Playing Jazz w/ A 'Blues Scale Approach'!
Updated: Sep 11
You Are About To Learn A 'Fun Shortcut' In Jazz!
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Free Sheet Music & Jazz Guitar Tab Are Provided Below, But...
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Before You Explore Any Further,
Let's Find Out If You Happen To Like The Sound That I Am Getting With My
'Blues Scale Approach'!
I recommend that you give a quick listen to the following sampler of what my 'Blues Scale Approach' sounds like. Then, if you happen to like what you are hearing, you can enjoy knowing that your time and energy really are going to be a well invested!
I Used To Think That Jazz Was Too Hard!
I used to think that jazz was just too hard to figure out. The various rules and approaches that I had read-about-and-explored, over many years, all made clear and logical sense, but my gut feeling was that 'still there must be some better way to learn and play jazz that is easier, more intuitive and [therefore] more creative and fun for someone like me who is definitely not a musical genius! :) That said, I truly admire players who really do have 'it' and whose abilities really do stand out way above the rest - they are truly awesome and inspiring to listen to!
A Jazz Shortcut!
So, I continued to play blues and some other styles of music, on a variety of instruments, while keeping at least one foot in the possibility that I might someday discover some great way to make the fun of jazz composition and jazz improvisation available to a mere mortal like me! I guess you could say that I was looking to find a jazz 'shortcut' in order to compensate for musical parts of me that are not simply not on par with the kind of jazz masters we all celebrate! Would I really be okay with only having and using a cool 'jazz shortcut' instead of being the 'real deal'? Yes, absolutely! :) I just want to have some creative fun, and that is it, end of story!
What Is A / My 'Blues Scale Approach' To Jazz?
Use of the blues scale in jazz is certainly nothing new. In fact, elements of this sound have been in the jazz repertoire from the very beginning! What I am doing with my own 'Blues Scale Approach', however, is perhaps a more modernized take on its use. My ears place the sound I am getting with the 'Blues Scale Approach' closer to something in the post-bop / modern jazz era than any other time period. And, this sound simply comes from using more than one blues scale within the construction of each line. It's that simple - plus, this particular approach 'opens the door to', 'sounds great with' and 'makes sense along with' the use of chromaticism, enclosures and other popular jazz concepts. This 'Blues Scale Approach' functions very much like a perceptual "lens" that helps a 'composer, improviser and player' hear, see, organize, and play with the 'many jazz possibilities' all without having to overthink!
Will I Teach This Approach [In Addition To Offering The 'Free Sheet Music & Guitar Tab']?
Yes, I have been teaching music on a variety of instruments for more than twenty five years now - and, one of the things that I enjoy doing the most is helping students learn etudes / practice pieces that I have written. When this is the case, I can also share the musical reasons why each piece was constructed the way it was. Plus, I can also point out important patterns that make each piece easier, faster, more fun, and more rewarding to learn!
How To Get Started!
So far, you know that this 'Blues Scale Approach' to Jazz uses a collection of blues scales, along with a smattering of additional elements, in order to construct each line. Next, I recommend that you begin learning one or more practice pieces in order to:
1) Get some 'Jazz B.S.A.' inspired licks under your belt
2) Do your own personal analysis of how each line was conceived and constructed
And 3) Spend time thinking about how accents and dynamics help to sell each musical idea contained within the practice pieces.
Need Help To Accelerate Your Learning Process?
Yes, we can book one or more sessions to get you going into the right direction. Feel free to email me through this site for details.
1) Jazz On A Blues!
The Chord Progression!
This solo is built upon a standard jazz-blues progression in C. Check it out!
/C7/C7/C7/C7/
/F7/F7/C7/A7b9/
/Dmin7/G7/C7, A7b9/ Dmin7,G7/
The Sheet Music - Free Download!
Here is the sheet music / jazz guitar tab for the solo you heard just above!
Jazz On A Blues - Guitar
.pdf
Download PDF • 60KB
2) Jazz On A ii-V7-I-VI7!
The Chord Progression!
This solo is built upon a standard jazz ii-V7-I-VI7 chord progression in F. Check it out!
/Gmin7/C7/FMaj/D7b9/
The Sheet Music - Free Download!
Here is the sheet music / jazz guitar tab for the solo you heard just above!
Jazz On A ii-V7-I-VI7
.pdf
Download PDF • 40KB
3) Jazz On A Minor ii V!
The Chord Progression!
This solo is built upon a standard jazz ii-V7alt-i-VIalt in minor key. Check it out!
/Amin7b5/D7#5#9/GminM7/E7#5#9/
The Sheet Music - Free Download!
Here is the sheet music / jazz guitar tab for the solo you heard just above!
Jazz_On_A_Minor_ii_V copy
.pdf
Download PDF • 56KB
4) Giant Steps!
The Chord Progression!
This solo is built upon a standard jazz progression for Giant Steps. Check it out!
/B, D7/G,Bb7/Eb/A-7, D7/
/G, Bb7/Eb, Gb7/B/F-7, Bb7/
/Eb/A-7, D7/G/Db-7, Gb7/
/B/F-7, Bb7/Eb/Db-7, Gb7/
The Sheet Music - Free Download!
Here is the sheet music / jazz guitar tab for the solo you heard just above!
Giant_Steps_Solo
.pdf
Download PDF • 55KB
5) 3/4 Jazz On A I-IV7-ii-V7!
The Chord Progression!
This solo is built upon a standard jazz I-VI7-ii-V7 chord progression in F. Check it out!
/FMaj/D7b9/Gmin7/C7/
The Sheet Music - Free Download!
Here is the sheet music / jazz guitar tab for the solo you heard just above!
3_4_Jazz_On_A_I_VI7_ii_V7
.pdf
Download PDF • 41KB
Stay Tuned For More!
Thanks,
Nate
Jazz_On_A_Minor_ii_V
.pdf
Download PDF • 56KB