The Only 4 Scales You Actually Need To Improvise...Kind Of

[@mustafa1name]

Thanks Shawn. Started working on that mixolydian/bebop scale. It's deceptively simple, but trickier than it looks. The bottom half is "standard" but the top bit is chromatic, so you have to stay focused, and not start off too quickly: it's a two movement scale!

[@MrSparks54]

As a bassist, I soak up every scrap of music theory I can get me grubby hands on 😅Thanks Shawn, good stuff.

[@danielcarlheister680]

Just a thought not a criticism. You made the comment that on the Dominant 7 scale you think of the major scale and just lower the 7th a half step. I used to think like that and I noticed especially when I am sight reading a new chart that it would trip me up thinking like that. I tend to think of the tonic scale of the progression and just start on the 5th and play in that key. That way it's easier to keep in context with the whole progression. For example, In F you play C7 but think F major key and start on C. Since most of the time jazz progressions have 2-5-1 or varitation of that I will group those chords into one scale that is the major scale of the tonal center. I know that this video is not focusing on this but the concept I think could be helpful. I appreciate your videos and the info you share. Thanks

[@Pooter-it4yg]

Helps to learn minor and major pentatonics as pairs - eg F minor PT has the same notes as Ab major PT. If you're familiar with classical relative majors and minors this comes pretty naturally. As to "bebop scales" two points. 1. The passing notes on iis and Vs are the ones that arguably make the least harmonic sense (the major third on a minor chord and the major 7th on a dominant chord). 2. The chord tones on a tonic I chord (major or minor) are 1 3 5 6 (not 7) and the passing tone is between 5 and 6. If you want to hear the half-whole scale in action, listen to the Miles "Ing" albums where they use it on most Vs. These albums are relatively easy to transcribe too.

[@IBoughtItMyself]

Notated examples 03:46 F minor pentatonic 4:26 Example phrase

[@hansjohnsson4410]

Very worth-while! Excellent and exciting! Advice I have been looking for a long time!

[@paulackerman9597]

Awesome Shawn! Clearly described.. concisely demonstrated and right sized for those who want to build strong improvisational vocabulary 🎶

[@optiTHOMAS]

Interesting! Great stuff! I went on a off and on break from playing for like 2 years and I'm trying to recapture my ability again. I'm always looking for ways to improve my practice and improvisation! It's been pretty difficult, but I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things! 😅👍🏻 good stuff, man!

[@djmileski]

Thank you for this very helpful instruction

[@djmileski]

Because I’m a guitar player, and know the major scale all over the fretboard, instead of thinking about altering the major scale, I just find where on the fretboard (according to the relative major) the pattern is.

[@juliocaliman]

Great job Shawn!

[@juliocaliman]

Great lesson Shawn! I've just watched the whole thing. Love that last pattern on the dom/dim scale :)

[@ShawnBellMusic]

Thanks man. I have been practicing that one on and off for a million years and still struggle to play it in context. It isn't very trombone friendly.

[@fer7068]

Really good lesson Shawn. Greetings from B.A.

[@maxhoffmann667]

Well explained ❤

[@hgsamp]

Hi, very well explained, thank you very much! ... (Perhaps it would be a useful idea to include the written music..)

[@rodellard8243]

Excellent as always. But what to play on a iii chord?

[@djmileski]

Have you covered the chromatic discussion/lesson yet? Also, do you have any recommendations for a trombone player from the 50s/60s in bebop, hard bop, modal, etc that I could check out?

[@ShawnBellMusic]

I haven't covered any chromatic stuff in any lessons so far. I'd have to think a bit on how I could turn that in to something that is a good lesson. Once you start just thinking chromatically it kind of opens up so many options it can be hard to hone in on 1 thing that fits neatly in a youtube lesson. As far as hard bop trombone players, I would check out Curtis Fuller with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. "Ugetsu" is one of the classic albums that Curtis played on. I also really love Slide Hampton on the Dexter Gordan album "A Day in Copenhagen"

[@juliocaliman]

Almost 5k subs! Yeah!

[@ShawnBellMusic]

Thanks man. It is a whole bunch of work, but I can't turn back now! I hope you are well.

[@juliocaliman]

@@ShawnBellMusic I know the feeling! I'm fighting now to get to the 4000 hours. That'ss tough!