Jazz Workshop Hints - Some thoughts about scales and chords

Some thoughts about scales and chords

Butlers Jazz Workshops

Before going on a jazz workshop, make sure you know all 12 major scales on your instrument
A major scale can be defined by its sound, try singing Doh Ray Me Fah So La Te Doh and you have a major scale.

For example C D E F G A B C. Now there are eleven others to find starting on each one of the eleven notes in an octave - eleven notes in an octave you say? I thought there were eight (OCTave) no there are 12 altogether, on a keyboard, look at all the notes including the black notes.

Using your 12 major scales, (there are seven different notes in each major scale) and by starting on a different note (say the 2nd in the scale) you are now playing a mode, (very useful in jazz!)

You now should know 12 major scales, plus seven different starting points, making 72 scales/modes in all!

If you play the mode starting on the 6th not of the major scale, you are now playing a natural minor scale. Sharpen the seventh note and you have a harmonic minor scale.

To build a chord from a major scale play the 1st 3rd and 5th note of that scale at the same time and you have a major triad chord - you can call it chord 1 of that major scale

Other chords can be built from a major scale, ie 2nd 4th and 5th note will give you a minor triad - this one is chord 2
Sit down and play these on your instrument, if you've never done it before it will take time, but when you are improvising in jazz, these scales and modes are invaluable!

Peter Willson