Melodic "Jazz" Minor Basics (Modes and Chords)

[wizard3739]

Welcome back, Reg!

wiz

[JonnyPac]

Your video gave me a great picture of how Melodic Minor can be used in Jazz.

I learned this scale a couple of years ago but was not creative enough to come up with any inspiring improvisation.

It was kind of weird to me in that as you play through it from the root, you have this flatted third which hints at the sadness/somberness of the minor tonality, and then all of a sudden you climb up to a 6th and 7th, just as in the major scale, with all its "brightness/cheer" (which is how major tonality is often described).

It seems to me this one of those scales that can allow you to express happiness and somberness, all in one line. This gives an improviser great flexibility in expressing themselves.

Would you say this is an fair and accurate description of the MM scale?

Sure, I can dig that!

Glad you got something out of the lesson.

[Nuff Said]

Good to hear and read about jazz guitar again... I'll try and make lots of video posts and motivate us all to get our playing together.
AlsoRan... MM is simply one of the tools used by jazz players. Typically, MM is used more like Blue Notes and their influence on harmony and improvisation... as compared to deriving functional harmony from pitch collection and typical chord construction. Although there are plenty of examples of compositions and improvisation derived with traditional harmonic and melodic use. I'll make a new Video showing the differences of applications. What becomes somewhat more complicated is that... MM is usually used in context and simultaneously with other concepts.
Your description is cool with me, the flexibility might be one of the keys to using in a jazz style...
Reg

Very glad you're back Reg, the insight in your posts is an inspiration to us all.

More videos please. It's always a great pleasure to hear you play, because your playing is top notch.

Thanks
Nuff

[whatswisdom]

Very glad you're back Reg, the insight in your posts is an inspiration to us all. More videos please. It's always a great pleasure to hear you play, because your playing is top notch.

+1 ... and then some ... Reg puts everything about this forum into proper perspective. When all's said & done, it comes down to playing I look at Reg's video and first think, "Why bother?" Then I come to my senses and think, "Wait! This is what's possible if you keep at it." Inspiring! (And you don't have to pay for these great little lessons ).

[Reg]

Thanks... and yea, playing is the goal. Here's another example of using Melodic Minor on a Brecker Tune... Nothing Personal

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Thanks Reg

[paynow]

Reg! Good to see you man. Love it.

[JonnyPac]

Here's something the piano player in my band Moondrool wrote (and I helped arrange) using F Melodic Minor. In fact, the whole tune is "diatonic" in the key of F MM. The main A section groove is E7 Alt, and the B part cycles through the modes while non-functional triads (Bb and C) toggle over the disco bass.

I play some over-driven stuff over it- not super "jazzy", but fun nonetheless.

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[Reg]

Cool JP...
It's difficult to use MM modally... no avoid notes, and you can almost use any chord any time... almost like a one big chord all the time.
Somewhat why in jazz we use MM concepts almost like blue note influenced harmony... we tend to use more as a influence as compared to in a modal style, (implying functional movement). And usually we use MM in combination with other concepts, usually blue notes etc... European jazz players like Martijn van Iterson are pretty good at using and composing using MM in that traditional European Classical tradition...
Cool band, looks and sounds like fun...Reg

[JonnyPac]

Thanks, Reg! It's a fun group.

Iterson is way cool with MM- From transcribing his licks I got a really good perspective on functional MM uses. He even uses Lydian Augmented as the I chord frequently, which sounds totally chilling.

[JonnyPac]

BTW- I just fully-revised my book and e-book. Anyone who wants an updated version send me a PM.

[AlsoRan]

Thanks... and yea, playing is the goal. Here's another example of using Melodic Minor on a Brecker Tune... Nothing Personal

Thanks Reg

Nice, man. Nice.

[whatswisdom]

BTW- I just fully-revised my book and e-book. Anyone who wants an updated version send me a PM.

Nice surprise, JP. Thanks a lot!

[Philco]

Reg, I learn so much from your videos.
Truly, thank you.

[Reg]

Reg, I learn so much from your videos.
Truly, thank you.

Hey... Thank you... really, that's why I try... I'll try and make another video example of how to use Melodic Minor as source and influence of playing in a Jazz Blues style, use of sub of subs and Modal Interchange. The difference between as compared to a rock or classical concept.
Reg

[JonnyPac]

Updated the pages in posts #1 and #2 to the new 2012 revised versions.

[jster]

Thanks Jonny. Every time I look on this site, I see a thread and think: that it is the thread I have to work through. But this here really is the thread I need to work through! Hehe.

But I am confused. How come there is no b3=F in the second chord, Cm69/D? Where did it go?

Thanks.

[JonnyPac]

Cool- Thanks.

The Eb is the b3 of Cm69/D. The "D" root is a Phrygian Sus b9 chord- sus means there is no F, but a G in its place. the one that gets debated too often. I'd focus on the other chords since they are more commonly used. The first mode, Lydian Augmented, Lydian Dominant, and ALT are the real popular ones. Locrian Natural 2nd is used a bit too.

[JonnyPac]

The 2nd mode of C MM can have an F BTW; it's not a tension to be avoided, etc.

[Philco]

Now here is another very helpful take on Melodic minor.
I love this guys playing and sense of melody.
Check out his other videos on the same subject.
This video just put it all in a nutshell for me.
I love it when he said..
"don't think of Ab melodic minor when you think of G altered chord.....that's just an extra thought process....
Just think G altered scale"
Then he plays with groove and melody and makes beautiful sense of it.
Monster player who can put theory into action...

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[brwnhornet59]

"don't think of Ab melodic minor when you think of G altered chord.....that's just an extra thought process....

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Dix is absolutely right. I have enjoyed his site and his approach for some time. He is a really nice guy to talk with as well...

[Nuff Said]

Dix is absolutely right. I have enjoyed his site and his approach for some time. He is a really nice guy to talk with as well...

I agree, I got much more music out of learning each Melodic Minor Mode, than just learning the parent scale.

Note: that "Dixon Nacey" sings the lines.

Nuff

[Philco]

I agree, I got much more music out of learning each Melodic Minor Mode, than just learning the parent scale.

Note: that "Dixon Nacey" sings the lines.

Nuff

Man I wish my vocal range was larger. Even is falsetto I can only hit a B below top C.
Bloody useless.
When I sing an octave down it sounds like crap.

Oh well, I guess you only get a certain quota of useable attributes during manufacture.