Scales and Modes

In a recent lesson, I worked with a student on applying modal concepts to one of my original compositions, Mindful Moments. As in our previous lesson, we focused on incorporating dominant bebop harmony within a modal framework. While understanding modes is essential, embellishing them with dominant bebop vocabulary adds depth and character to modal playing—something that can be heard in the improvisation of the jazz greats.

This is video, audio and a pdf all with etudes for the tune Turn Out The Stars by Bill Evans. 

It's a complicated tune, but I always think even the complicated tunes spell all the harmony out. It all makes sense musicially. 

The videos are below: 

G major scales with all the modes

F major scales with all the modes

You should be able to do this. If you can't then just practice it! Don't worry about why.

You should be able to do this. 

Watch great players and if they do something you can't do, like a warm up or they're standing in the corner with there sax and they play something. You should be able to do it. If they say well I did this when I was young, then you should be able to do it also. Don't worry about why, just do it. The why will come later. 

Modes with starting notes D, A, Gb and B.

Playing the Modes from 4 notes - https://youtu.be/NvUUeALtIpA

Improvising on the Modes - https://youtu.be/fSPAb8TcV6U

Open and Closed - https://youtu.be/yE4r8-JU6pA

Dampening and Pedaling Preface - https://youtu.be/MK1wHXoZ-mk

Dampening Major Scales - https://youtu.be/7QyOCHLaPFY

Blue Bossa Tony Transcription: https://youtu.be/p5X--sj07NQ

Donna Lee First 16 bars: https://youtu.be/XwVTTUB4VTY

Blue Bossa 2 chorus solo: https://youtu.be/yPZaXUpdK10

Friedman Etude #9: https://youtu.be/XNTOiMpdEBI

Blue Bossa head with chord accompaniment: https://youtu.be/akBz9J0UDnI

Diminished open-closed voicings in G, Ab, & C: https://youtu.be/wTBnPlYdWGQ

Blue Bossa with scales: https://youtu.be/ONUGeuGTyQc

Donna Lee first 8 bars of head: https://youtu.be/gdprxMkrNOw

Friedman Etude #7: https://youtu.be/7kAbSj-Hsv4