John Scofield Video

[CharlieT]

Hello everyone,
I'm sorry if this question, in one shape or another, has been asked on here before. Scrolling through youtube I came accross this video of John Scofield on comping and improvisation. The first section (I think the first 4 minutes) involves a lot of talking and playing about with chords harmonized in 4ths. What exactly does this mean? For example with a CMAJ7 would the notes CEGB all move up a fourth along the C lydian or major scale (and as a side-question, why has he chosen lydian for this instead of major?), or would a separate major scale start on each on these notes and take the fourth from that to construct a new chord?

I'd be really grateful if someone could help me understand this, and if not I hope that this video is at least a help to you
john scofield on improvisation 4.wmv - YouTube

[CharlieT]

Anyone any ideas? If no response this time then I'll leave this to sink to the bottom. Really grateful to anyone who could shed some light on this though

[aniss1001]

It means he is STACKING 4ths within the C Lydian scale.

Like this...

|---------------
|--5--7--8--10--
|--4--5--7--9---  ..ETC..
|--4--5--7--9---
|--3--5--7--9---
|---------------
 

And he is using Lydian and Dorian as scales because those are the scales one would do it with in reality. For instance doing it with the major scale wouldn't sound that good because it contains a so called "avoid note" namely the natural 4th.

[bobby d]

I like this stuff. Stacking 4ths gives the illusion of playing outside, but stays diatonic. Just started watching Sco's vids last year and wish I bought this years ago.