These are 2 very common scales (actually modes) mentioned in jazz
tutorials.
There are 7 modes from a major
scale. Let's say C major:
C Ionian mode (same as C major
scale): C D E F G A B
D Dorian mode: D E F G A B C
G Mixolydian mode: G A B C D
E F
The most common jazz chord progression is
ii-V-I. So, in C major, they are
C maj 7
D min 7
G dom 7
I was often taught to improvise by
playing C major (or Ionian) notes over the Cmaj7 chord
D
Dorian over Dmin7 and G Mixolydian over G7.
But
I was also taught to look at ii-V-I progression and the key it belongs
to as a whole. Just play notes from C major over all 3. In fact, D
Dorian has the same notes as C major. G Mixolydian too.
Yet another thing I learned is that playing D Dorian
doesn't require learning another fingering. Just use C major fingering
but start on the 2nd note instead. To play G Mixolydian, starts on the
5th note.
On the other hand, Berklee DOES teach different
fingering for Dorian and Mixolydian. To play a C Dorian, you simply
change 1 of the 5 C Major fingering by lowering the 3rd and 7th. And A
Mixolydian is almost the same as A Major except you lower the 7th
Back
to the topic of playing jazzy, there are a few things:
1)
plays 7th chord. So, if you see a I chord, play maj7 instead of maj.
Play min7 for a ii chord and dominant 7th for a V chord.
2) solo over the chord tones including the 7th and sometimes plays half step below or above these chord
tones.
3) swing the 1/8 notes.
4) Use our old friend the minor pentatonic scale (and blues scale).
It could be played over many chord types:
Labels: guitar
