What scale to play on 7b9 chord

[mike walker]

Yep, that's all good, Jon.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Is there anything wrong with just start with a mixolydian scale and making sure you add a b9? To me that's easy and let's me think more about chord tones and how it sounds than if I try and get too complicated about it.

Well, if C7b9 is resolving to Fmin, the Anat in C mixoydian is going to sound "F major". In this setting, thinking "F harmonic minor" over C7b9 doesn't seem any harder than thinking "C mixo with a b9".

And what's really wrong in jazz? Besides Hawaiian shirts.

[JonR]

And what's really wrong in jazz? Besides Hawaiian shirts.

Damn, my jazz group is called "The Hawaiian Shirts". Should I change the name? We just signed contracts and everything....

[ColinO]

Damn, my jazz group is called "The Hawaiian Shirts". Should I change the name? We just signed contracts and everything....

Generally Hawaiian shirts are considered "avoid" shirts but they can work in the right context if you are careful.

[JonR]

Generally Hawaiian shirts are considered "avoid" shirts but they can work in the right context if you are careful.

Yeah right, that's what I thought - "outside" shirts! We like to play outside.
The crowds demand it: "why don't you go and play outside!"

"Less is more", we say. And they agree: "We like it when you play less". In fact, John Cage's "4:33" is one of our most popular requests. (Still not sure what the best scales are for that one though...)

[GuyBoden]

I've been using a few choice triads that sound good to my ears.

Over C7b9 or C13b9, try these two little beauties:

Amin triad = A C E
Bbmin triad = Bb Db F

As well as sounding great, they have the distinct advantage of not having the 5th (G), if that's what the music needs.

Enjoy
Guy

[Krah13]

I know the basic rule of scale playing over the chord--find a scale that contain all the chord tones--however, I still find it hard to do. There are 7 modes of major scale as follows and it only covers parts of chords, we still got lots of chords left. Say 7b9 chord, then I can't find a sacle that have Db and E note together.

I Ionian mode C D E F G A B C (associated with C Major 7 chord)
ii Dorian mode C D E♭ F G A B♭ C (associated with C-6 or C-7 13 chord)
iii Phrygian mode C D♭ E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C (associated with Csus4 ♭9)
IV Lydian mode C D E F♯ G A B C (associated with C Maj7 ♯11 chord)
V Mixolydian mode C D E F G A B♭ C (associated with C7 chord)
vi Aeolian mode C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C (associated with C-7 ♭13 chord)
viiø Locrian mode C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C (associated with C-7♭5 chord)

There are some scales that can be used for this chord. I will share with you my personal favorites.
Why don’t you play phrases by just using chord tones with some chromaticism. The chord tones are R-3-5-b7-b9. You can start thinking of 7b9 chords as Diminished seventh chords a step up.
As far as scales you can use the 5th mode of the Harmonic Minor Scale. Mixolydian b9,b13.
R-b9-3-11-5-b13-b7