5/3/2015

2UsefulMinorJazzScalesAndHowToSoloWithThem|FreeJazzLessons

2UsefulMinorJazzScalesAndHowToSoloWithThem
Intodaysjazzpianolessonweregoingtotakeacloselookathowto
quicklyaddsomeminorscales(modes)intoyourjazzplaying.
Whetheryoureplayinginajazzrockband,abebopband,alatinjazz
band,oranotherdirection,theseminorscaleswillbeuseful.
Ithinkyoullenjoythisparticularjazzlesson
So,letsget
started(video,lesson,jazzjamtrack,andnotationbelow).

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TheMinorJazzScalesWritten
Out
Hereisthefirstscaleyoucanplayoverminorchords.Ivejustwrittenitoutin
onekey(thekeyofC)butyoucaneasilytransposethescalesusingthe
scaledegreeguideIlistaboveeachscale.
http://www.freejazzlessons.com/minorjazzscales/

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2UsefulMinorJazzScalesAndHowToSoloWithThem|FreeJazzLessons
scaledegreeguideIlistaboveeachscale.
Ifyouwantadditionalinformationonhowtojamovermajorchordsthenmake
sureyoucheckoutthemajorchordscalejazzlesson.Also,ifyoure
switchingfromclassicalmusictojazzheresagreatarticletogetyoustarted
classicaltojazzlesson.

1.AeolianMode
MusicTheoryScaleDegrees(1,2,b3,4,5,b6,b7)

Clicktoexpandscale.

Theaeolianmodeissometimescalledthenaturalminorscale.Althoughits
notusedasoftenasthedorianmodeitstillaverycoolsound.Ifyouplaywith
itcarefully,thehalfsteptensionbetweenthe5andtheb6cancreatesome
reallyinterestingcolorswithyourmusic.
Irememberfirstlearningaboutthisscaleasakidplayinginmyfirstrock
band.WeusedtojamforhoursontheBobDylanclassicAllAlongThe
Watchtower.
(OfcoursebothJimiHendrixandDaveMatthewsbothdidfamousversionsof
thissong)Allthechordstothissongareintheaeolianmode.

2.DorianMode
MusicTheoryScaleDegrees(1,2,b3,4,5,6,b7)

Clicktoexpandscale.

Thedorianmodeisoftenthefirstscalechoicewhenjazzmusiciansimprovise
overaminorchord.IfImthinkingmodallyItendtouseitquiteabitaswell.
TheheadofMilesDavisfamoussongSoWhatfeaturesthedorianmode.In
addition,alotoftheimprovisationfeaturesdorian.Itsverybeautiful!
IfyouwantsomemoreinformationonhowtolearnfromMilesonthistune
thenpleasealsocheckoutthisMilesDavislesson.

TipsForPracticingTheseMinorJazzScales
1.Itsimportantthatyoutakethesescalesinasmanykeysaspossible.You
dontwanttobeamonsterplayerinthekeyofCbutahackinthekeyofB.
Learnallyourkeys.
2.Agoodwaytosoundmusicalrightawaywiththesescalesistostart
workingoutsomeshortmusicalsequencesandlicksbuiltfromnotesofthe
scales.Putonthejamtrackaboveanduseitasaspringboardtohelpyou
comeupwithideas.
3.Stillnotsurewhatlickstoplay?GrabsomeoftheonesIuseonthevideo.
Theyreallyours.
http://www.freejazzlessons.com/minorjazzscales/

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2UsefulMinorJazzScalesAndHowToSoloWithThem|FreeJazzLessons
Theyreallyours.

Ihopeyouveenjoyedthisfreejazzpianolesson.Howdoyouplanon
applyingtheseminorscalestoyourownmusic?Pleaseleavea
commentbelowlettingusknow.
Youarewelcometovisitthispageregularlytopracticeusingthejam
trackaboveinthislesson.

SteveNixonistheproudownerof
Freejazzlessons.com.Heisaworldtouring
jazzandblueskeyboardplayerand

Ifthisisyourfirsttimehereoraregularreaderpleasedontbea
stranger!Sayhelloandleaveacommentbelow.

educator.SteveistheauthorofPremium
JazzLessonsEliteMembership(A
comprehensiveallinoneonlinejazzpiano
course.)

Also,besuretosubscribetotheemaillisttoreceivefreejazzlessonsin
yourinbox.Itsquick,easy,andfree.Thesignupformisonthetopleft
ofthepageandofcourserightbelowthispost.

HeisalsotheauthoroftheTheJazzMastersMethodDVD(A
studyof9legendaryjazzpianoplayers).
Ifyouareabluespianofanyoucanalsocheckouthispopular
LearnBluesPianoDVDCourse.

19Comments

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Jointhediscussion
Sinbaddon 3yearsago

Forsometimenowihavebeenwonderingabouthowtogetstartedonjazzmusic,butnowhavingreadthroughthisgreatlicksiknowwithtimeandby
yoursupportishallgetthere.Thanksverymuchsir.
2

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SteveNixon(freejazzlessons)

Mod >Sinbaddon 3yearsago

MypleasureSinbaddon.You'regoingtohavealotoffunlearningthisstuff.Enjoy.

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PeterTrower 3yearsago

Somethingroeallyclickedwhileworkingthroughthislesson.itwasasuddeninsight,andasensethatsomethignialwaysthoughtimpossibleformetodo,
wasnowpossible.Thankyousomuch
Peter
1

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Nathan>PeterTrower 2yearsago

Howlongdidthattakeyou?

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SteveNixon(freejazzlessons)

Mod >Nathan 2yearsago

HiNathan.Howlongdidwhatspecificallytakeme?I'mnotsurewhatyou'rereferringto.

