7|

The scales used...

Over A7 - A Mixolydian - A B C# D E F# G A
Over D7 - D Mixolydian - D E F# G A B C D
Over E7 - E Mixolydian - E F# G# A B C# D E

To learn more about the Mixolydian scale watch these videos...

Intro to Modes- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPPBzB2nvss
The Modes Formulas - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCZs8f2CAwg
The C Mixolydian Mode - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwiELB1N024

Jazz Soloing Tip #2a - The Blues

A simple alteration to your basic minor pentatonic scale can make your blues playing more interesting, nay, more "jazzy".

The progression is a very simple, stripped down blues progression...

|A7|A7|A7|A7|

|D7|D7|A7|A7|

|E7|E7|A7|A7|

The scales used...

Over A7 - A minor pentatonic - A C D E G
Over D7 - A minor sixth pentatonic - A C D E F#
Over E7 - E minor pentatonic - (E G) A B D E G

Jazz Soloing Tip #1b

An addendum to the previous post.

Again the changes are...

|Fm7|Bbm7|Eb7|Abmaj7|
Ab-------------------------------

|Dbmaj7|G7#5b9|Cmaj7|Cmaj7|
(Ab)------Chm------C------------------

Voicings I used -
Fm7 - x81089x, Bbm7 - xx81099, Eb7 - x6868x, Abmaj7 - xx6888
Dbmaj7 - x4656x, G7#5b9 - xx3444, Cmaj7 - x3545x

Ab major - Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab
C major - C D E F G A B C
C Harmonic Minor - C D Eb F G Ab B C
(common tones - C, F & G)

A relative C scale to Ab major is C Phrygian.

C Phrygian - C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C

Jazz Soloing Tip #1a

Here's a tip to help you navigate through chord progressions that change key.

The changes are...

Chords - |Fm7|Bbm7|Eb7|Abmaj7|
Key -     Ab----------------------------

|Dbmaj7|G7|Cmaj7|Cmaj7|
(Ab)------C-------------------

Voicings I used -
Fm7 - x81089x, Bbm7 - xx81099, Eb7 - x6868x, Abmaj7 - xx6888
Dbmaj7 - x4656x, G7 - xx5767, Cmaj7 - x3545x

Ab major - Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab
C major - C D E F G A B C
(common tones - C, F & G)

A relative C scale to Ab major is C Phrygian.

C Phrygian - C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C