Chapter IV

The Mastery
Melodic Playing
Seamus demonstrates several methods of maximizing
the sense of melodicism in your playing as well as
your compositions.
 The Mastery of Melodic Playing - Overview
The Mastery
of Melodic
Playing
“The best players in
jazz are lyrical,
melodic players.”
Elite Music Mentor
Ch. 4, pg.34
Melodicism is an essential characteristic of a master
improviser. Seamus explains that one must hear the melodies
before playing them on the instrument to be in control of
what they are improvising at any given time. In order to attain
this control, the player must develop a strong connection
between their ear and what they choose to play.
Sea
Seamus encourages his students to sing their ideas before
attempting to play them on the instrument. Vocalizing your
lines will enforce this ear-to-instrument connection. Also,
including transcription as a key element of your practice
routine will further improve this connection. Seamus also
suggests studying the structure of good melodies not only in
jazz but in all other genres of music.
Sea
Seamus goes on further to explain that “chords are the
servants of the melody.” To Seamus, the chords must fit
the melody, not the other way around. He cites Ornette
Coleman’s compositions as a good example of this way
of compositional and improvisational thinking.
In summary, playing melody is done through the voice.
Developing your ear is integral to being able to grab ideas
quickly on your instrument. Ultimately, being a lyrical player
qui
will help you stand out as a musician.
 Sing What You Want to Play Ch. 4, pg.35

The Mastery
of Melodic
Playing
SING WHAT YOU WANT TO PLAY

• Matching what you sing/hear in your head

• Connecting your ear to your lines

• Finding the notes on your instrument quickly
• Transcribing to strengthen the ability to find notes
• Studying strong melodies in all genres of music

Refer to the next section for transcriptions.

Elite Music Mentor

 Sing What You Want to Play Ch. 4, pg.36

Sing What You Want to Play - Transcriptions

(3:41)

(6:06)

Elite Music Mentor

 Sing What You Want to Play - Homework Ch. 4, pg.37

The Mastery
of Melodic
Playing
SCALE APPLICATIONS

• Using the next page, make a list of melodies from

various genres of music that you consider strong

• Practice finding these melodies on your instrument

as quickly as possible

• Sing ideas that you hear in your head and translate

them on your instrument as quickly as possible

ASK YOUR MENTOR

Interact with other users on the website and ask questions!

Our mentors will answer all your questions and help you
through your musical journey. The best student will be
selected each month to recieve one free masterclass of
their choice.

Elite Music Mentor

 Sing What You Want to Play - Homework Ch. 4, pg.38

Sing What You Want to Play

Elite Music Mentor

 Melody is King Ch. 4, pg.39

The Mastery
of Melodic
Playing
MELODY IS KING

• Chords are servants of the melody

• Make our chords fit the melodies

• Check out Ornette Coleman tunes for a perfect example

Refer to the next section for transcriptions.

Elite Music Mentor

 Melody is King Ch. 4, pg.40

(9:42)

Elite Music Mentor

 Melody is King Ch. 4, pg.41

The Mastery
of Melodic
Playing
MELODY IS KING

• Using the next page, write a a few short melodies and

experiment with different harmonizations of those
melodies

• In the standards in your repertoire, seek out any chords

which would better fit the melody than the chords you
would normally see in a real book or hear in a session

ASK YOUR MENTOR

Interact with other users on the website and ask questions!

Our mentors will answer all your questions and help you
through your musical journey. The best student will be
selected each month to recieve one free masterclass of
their choice.

Elite Music Mentor

 Melody is King - Homework Ch. 4, pg.42

Melody is King - Create

Elite Music Mentor

 Connecting Your Voice with Your Instrument & Recap Ch. 4, pg.43

The Mastery
of Melodic
Playing
CONNECTING YOUR VOICE WITH
YOUR INSTRUMENT & RECAP

• Sing longer lines as you learn to tranlsate what you hear

quickly on your instrument

• Playing melodies is done through the voice first

• Develop your ear so you can hear something and play it

instantly

• Having this ability will help you stand out as a musician

This section is a recapitulation of previous topics in the

chapter. No futher transcriptions.

Elite Music Mentor