Sax Lesson 34: Altered Scale

[YohamaMr]

eye read somewhere that BIRD said, (paraphrased):

learn all the theory you can learn

learn till yo eyes burn and yo head bust open,

then you can LISTEN (you then got EARS)

PLAY & LISTEN till yo EARS OPEN then

FORGIT ALL THAT SHI...

You can now feel so

JUST PLAY MUSIC  THRU YO INSTRUMENT. nyerere

[MattOttoJazz]

@YohamaMr - thank you for your comment and the Bird Quote - I'm still working on the "learn all you can" part.

[caseymusic]

Question. When the C7 chord is being played by a rhythm instrument (piano, guitar) and the horn player uses the altered scale, should the rhythm instrument alter the fifth of the chord by a half step in order to make all the notes of the scale relative to the chord?

[MattOttoJazz]

@caseymusic the rhythm section could play a #5 on the dominant if they hear it in time, but it's not imperative. Conflicting tensions only increase density and complicate the harmonic sound, there's nothing 'wrong' with it. Also, comping or voicing with just root, 3rd and 7th could keep things simple and clear.

[MrJimmynoone]

thanks Matt all clear



[MrJimmynoone]

hi Matt thanks for lesson 34

may i ask which scale you are using over the C7 is it Dflat melodic minor or is it just a diminished scale

thanks again

martin ....england

[MattOttoJazz]

@MrJimmynoone Martin, Yes, it's the 7th mode of Melodic Minor - somtimes calles the "altered" scale.

[MrJimmynoone]

@MattOttoJazz hi thanks very much i was just a bit confused i can see the first four notes being 7th mode how about the second 4 notes which scale is that ...is it a basic mixolydian scale

cheers martin

[MattOttoJazz]

@MrJimmynoone All the notes in bar 1 (the first 8 notes of this lesson meldoy) are from the 7th mode of the melodic minor scale (this mode is often called the "altered" scale). Here are the notes over C7(altered): C (the root), Db (the b9), Eb (the #9), E (the major 3rd), F# (the #11), (G# or Ab), the #5 or b13, Bb (the b7th) and C (the root). Hope that helps. Best, Matt

[RBeckles]

Hey, I can't see the PDF! :(

[MattOttoJazz]

@RBeckles... there's a link to the PDF in the video description.

[1979saxman]

Can you used the altered scales as both minor and major 2 5 1's? Or is it just a minor thing?

[MattOttoJazz]

@1979saxman thanks for the comment, yes, you can use the notes from the altered scale to create melodies over a dominant resolving to major or minor chord.

[JustinDhuffman]

@1979saxman You can play any note anywhere. Make it mean something is what counts

[germzneverdie]

cool line