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Lesson 14 More Building Blocks for Melodic Lines

PREVIEW

In the last lesson, I introduced the idea that long, complex lines are most often made up of smaller structures. Now I'll add an often used motif to the list of structures. Steps 1, 2, 3, and 5 of the Major Scale, which I call MA+2, short for major triad +2 (nobody else calls it this by the way — if you walk around saying "I've been shedding my MA+2's" rational folks will look at you with a blank stare. Or, they might ask what that is.)

This was made popular by Trane on the tune Giant Steps, and has since become entrenched in the vocabulary of jazz. Maybe too entrenched. Used tastefully, however, it can be a part of your palette of melodic ideas. Because of its internal consistency, 1235 can be used to reharmonize melodic lines in a way that is coherent to the listener.
Here are a few examples:

For more on this concept, check out Jazz Guitar Structures

Until next time,
AG

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