Mechanics of Jazz Foreward The improvisor's tools are scales and chords. When improvising over a chord sequence an improvisor will firstly identify the chord and then the scale or scales from which it is structured. The identified scale is then used to improvise over the chord. So, you could be playing a 16 bar chord sequence and using a different scale on each chord, even though the piece of music is written in one particular key. Sometimes there may be a common scale on two or three of the chords. Sometimes there will be several options on one chord, in that situation your scale selection would be governed by experience (knowing what a particular scale sounds like over a particular chord and knowing how that chord sounds in that particular sequence). When there are options, then some will sound better than others, in this situation use your ears! Let them decide which sounds best. The book has three chapters, the first two are cross-references. Chapter 1 lists the Scale Vocabulary and the chords that are structured from them. Chapter 2 lists the Chord Vocabulary and the scales that are used to improvise over them. In chapter 1 you can go to a particular scale to find which chords are used with it. In chapter 2 you can go to a particular chord to find which scale or scales are used to improvise over it. Chapter 3 gives very useful improvisation tips, left hand rootless voicings for pianist readers and chord sequences from the CD, with the preferred scale options. There are 30 tracks, 10 are listening references that enable you to hear improvisations that use the designated scales. The other 20 are the corresponding backing tracks and provide you with a rhythm section to improvise with. All of the chord sequences and scales are written out for concert, B flat and E flat instruments. The aim of this book is to inform the reader/listener with all the most commonly used chords and their scale options. Provide a working knowledge of chords and the experience of improvising over them using a broad selection of scales. A quick reference book that you can dip into at any time. I have chosen not to give detailed and long-winded explanations as to why I would use a particular scale over a particular chord because it is my intention to encourage use of the ears and ultimately improve aural development. CHAPTER SUMMARY Chapter 1: Scales for improvising - and the chords that are structured from them Major scales - 7 notes Natural (Pure) minor scales - 7 notes Jazz merlodic minor scales - 7 notes Blues scales - 6 notes Diminished scales - 8 notes Major pentatonic scales - 5 notes Minor pentatonic scales - 5 notes Flat 3 pentatonic scales - 5 notes Harmonic minor scales - 7 notes Whole tone scales - 6 notes Chapter 2: Chords - and the scales that are used to improvise over them Major scales - 7 notes Major 7th Major 7th - augmented Minor - major 7th Dominant 7th - suspended 4th Diminished 7th Major 6th Minor 7th Minor 6th Dominant 7th - flattened 5th Major 7th - flattened 5th Minor 7th - flattened 5th Dominant 7th Dominant 7th - augmented Chapter 3: Extracts & scale options for improvisation with the CD Title of Demo Improvisation Pianists/Organists etc B flat & E flat instruments Track 1: Grace Track 2: bass-drums backing Track 3: piano-bass-drums backing Track 4: Rio Nights Track 5: bass-drums backing Track 6: piano-bass-drums backing Track 7: Traffic Jam Track 8 bass-drums backing Track 9: piano-bass-drums backing Track 10: I've Been Tangoed Track 11: bass-drums backing Track 12: piano-bass-drums backing Track 13: Reds, Yellows and Blues Track 14: bass-drums backing Track 15: piano-bass-drums backing Track 16: See-Saw Track 17: bass-drums backing Track 18: piano-bass-drums backing Track 19: Jazzle Track 20: bass-drums backing Track 21: piano-bass-drums backing Track 22: Adagio Track 23: bass-drums backing Track 24: piano-bass-drums backing Track 25: It's Behind You Track 26: bass-drums backing Track 27: piano-bass-drums backing Track 28: Creeper Track 29: bass-drums backing Track 30: piano-bass-drums backing