Jazz Improvisation Lesson Outline

Go to the Clinic and Lesson ordering information

Chords:

 triads, 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, UST, hybrids

 maj, min, dom, dom b5, dom#5, dim, min7b5, all possible alterations

Chord Inversions

 all inversions
 triads, 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, UST, hybrids
 maj, min, dom, dom b5, dom#5, dim, min7b5, all possible alterations
 variations on groupings; up, down, up/down, down/up, down/2 up, 2 down/1 up

Scales:

 blues
 modes of major
 modes of melodic minor
 modes of harmonic minor
 synthetic modes
 pentatonics
 chord scale continuum

Stepwise Patterns:

 groups of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
 variations on groupings; up, down, up/down, down/up, down/2 up, 2 down/1 up

Displaced Stepwise Patterns

 1235 (diatonically)
 124
 125
 126
 127
 134 (love supreme lick)
 variations on groupings; up, down, up/down, down/up, down/2 up, 2 down/1 up

Diatonic Intervals:

 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, 6ths, 7ths,

 variations on groupings; up, down, up/down, down/up, down/2 up, 2 down/1 up

Non-Diatonic (Constant Structure) Intervals

 minor 3rds
 4ths
 5ths
 variations on groupings; up, down, up/down, down/up, down/2 up, 2 down/1 up

Diatonic Harmonies:

 triads
  7th chords
 9th chords
 quartal harmony
 quintel harmony
 variations on groupings; up, down, up/down, down/up, down/2 up, 2 down/1 up

Approach Note Patterns:

 applied to all above materials

 whole step above/chromatic below
 chromatic above, below, above/below

Coltrane Matrix

 applied to possible II-V situations

 applied to Coltrane tunes

Bi-Tonality

 2 triads linked together emphasizing a hybrid or altered tonality (in a dominant or modal situation)
 major triad whole step above
 major triad min 3rd above
 major triad a major 3rd below
 major triad a minor 3rd below
 major triad a tritone away

Free Playing:

 completely free
 free within a scale
 free within a rhythmic pattern
 free in time

Rhythmic Considerations:

 subdivisions triplets, quintuplets, septuplets

 repeating rhythmic patterns

Reharmonization:

 harmonic generalization
 substitute chords
 hybrids that fit chord alterations
 alterations on existing chords

Practice Cycles:

 chromatic up/down, min 3rds, maj 3rds, 4ths, 5ths

Articulation:

 basic jazz articulation and swing feel as applied to melodies, exercises, and improvised melodic lines

II-V's:

 standard generic licks

 from transcriptions
 from your lines
Licks:

 same as above

25 ways to work on a tune: Ordering Information

Supplementary Materials:

 Keyboard (basics)
 Transcription Ordering Information
 Arranging Techniques See the jazz arranging outline
 Music Copying/Calligraphy
 Listening! See the recommended listening list

Tune Types/Styles:

 Blues
 Modal Tunes
 Standards
 Be-bop
 Latin/Salsa
 Ballads
 Non-Standard Tunes