Watch how the chords interact with the scales. In the A section, try to follow the line cliche (P5, m6, M6, m7)
The track changes from A Aeolian to its relative C Ionian to the relative major at 0:45, 1:51, 2:57, and 4:03. "relative" modes share the same notes!
Notice there are 2 chords, and each one has its own scale. OUTGOING NOTES get smaller before they vanish, try to land your phrases on the BIG ONES!
watch all the D notes move to D# (at 30s). That is really the only change that you have to deal with for this jam.
Mind the MODAL INTERCHANGE on this jam! The Bm piano riff uses a G# so we must play Dorian, But the A7 chord has a G, so it has to be B Aeolian.
Watch the line: F Eb D Db. If you want to do something more interesting than just the pentatonic scale, you have to follow the GREEN DIAMONDS!
Use very repetitive licks for this, and hit those Juicy M6's, That's the money note! Notice how the riff flips at 1:16.
This track bounces between B minor and D major. You MUST follow the chord shapes to make this one work. Watch the Video!
HARMONIC MINOR! Watch how the A minor scale changes to A Harmonic Minor (m7 changes to M7) on the E7 chord. This is because the key of A minor naturally has an Em c
Guess what inspired this little theme? I am using some octaves a la Wes Montgomery here. The jazzy lick on the D7(#9) is basically an arpeggio of the chord
Practice playing the chord tones as they change. The outgoing notes get smaller, the incoming notes fade in so you can anticipate the changes.
Watch how the chord tones (GREEN) interact with the pentatonic scale (RED). IN EVERY CASE, only ONE note falls outside the Pentatonic Scale. THAT IS YOUR TARGET!
f you want to add the flavor of each chord, add F# (MA2) on the D chord, and C (b6) on Am7, notice that those notes fall outside E minor pentatonic.
With such long I IV and V sections, I like to change keys for each part. Follow how the keys change from Am to Dm then Em in the video.
Watch the Green Notes (chord tones) change. Remember that OUTGOING NOTES GET SMALLER, INCOMING NOTES FADE IN! Memorize the notes in each position.
Start w/ E Minor Pentatonic. On Ebmaj7, move it down to C minor, then move it to Eb minor, then back to E minor.
Watch how the chord shapes interact with the pentatonics. Sometimes the chord tone falls OUTSIDE of the scale. THOSE ARE THE JUICY NOTES!
Practice following those green diamonds. The outgoing notes get smaller, the incoming notes fade in early, so you can anticipate the changes!
Watch the scale change to F# harmonic minor (because of the E# in the C#7 chord). And yes... it's E#, not F, because the 3rd of the chord must be an E note.
Watch how the TRIADS interact with the pentatonic scales. Use the pentatonic scales as your base, but sprinkle in the triad notes when you can.
Watch the 3rds of the chords. They all stay inside the mode, except on the D chord. Add that F# to the pentatonic or mode. THAT'S THE MONEY NOTE!
At 60 seconds, watch the change from Aeolian to Dorian. Notice that the only note that changes is C (moving up to C#)
3 Chords, three keys, three scales. This is a classic modal approach to jazz. Just play in the key of EACH chord. Don't be afraid to throw in some MIXODORIAN too!
This jam changes from B Aeolian to B Dorian. Why? The G chord (bVI) compels us to play B Aeolian, but once the E chord happens, our ears want B Dorian
Try building this riff all over the guitar neck. Modal jams like this always offer the opportunity to do this!
For the real FUNKY notes - hit that M6 and M2. Notice you can always SLIDE up from R and P5!
Most of these chords fit into the harmonic minor scale, believe it or not! Watch how the chord shapes force the scale to change from Aeolian to Harmonic Minor,
DORIAN: in a Dorian jam, try to zero in on the P4 and M6 of the Dorian Scale (Root and M3 of the IV chord). Those notes will give you that Dorian IV sound!
F#7(#9) looks like someone sneezed on the guitar, but LOOK CLOSE! Only the M3 is outside of the minor pentatonic scale. That's the MONEY NOTE! HIT THAT MOTHER.
Watch how the Mode changes from E Aeolian to E Dorian on the A major triad.
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