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RED GARLAND: Outlines and 3-5-7-9 Arpeggios

2/03/13 18:01

Bert Ligon

bligon@mozart.sc.edu
[Return to Jazz Transcriptions page]

RED GARLAND: OUTLINES & 3-5-7-9


ARPEGGIOS
These examples from improvised solos by Red Garland will illustrate some basic shapes available to
improvisers. These basic shapes are use by all improvisers over traditional harmony.
The most fundamental shape would be the step line beginning on the third of a chord and following it
through the progression. This is called outline no. 1. The third is the most consonant note in the measure
as it identifies the chord quality. The most dissonant note is the 7th that resolves in every case to the
following 3rd.
1.

Outline no. 1: connecting 3rds

A common elaboration of this melodic pattern is to add the 3-5-7-9 arpeggio between the first and second
notes of the pattern. This octave displaces the line, and by arpeggiating the chord makes it harmonically
very clear. (The basic descending scale tones are shown with circles in this and subsequent examples.)
2.

Outline no. 1 with 3-5-7-9 arpeggios:

The arpeggios can be inverted. Rather than ascending 3-5-7-9, they can be played as shown below.

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RED GARLAND: Outlines and 3-5-7-9 Arpeggios

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Outline no. 1 with inverted 3-5-7-9 arpeggios:

Red Garland illustrates the concepts in these examples from his improvisation on the tune A Foggy Day.
In the first example, Garland plays the third of each chord on beat two, emphasizing the back beat. Each
third begins a 3-5-7-9 arpeggio. The first and last measures contain the ascending 3-5-7-9 arpeggio and the
middle measure features an inverted arpeggio. Garland uses a b9 over the G7, a note borrowed from the
parallel key of C minor. The Gn in m.3 is approached chromatically from below. Notice the musical
symmetry between the first and last measures. Try playing this in all twelve major keys. Decide where to
use the ascending or inverted arpeggio depending on the range of your instrument. (The basic descending
scale tones are shown with circles and the 3-5-7-9 arpeggios with boxes in this and subsequent examples.)
4.

Outline no. 1 using 3-5-7-9 arpeggios:

The basic structure of this excerpt is similar to the previous one. Garland aims for the third of D7 by
playing the note above and below (the upper and lower neighbor tones). After arriving at the third, the
expected 3-5-7-9 arpeggio occurs, inverted this time. Notice that in the first example the arpeggio for the
first measure was ascending and inverted in the second measure. In this excerpt the directions are reversed.
Garland uses a b9 over the D7 borrowed from G minor and a b9 over the G7 borrowed from C minor.
He uses the same chromatic approach used in the first excerpt this time to arrive at the Dn in m.2 and the
Gn in m.3. Try playing this in all twelve keys finding different combinations of ascending and inverted
arpeggios for all the chords.
5.

Outline no. 1 using 3-5-7-9 arpeggios:

Outline no. 1 and 3-5-7-9 arpeggio from Garlands improvisation on I Could Write a Book:
6.

Simple version of outline no. 1 using 3-5-7-9 arpeggio:

Outline no. 1 and 3-5-7-9 arpeggio from Garlands improvisation on I Could Write a Book:
7.

Simple version of outline no. 1 using 3-5-7-9 arpeggio:

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Here is another common melodic shape called outline no. 2. Outline no. 2 begins with a 1-3-5-7 arpeggio.
The 7th resolved to the 3rd of the following chord. Because outline no. 2 ends on the 3rd of the subsequent
chord it is often followed by outline no. 1.
8.

Outline no. 2 followed by outline no. 1:

Garland uses outline no. 2 followed by outline no. 1 in the following example. The G7 chord is anticipated
arriving early on beat four of m.1. The 3rd of G7 is approached by its leading tone A#. Garland arpeggiates
the 3-5-7- b9 of the G7, chromatically approaches the G natural as shown before, and chromatically
approaches the 3rd of the C major 7 chord. Garland also uses the 3-5-7-9 arpeggio on the C major 7 chord.
There is an interesting contradiction in harmonic rhythm between what the chords indicate and what
Garland plays. He begins Dm7 late on beat two, he anticipates G7 by a beat and plays the C major 7 on
time. The implication of the music is four beats for each of the chords. Garland implies a quarter rest, two
beats of Dm7, five beats of G7 and then back to four for C major 7.
9.

