Archive for the ‘Jazz Aids’ Category

Do you know the notes in all of your diminished chords? If not – here is a shortcut method that works provided that you know all chord tones in your dominant 7th chords.

Here is an example:

What are the chord tones in an F# diminished 7th? The shortcut is to use the root of the diminished chord with the 3,5 and b7 from the dominant 7th chord a half step below. So we would combine the A,C and Eb from the F7 with the root of the diminished chord.

The notes in the F# diminished 7th chord are F#,A,C,Eb.

Hope this helps!

Let’s be honest – do you really know all of your major triads in all12 keys? Do you know  the root position and the first and second inversions in all twelve keys? I mean really know – the kind of know that you don’t have to think about it you know it so well. Can you play the attached triad exercises accurately at a very fast tempo?

If you answered no to any of these questions then this post is for you. In addition to the supplied exercises I will point you to several other resources for improving your triad skills.

Additional Resources:

In chapter 4 of the following Bert Ligon book, “Triadic Generalization” is discussed.

In chapter 15 of the following Bert Ligon book, “Extended Tertian Structures & Tridac Superimposition” is discussed.

In chapter 3 of the following book Bert Ligon provides many nice ideas and exercises related to “Triads & Generalization”.

In the following book Ernie Watts provides some very nice triad exercises.

The following book by Walt Weiskopf on “Intervalic Improvisation” is based upon using triad pairs and their various inversions.

Exercises 1-12 of “Patterns For Jazz” contain excellent triad exercises. If you don’t yet have this book you should add it to your “Must Have” list.

Be sure to check out the following items from Steve Neff at Neff Music:
“The Ultimate II-V-I Primer” this is an excellent beginning book.
The following Steve Neff lessons are also very good for triads:
“In A Mellow Tone with Triads-Video”
“Major Triad Samba”

Be sure to check out Evan Tates 250 Jazz Patterns

Have fun mastering the major triads!

The blues chord changes appear in more jazz songs than any other harmonic structure. The importance of learning how to play over these changes cannot be over emphasized.

I am providing a workout on jazz blues  in all 12 keys. Be sure to try Evan Tate’s 250 Jazz Patterns and Steve Neff’s blues lessons  over these backing tracks in all 12 keys.

I am including a player for all of the backing music. The backing tracks are all in Concert key. For example, if you play the tenor saxophone and select a backing track in the key of C – you will use a pdf chart in the key of D.

Have fun working through all 12 keys!

Jazz Blues Variation 1 - C (302)

Jazz Blues Variation 1 - Dflat (111)

Jazz Blues Variation 1 - D (111)

Jazz Blues Variation 1 - Eflat (93)

Jazz Blues Variation 1 - E (108)

Jazz Blues Variation 1 - F (124)

Jazz Blues Variation 1 - Fsharp (98)

Jazz Blues Variation 1 - G (116)

Jazz Blues Variation 1 - Aflat (101)

Jazz Blues Variation 1 - A (109)

Jazz Blues Variation 1 - Bflat (123)

Jazz Blues Variation 1 - B (103)

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of C follows:
 

Rock Shuffle Blues in the Key of Db follows:
 

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of D follows:
 

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of Eb follows:
 

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of E follows:
 

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of F follows:
 

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of Fsharp follows:
 

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of G follows:
 

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of Ab follows:
 

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of A follows:
 

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of Bb follows:
 

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of B follows:
 

The blues scale is a six note scale. The scale can be constructed by starting with a major scale and then using the following formula:

1-b3-4-#4-5-b7

The C blues scale would be C-Eb-F-F#-G-Bb. This scale works very nicely over minor 7th chords.

A major blues scale also exists and can be constructed from a major scale using the following formula:

1-2-b3-3-5-6

The major blues scale works on major and dominant chords. On the surface it looks like you have to learn 12 minor blues scales and then 12 major blues scales but dont fret.

Notice that  a D minor blues scale consists of D-F-G-G#-A-C. Notice that an F major blues scale consists of  F-G-Ab-A-C-D.

If you look closely you should note the the notes in a D minor blues scale are identical to an F major blues scale.

The practical outcome is that you only need to learn the 12 minor blues scales because you can play the minor blues scale that is down a minor third from a major or dominant 7 chord.

For example a simple 12 bar blues in the key of C would be:

C7- C7-C7-C7

F7-F7-C7-C7

G7-F7-C7-C7

You can play the A minor blues scale over the C7.

You can play the D minor blues scale over the F7.

You can play the E minor blues scale over the G7.

Have fun playing the blues!

Steve Neff has some nice YouTube videos:

You should also check out Steve Neff’s music site

Neff Music Website

Steve has a wealth of quality sax and jazz related materials. Much of his instructional material can be used with other instruments.

