This etude also deals with enclosure and extended phrasing; over the F Blues form. Eventually, you will start to form your own lines and phrasing using these concepts!
This is an improvisation I created to help with extended phrasing and enclosures. The chord changes are from the classic standard “Autumn Leaves”.
This exercise is a pattern where the harmony is moving in 4ths through each key; the “diatonic” cycle of 4ths. * I purposely put a G# the E chord because it resolving to Am7 (Fly Me to The Moon Changes). You can keep the G “natural” and make the harmony E-7. Then it is truly the diatonic cycle of 4ths!
This exercise helps the student understand minor chords and intervals on a deeper level! This will lead to more possiblities when improvising. Practice slowly and through all 12 keys!
Listen how the bass note changes the “sound” of the triad and also changes the “harmony”. The right hand never changes! This will help the student practice through the cycle of 4ths/5ths and develop a better understanding of harmony (root note/ voicing)
This exercise is essential for all jazz musicians! ii-7 V7 progressions are the most common chord progression in jazz and this exercise will help you improvise through the progressions! Practice slowly and focus on your left hand chords. The 2nd exercise is more advanced and includes “leading tones” before each chord.
This exercise deals with “quartal harmony” or 4th harmony! This is a great exercise to practice to develop a more “modern” sound when improvising. (60’s modal jazz type of sound; i.e McCoy Tyner among others) Practice slowly and through all 12 keys!
This exercise will help develop more fluent lines when improvising through 1/2 diminished and altered chords! This exercise if for advanced jazz and improv students! Practice slowly and through all 12 keys.
This exercise is a great way to practice the pentatonic scale and change chords/voicings in the left hand (for pianists). Other instrumentalists would use a backing track to “hear” how the “voicing” affects the sound and function of the pentatonic scale!
The true beauty of music is that it connects people. It carries a message, and we, the musicians, are the messengers. Roy Ayers