LOOK IN MELODY AND CHORDS

Major scales: pay attention to the fourth in the melody (if none, look at chord scale in last measure)

(if raised 4th. Play Lydian)

(if normal 4th, play Ionian)

Minor scales: pay attention to the sixth

(If natural, then dorian.)

(If b6, then Aeolian [more often] or Phrygian is 2nd is lowered.)

Good phrygian example (Eb – dm)

(If minorb5 [AKA half diminished], then use locrian

Dominant Seventh Chords: pay attention to the fourth

(If fourth is natural, use mixolydian)

(If raised 4, use lydian b7)

Use other scales if altered notes call for it (Altered [more often], symmetrical dimished)

 PAY ATTENTION TO GUIDE TONES (tones that transition from one chord to the next) A series of
these is called a guide line
 Another strategy is group the changes into larger units to play longer melodic themes and
phrases.
 Chromaticism is the improviser’s best friend
SUBSTITUTE DOMINANT (E7 – Eb, or D7 to Eb)