Outline no. 2 followed by outline no. 1 including 3-5-7-9 arpeggios:

Garland again uses outline no. 2 followed by outline no. 1 in the following examples from his
improvisation on What is This Thing Called Love? Almost every time he lands on the third of a chord a 3-5-79 arpeggio seems to follow.
10.

Outline no. 2 followed by outline no. 1 including 3-5-7-9 arpeggios:

11.

Outline no. 2 followed by outline no. 1 including a 3-5-7-9 arpeggio:

Garland uses outline no. 1 in this excerpt from his improvisation on If I Were A Bell. The piece is in the key
of F, though none of these chords indicate that. The A7 is the ii7 and the D7 the V7 of G minor, the ii
chord in the key of F. Those two chords together are the ii7/ii (ii7 of the key of ii) and the V7/ii (V7 of
ii). However, they do not resolve to G minor but to G7. The deceptive resolution does not change the
analysis and function of the two chords. The G7 is the V7 of C which is the dominant of F: V7/V.
12.

Outline no. 1 over ii7/ii - V7/ii - V7/V progression:

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Garland uses outline no. 2 followed by outline no. 1 in this similar progression from the same improvisation.
13.

Outline no. 2 followed by outline no. 1 over iii - V7/ii - V7/V progression:

Garland uses a mixture of 3-5-7-9 arpeggios over this V7/ii - ii progression.


14.

Outline no. 1 and 3-5-7-9 arpeggios:

Several devices make this outline no. 1 example interesting. The chromatic triplets between the root and
third of the Am7 energizes and gives forward motion to the line. The leap created by the inverted arpeggio
on the D7 is a welcome change from the preceding tight chromatic movement. There is an interesting
sawtooth shape on beats three and four of m.2 created by pivoting the line between the stationary A pedal
tone and the moving D to C.
15.

Outline no. 1 and 3-5-7-9 arpeggios

Garland relies again on outline no. 1 to successfully negotiate this V7/viV7/iiii7V7I progression
in his improvisation on the tune It Could Happen To You. He uses 3-5-7-9 arpeggios for the C7 and the Fm7
chords. The third of F minor is delayed by first playing the upper and lower neighbor tones. The line is
initially resolved by the 3-1 over the Bb chord. He then plays the 7th of B b to resolve to the 3rd of E b.
16.

Outline no. 1 over an extended progression:

Over the same progression Garland uses outline no. 1 again in a completely different way. The 3-5-7-9
arpeggios are welcome breaks to the tight chromatic motion. He uses the 3-5-7-9 arpeggio over the Fm in
two versions.
17.

Outline no. 1 over an extended progression:

Garland uses outline no. 1 to move from C7 to F. He uses a chromatic line (G-F# -F) to lead to the En.
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The line ends with a bluesy line.


18.

Outline no. 1 with contrasting material:

Outline no. 2 is often followed by outline no. 1. In this example, Garland uses a 3-5-7-9 arpeggio as the answer to outline no. 2.
19.

Outline no. 2 followed by a 3-5-7-9 arpeggio:

20.

Outline no. 2 in sequence:

Garland uses the simple step progression of outline no. 1 for the following extended progressions.
21.

Outline no. 1 over extended iiiV7/iiii7ii7/viV7/vivi progression:

Garland uses outline no. 1 to negotiate this elaborate looking passage. With all the complicated sixteenth
notes and chromatic embellishments the line still follows a step progression beginning and ending with the
third of C minor. This excerpt is from Garlands improvisation on Good Bait. He only uses one 3-5-7- b9
arpeggio over the F7 chord. The resolution to the F7 chord is delayed by his use of the chromatic
approach from below the A natural. The chromatic approach is shown below by brackets and occurs six
times in this short excerpt.
22.

Outline no. 1 over extended ii7V7IV7/iiii7 progression:

There is one other common pattern that Garland uses, although less frequently that outline nos.1 & 2.
Outline no. 3 begins on the 5th of a chord, follows a descending arpeggio (5-3-1) then moves to the
dissonant 7th that resolves to the 3rd of the subsequent chord. Because outline no. 3 ends on a 3rd, it is
often followed by a 3-5-7-9 arpeggio, outline no. 1 or both.
23.

