Improvisation Basics 2 - Scales and chord sequences
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Objective
Objective
Given a scale and discovering all the modes, come up with chord sequences that sound pleasing in order to improvise over the sequence.
Discovering all the mode of our original scale.
Discovering all the mode of our original scale.
Scale name: Blues Hexatonic
Harmonic formula: 1 -3 4 -5 5 -7
You can write down all the modes of the original scale by taking the bass note and moving it to the high position. This is not a key transposition exercise, you use this to find different emotional feeling for any melody staying within a tonality.
These are modes of an original scale, they are note pure modal scales which represent one harmonic formula in terms of the seven natural modes. Here we're going to produce six unique harmonic formulas in which all may be represented with another seven pure modal scales.
The original scale has the harmonic formula 1 -3 4 -5 5 -7
In the key of C, this will be the notes, C, Eb, F, Gb, G and Bb. By taking the low base note and inverting six times, one inversion for every note of the scale, we're able to find all the mode having different harmonic formulas.
Original Scale: C, Eb, F, Gb, G, Bb
Harmonic Formula: 1 -3 4 -5 5 -7
Inversion 1: Eb, F, Gb, G, Bb, C
Harmonic Formula:1 2 -3 3 5 6
Inversion 2: F, Gb, G, Bb, C, Eb
Harmonic Formula:1 -2 2 4 5 -7
Inversion 3: Gb, G, Bb, C, Eb, F
Harmonic Formula:1 -2 3 -5 6 7
Inversion 4: G, Bb, C, Eb, F, Gb
Harmonic Formula:1 -3 4 +5 -7 7
Inversion 5: Bb, C, Eb, F, Gb, G
Harmonic Formula:1 2 4 5 +5 6
Chord selection for each mode
Chord selection for each mode
Original Scale: C, Eb, F, Gb, G, Bb
Harmonic Formula: 1 -3 4 -5 5 -7
Suggested Chords: Cm, Cm7, C7sus4, Cdim, Cm7b5
Inversion 1: Eb, F, Gb, G, Bb, C
Harmonic Formula: 1 2 -3 3 5 6
Suggested Chords: Eb, Eb6, Ebm, Ebm6
Inversion 2: F, Gb, G, Bb, C, Eb
Harmonic Formula: 1 -2 2 4 5 -7
Suggested Chords: Fsus4,F7sus4
Inversion 3: Gb, G, Bb, C, Eb, F
Harmonic Formula: 1 -2 3 -5 6 7
Suggested Chords: Gb6b5
Inversion 4: G, Bb, C, Eb, F, Gb
Harmonic Formula: 1 -3 4 +5 -7 7
Suggested Chords: GaugSus4, Gm#5, Gmadd4
Inversion 5: Bb, C, Eb, F, Gb, G
Harmonic Formula: 1 2 4 5 +5 6
Suggested Chords: Bbsus4,Bb6sus4
Key signatures and spicy notes
Key signatures and spicy notes
What key signature has the notes Bb and Eb? The answer is the key of Bb.
The note Gb is not in the key of Bb, so we can consider this as the spicy note of this scale.
We're going to avoid using the notes D and A is we can explore the sound of this scale. Because the scale works well in the key of Bb, adding the notes D and A will always sound good, however the spice note Gb should be used to add excitement and note to over do it.
Techniques in choosing a chord sequence
Techniques in choosing a chord sequence
One technique to is called lifting the bass. From the above selection of chords, the chord Cm7 also has the chord Eb stacked at the minor third position, so starting with the chord Cm7 and lifting the bass note C, you move to the chord Eb.
Another technique is called dropping the bass. if we start with the chord Cm or Cm7, if you move the bass note from C to Bb, you arrive at the chord Bb6sus4.
Suggested chord sequences
Suggested chord sequences
Lifting the bass.
Cm7, Eb
Dropping the bass
Eb, Cm7, Bb6sus4
F7sus4, F7sus4/Eb, C7sus4
Gmadd4, Gmadd4/Gb, Gmadd4/F, Gmadd4/Eb
Improvisation Skeleton
Improvisation Skeleton
Cm7 Eb
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