improvising a 12 tone row

[timscarey]

So, this is an idea i've been toying with for many years and just thought I'd see if anyone might have some insight on this topic.

I basically have one way that I do it and here it is...

visualize 4 major 7th "shell" voicings a minor 3rd apart. ex.

CEB EbGD GbBbF ADbAb (i like to think in flats)

then create ways of traversing the 4 shapes like....

Root-3rd on all 4 shapes then the 7th's

or

7, 1, 3 - 3, 1, 7 - 7,1 ,3 - 3, 1, 7 etc....

I've found a few other shapes (diminished and augmented) that can also be arranged to include all 12 tones without repetition but don't use them in this way.

you guys ever try this kind of thing?

[bako]

Generating 12 tone row with 3 asymetrical 7th chords

Start with a 7th chord let's say

CmMa7 (CEbGB)

Then look for 2 other 7th's without common tones from the remaining 8 notes.

C#DEFF#G#ABb

Fma7+ (FAC#E) leaves DF#BbG# which is Bb7+ (BbDF#Ab)

CmMa7---Fma7+---Bb7+

or

F#m7 (F#AC#E) leaves FG#BbD which is Bb7 (BbDFAb)

CmMa7---F#m7---Bb7

or

Ama7+ (AC#E#G#) leaves DEF#Bb which is Gb7+ (GbBbDFb)

CmMa7---Ama7+----Gb7+

If the final 4 notes don't form anything recognizable then I swap notes with the previous chords until I find something I like.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

My problem with 12 tone rows is that I know what the 12th note will be! You call that improvising?

[timscarey]

Bako,

nice examples, I dig it.

BDLH, yeah, I think it's still improvising. I mean, I'm trying to get it to a point where I can do it the same way I might play a series of arpeggios, but have enough different ways of organizing it in my head that I won't know whats coming next, just that my options get less and less the more notes I play

Honestly, I just think it sounds cool.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Just kidding!

I vaguely remember there is type of (composed) 12 note tone row that have every interval in it as well. Like all the colours of the rainbow.

[bako]

Scale + Remaining notes (Scale or note collection)

C D E F G A B + Gb Ab Bb Db Eb

C D Eb F G A B + C# E G# F# A#

C D Eb F G Ab B + Bb Db E Gb A

C D E F G Ab B + E F# A Bb C# E

C D E F# G# Bb + Db Eb F G A B

C Db Eb E F# G A Bb + D F Ab B

C Db E F G# A + D Eb F# G A# B

Complimentary structures that cover all 12 notes that can be musically configured different ways.