Outline no. 3 followed by outline no. 1 & 3-5-7-9 arpeggio:

Garland uses outline no. 3 followed by a 3-5-7-9 arpeggio and outline no. 1 in this passage.
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RED GARLAND: Outlines and 3-5-7-9 Arpeggios

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Outline no. 3 followed by 3-5-7-9 arpeggio & outline no. 1:

All four notes of the 3-5-7-9 arpeggio of D7 resolve chromatically in the following excerpt.
25.

Chromatic 3-5-7-9 arpeggios:

The second arpeggio in the previous excerpt implies the b9 and b13 of the G7 chord. The following example shows the relationship between the G7 b9/b13 and the Db9 chord and the logical smooth voice
leading. The fundamental tones, 3rd and 7th, of Db7 and G7 are the same enharmonic pitches. The b9 of
G is the 5th of D b; the b13 of G7 is the 9th of Db7.
26.

Relationship between b9/b13 and the Db9:

APPLICATION OF OUTLINE NO. 1 AND 3-5-7-9 ARPEGGIOS


ON A TYPICAL JAZZ HARMONIC PROGRESSION.
Begin by practicing diatonic steps down from the 3rd of each chord emphasizing the 73 voice-leading
over each measure line. The dissonant 7th is resolved to the consonant 3rd.

Ex.1

Outline no. 1 over vi7ii7V7IIVV7/iiiI/iii progression:

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RED GARLAND: Outlines and 3-5-7-9 Arpeggios

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Practice 3-5-7-9 arpeggios for each chord using the key signature to determine the appropriate tones. The
chord in m.6 has a b9. Is this a choice to make it sound "hip," or is it because this chord is pointing to the
iii chord?

Ex.2

Outline no. 1 with 3-5-7-9 arpeggios:

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RED GARLAND: Outlines and 3-5-7-9 Arpeggios

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Combine the previous two exercises. Connect 3-5-7-9 arpeggios with outline no. 1 anticipating each beat.

Ex.3

Outline no. 1 with 3-5-7-9 arpeggios:

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RED GARLAND: Outlines and 3-5-7-9 Arpeggios

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Connect 3-5-7-9 arpeggios with outline no. 1 using a chromatic leading tone to the third of each chord.

Ex.4

Outline no. 1 with 3-5-7-9 arpeggios and leading tones:

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RED GARLAND: Outlines and 3-5-7-9 Arpeggios

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Connect 3-5-7-9 arpeggios with outline no. 1 using a chromatic passing tone approaching the thirds of
chords. Minor thirds are approached from above, major thirds are approached from below.

Ex.5

Outline no. 1 with 3-5-7-9 arpeggios and chromatic approaches to 3rds:

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RED GARLAND: Outlines and 3-5-7-9 Arpeggios

Ex.6

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Outline no. 1 with 3-5-7-9 arpeggios, delayed resolution to the 3rds, and chromatic
approaches to 5ths. These lines resemble examples nos. 5 & 11:

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RED GARLAND: Outlines and 3-5-7-9 Arpeggios

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How an improvisation may sound using the ideas from the previous exercises. The dominant chord in the
third complete measure has a b9 borrowed from the parallel minor.

Ex.7

Sample improvisation using material previously shown:

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RED GARLAND: Outlines and 3-5-7-9 Arpeggios

Ex.8

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Outline no. 2 applied over vi7ii7V7IIVV7/iiiI/iii progression:

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RED GARLAND: Outlines and 3-5-7-9 Arpeggios

Ex.9

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Outline no. 2 applied over vi7ii7V7IIVV7/iiiI/iii progression:

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RED GARLAND: Outlines and 3-5-7-9 Arpeggios

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Ex.10 Outline no. 3 applied over vi7ii7V7IIVV7/iiiI/iii progression:

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RED GARLAND: Outlines and 3-5-7-9 Arpeggios

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Ex.11 Outline no. 3 applied over vi7ii7V7IIVV7/iiiI/iii progression:

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Bert Ligon

bligon@mozart.sc.edu
[Return to Jazz Transcriptions page]

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