Jazz Guitar Lesson 3: Whole-Tone Scale

A lesson on how the whole-tone scale is used in jazz and what types of chords it fits over/what types of chords are derived from it.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jazz
• guitar
• soloing
• lesson
• whole-tone
• scale
• improvisation
• outside
• tonality
• harmony
• melody
• bla

[ratraceloser]

thanks so much for the lessons! they're definitely helping me in my 'transition' from blues/rock to jazz.. What is difficult for me at this time is changing with chords. In this case, it would be resolving the tension between the whole-tone back to the I chord (in at II-V-I). Any possibility of lessons dealing with the process behind changing with the chords? this skill seems almost unattainable at this point.....

[geoffstockton]

@ratraceloser Try this: print out a row of blank chord/scale diagram boxes. Label above each box the name of each chord in the progression (or at least a section thereof). Decide what scales for each chord you want to focus on applying to each chord for now. Pick a 5 to 6 fret span of the fretboard on which to focus and chart out the shapes required to play each of those scales in there respective boxes. Don't use dots. Label the tones in R234567s as they relate to each chord.

[geoffstockton]

@ratraceloser (part 2) once you have these positions for each scale mapped out start improvising over a recording of the changes at a slow tempo and use nothing but the top string until you really see how you can connect the tones of each one scale to the next. Then do the same with each string. Then go back and do the same process with groups of 2, 3 & 4 strings. Try broken strings sets also.

Then up the speed. Repeat in all positions. Do the same with other scale and arpeggio choices.

[Privento]

You´re absolutely right! I like the video very much, it learns you something, rather than just giving you the notes.

[geoffstockton]

@Privento When I was younger as a teacher, I was awful . Because all I did was teach people scales without knowing all the ways to operate within them and apply them. Music is so multi-layered it's easy for us to get lost in one facet of it. That's why some people get stuck listening to one kind of music. They can't recognize the elements that they're aren't currently focused on. Music is humbling. I still feel like a kid in music. So far from knowing it all.

[keyofdminor]

good stuff man

[geoffstockton]

@keyofdminor "D minor. It's the saddest of all keys."

[adudenamedrf]

LOL "do you remember that one time when johnny sawed off his arm?" great lesson. nice sense of humor too!

[TrisofRoblind]

You rule! i Really like the whole tone scale! It is so crazy!!! Bless you sir! : D

[maniacguitar]

what an excellent guitar lesson... I wish I could learn from you in person

[RubinMusician]

poor Johnny...

[JoshuaVergara2777]

Thanks for this lesson Bro! appreciate the effort! ^^ learned somethin here...

[endauthority]

the whole tone scale reminds me of opening a treasure chest in Legend of Zelda

[Django5198]

is jazz more or less characterised by chords?

[TFIFH]

This is the coolest of all scales.

[pcnation11]

why would you play this over a major chord? where would you put an augmented chord in a progression?

[randalltomes]

Hello Geoff,

See if this helps your students.

at woodchoppers dott org

Something I put together to help me learn notes on the fretboard.

Its a game you play and learn to identify the music notes the fretboard as you play it.

Something I have failed to do over the years. Just all numbers in mind. Which is ok until you have to read sheet music or communicate with other musicians like a keyboardist.