I have received many requests to create backing tracks that can be used in conjunction with Evan Tate’s “250 Jazz Patterns”  book. If you have not already done so you show read the following post:

Review of 250 Jazz Patterns by Evan Tate

Check back often or subscribe to my tweets at twitter.com/pmaine to be notified when the 250 Jazz Patterns Backing Tracks are available.

Each backing track will be transposed for concert, Bb and Eb instruments.

Each backing track is in concert so if you wish to practice your Minor II-V-I with the I chord a D minor  on tenor saxophone – you should select the C Minor II-V-I  backing track.

The first two beats of measure one is a IIb5 chord. The second two beats of measure one is a Vb9 chord. The next measure is a I minor chord and then the pattern repeats.

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Dm7b5,the V chord is G7b9 and the I chord is C Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Ebm7b5,the V chord is Ab7b9 and the I chord is Db Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Em7b5,the V chord is A7b9 and the I chord is D Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Fm7b5,the V chord is Bb7b9 and the I chord is Eb Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is F#m7b5,the V chord is B7b9 and the I chord is E Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Gm7b5,the V chord is C7b9 and the I chord is F Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is G#m7b5,the V chord is C#7b9 and the I chord is F# Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Am7b5,the V chord is D7b9 and the I chord is G Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Bbm7b5,the V chord is Eb7b9 and the I chord is Ab Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Bm7b5,the V chord is E7b9 and the I chord is A Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Cm7b5,the V chord is F7b9 and the I chord is Bb Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is C#m7b5,the V chord is F#7b9 and the I chord is B Minor  Concert follows:
 

Each backing track is in concert so if you wish to practice your Minor II-V-I with the I chord a D minor  on tenor saxophone – you should select the C Minor II-V-I  backing track.

The first measure is a IIb5 chord. The second measure is a Vb9 chord. The next two measures is a I minor chord and then the pattern repeats.

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Dm7b5,the V chord is G7b9 and the I chord is C Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Ebm7b5,the V chord is Ab7b9 and the I chord is Db Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Em7b5,the V chord is A7b9 and the I chord is D Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Fm7b5,the V chord is Bb7b9 and the I chord is Eb Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is F#m7b5,the V chord is B7b9 and the I chord is E Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Gm7b5,the V chord is C7b9 and the I chord is F Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is G#m7b5,the V chord is C#7b9 and the I chord is F# Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Am7b5,the V chord is D7b9 and the I chord is G Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Bbm7b5,the V chord is Eb7b9 and the I chord is Ab Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Bm7b5,the V chord is E7b9 and the I chord is A Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Cm7b5,the V chord is F7b9 and the I chord is Bb Minor  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is C#m7b5,the V chord is F#7b9 and the I chord is B Minor  Concert follows:
 

Each backing track is in concert so if you wish to practice your Major II-V-I with the I chord a D major  on tenor saxophone – you should select the C Major II-V-I  backing track.

The first two beats of measure one  is a II chord. The second two beats of measure one is a V chord. The next measure is a I chord and then the pattern repeats.

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Dm7,the V chord is G7 and the I chord is C Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Ebm7,the V chord is Ab7 and the I chord is Db Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Em7,the V chord is A7 and the I chord is D Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Fm7,the V chord is Bb7 and the I chord is Eb Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is F#m7,the V chord is B7 and the I chord is E Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Gm7,the V chord is C7 and the I chord is F Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is G#m7,the V chord is C#7 and the I chord is F# Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Am7,the V chord is D7 and the I chord is G Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Bbm7,the V chord is Eb7 and the I chord is Ab Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Bm7,the V chord is E7 and the I chord is A Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Cm7,the V chord is F7 and the I chord is Bb Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Short Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is C#m7,the V chord is F#7 and the I chord is B Major  Concert follows:
 

Each backing track is in concert so if you wish to practice your Major II-V-I with the I chord a D major  on tenor saxophone – you should select the C Major II-V-I  backing track.

The first measure is a II chord. The second measure is a V chord. The next two measures is a I chord and then the pattern repeats.

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Dm7,the V chord is G7 and the I chord is C Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Ebm7,the V chord is Ab7 and the I chord is Db Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Em7,the V chord is A7 and the I chord is D Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Fm7,the V chord is Bb7 and the I chord is Eb Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is F#m7,the V chord is B7 and the I chord is E Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Gm7,the V chord is C7 and the I chord is F Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is G#m7,the V chord is C#7 and the I chord is F# Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Am7,the V chord is D7 and the I chord is G Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Bbm7,the V chord is Eb7 and the I chord is Ab Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Bm7,the V chord is E7 and the I chord is A Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is Cm7,the V chord is F7 and the I chord is Bb Major  Concert follows:
 

II-V-I Long Sequence Backing Tracks.  The II chord is C#m7,the V chord is F#7 and the I chord is B Major  Concert follows: