Modern Jazz Line #9 - Bebop Scale Melody (ii-V-I)

This week's Modern Jazz Melody is inspired by the jazz bebop scale.  If you aren't familiar with the concept don't worry, we will be covering it more in future lesson.  Simply put, the bebop scale adds an extra half-step in between certain notes in order to make each scale tone line up with a basic chord tone for the chord your improvisor over.  Well, maybe that wasn't so simply put.  Barry Harris and Hal Galper are two piano masters at teaching the be-bop scale.  Check out the videos below to see what I mean.

Here is the accompanying video for Modern Jazz Line #9.  Be sure and follow the steps in the video to work towards mastery of this jazz melody.  Remember to work slowly and mindfully.  Don't ever try to rush effortless playing!

Get the sheet music to this lesson here:
Modern Jazz Line #9 .pdf




Sick of pentatonics and diminished patterns?  Here is jazz pianist Barry Harris explaining how to use bebop scales over John Coltrane's Giant Steps.



Here's another great video of Hal Galper talking about what melodic improvisation means to him using All the Things You Are as an example.

Check it out starting here:  http://youtu.be/NehOx1JsuT4?t=4m16s

Jazz Piano Lesson #35: Voicing, Melody, Harmony

In this lesson we look at how to compose a fresh melody and improvise over predetermined voicings.  This exercise is inspired primarily by the playing of Bill Evans and Lennie Tristano.


Sheet Music for this Lesson:  http://www.scribd.com/doc/117144112

How to Practice:

Step One:  Play the ii-V-I voicing.  Concentrate on trying to feel the shape of each chord.  Feeling the shape of each voicing will 

Step Two:  Play the melodic line with the metronome.  You may want to try singing the line as described in my other "Moder Jazz Line" lessons.

Step Three: Put it all together.  Play the harmonized melodic line.

Step Four:  Repeat in all 12 keys.  Once mastered, try each like at a performance tempo.

I hope you enjoyed this free jazz piano lesson.  Thank you for considering a donation, purchase of sheet music or my album "Meditations Vol.1" to help support the site.   Please leave a comment below or send me a message if you have any questions about my videos.