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SteveNixon(freejazzlessons)

Mod >PeterTrower 3yearsago

WhatastatementPeter!Greattohearthelessonsaremakingadifferenceinyourlife:)

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Maria 11daysago

Intheminorscalelesson:improvisingwiththedorianandaeolianmodesinC,thechordsyou'replayingunderneathare:EbandBb,thenFandBbyou
alsoaddedanAbwhenyouwenttotheaeolianmodehowdoyounamethischord??IsitaCm7chord??Thankyousomuch!

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BobbyHastings 4monthsago

Hi,Steve.I'veenjoyedbeingajazzdrummerforover60yearsbutneverreallylikedtopracticedrumsalone.SoI'veretiredfromthebigbandIwasinand
boughtakeyboard.It'sbeenfunnoodlingaroundwithit,butI'verealizedthatIneedsomehelptogetgoodenoughtoplayinpublic.Thankfully,I've
discoveredyoursite.I'vejustspentanhourorsowithLesson1andamamazedatmyincreasedconfidencethatIcanreallylearnhowtoplaywellquite
quickly.IplantositinonpianowithgroupsI'veplayedwithasadrummerintwoyears.AmIbeingrealistic?Icandevoteacoupleofhoursadayto
http://www.freejazzlessons.com/minorjazzscales/
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2UsefulMinorJazzScalesAndHowToSoloWithThem|FreeJazzLessons
quickly.IplantositinonpianowithgroupsI'veplayedwithasadrummerintwoyears.AmIbeingrealistic?Icandevoteacoupleofhoursadayto
practice.

Reply Share

SteveNixon(freejazzlessons)

Mod >BobbyHastings 4monthsago

HiBobby.Greattohearofyourprogress.Withtherightfocusanddisciplinedpracticeyouabsolutelycansitinwithgroupsin2years.Iseeit
happenallthetime.Keepgoingbuddy!

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Gstar 9monthsago

HiSteveIamenjoyingtheselessonsasajazzvocalistI'vebeenkeentolearnsomejazzpiano.Ilearnedpianoforyearsasachildsowaslookingfor
someonlineresourcestosupportmylearningandthere'ssomegreatresourcesavailable.Iamenjoyingyourpracticalapproach&tipssomuchmore
funthanadustyoldbooktheorybook!Thanksforsharingwhatyouknow!
Gillian

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SteveNixon(freejazzlessons)

Mod >Gstar 9monthsago

ThanksGillian!Iamgladthatwe'rebringingyourtheorybooktolifehere:)Welcometothecommunityandhappytohaveyouhere!

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Nathan 2yearsago

Areyousupposedtoplaywiththesamenoteswhileplayingdorianandaeolianmodes?
Arethereothermodes?
Thankyou!!!

Reply Share

patrickvandenplas 2yearsago

BonjourSteve.
Mercipourtoutescesleons.Thanksforthosegreatlessons...
ExceptCm11,Ican'tseewhatchordsyou'replayingontheaeolianmode...
Patrick

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GordonBooker 2yearsago

ThanksforallthegreatlessonsSteve.Muchappreciated.TherightisplayingCDorian,butwhatminorchordisitinthelefthand?Iseeit'sanF,Bband
Eb,butIcan'tworkoutthegeneralideaofwhichminorchordshouldbeplayedunderaCdorianscale.

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SteveNixon(freejazzlessons)

Mod >GordonBooker 2yearsago

Thereareseveralchordsyoucouldplayunderyourlefthand.ThefirstchordIusehereisaCmin11chordthough.YouarecorrectthatitisF,Bb,
Eb.
1

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Antonio 3yearsago

Hi,Steve!MynameisAntonioandIamafollowerofyourlessonsacoupleofweeksago.Ilovemusic,speciallyjazz.IwaslookingforthewayBillEvans
playedandIfoundyourvdeosandwebpage.Thankyouverymuchforit.
Iamnotapianist,butonlyanamateur,andIplaylikeababystartingtotalk,butyourlessonsareatodohelp.Thankyouverymuch,Steve.
AntonioJRobles.Cadiz,Spain.

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SteveNixon(freejazzlessons)

Mod >Antonio 3yearsago

ItismypleasureAntonio.Thanksforjoiningthecommunity.Youarealwayswelcomehere!

Reply Share

Rico 3yearsago

verygoodlesson.Iespeciallylikelatinjazzandthesescalesgowellwiththistypeofmusic.ThanksSteve.

Reply Share

SteveNixon(freejazzlessons)

Mod >Rico 3yearsago

GreattohearRico!

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WHAT'STHIS?

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12commentsayearago

11commentsayearago

SteveNixon(freejazzlessons)HiFulton.Yes,allthesheetmusic,chord

http://www.freejazzlessons.com/minorjazzscales/

SteveNixon(freejazzlessons)GreattipsRomina.Wouldlovetohear

4/5

5/3/2015

2UsefulMinorJazzScalesAndHowToSoloWithThem|FreeJazzLessons
SteveNixon(freejazzlessons)HiFulton.Yes,allthesheetmusic,chord

SteveNixon(freejazzlessons)GreattipsRomina.Wouldlovetohear

charts,&MIDIfilesaredownloadable.

howyouuseAbletontopracticeyourmusic?

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FreeBlockChordPianoLesson

55comments6monthsago

9comments10monthsago

JoeRainerpianotip1heySteve,whatagreatideahereismytiphow

RicoGreatlesson.Maybelaterwecouldgetthewholesonginthis

togenerateoutofmajorandminortriads,minorpentatonics(blues
scales)theblackkeysarethenotesoftheEbminor

style.Rico

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