January 2008

Story Tools
   Email This Article
   Print This Article
   Add Your Comments
   Subscribe Now!


Rate This Article
Low   High
Current rating: 0 stars by 0 user

Most Popular Articles
   Gunning for Warr
   Premier Clinic: Blues
   Industrial Light & Music: Inside LightWave Systems and the Optical Pickup
   Guitar Cable Roundup, Part One
   Tubewonder Harmonic Control Amplifier

Highest Rated Articles
   Theo Hartman: Mojo Agnostic
   Magnum Opus J-6250WC Jumbo Cutaway
   The Shredder's Ph.D., Part VII
   The Acoustic Arts
   Inspiration From Altered Tunings

    
January 2008 \ Education Center \ Premier Clinic - Jazz \ Premier Clinic: Jazz

Premier Clinic: Jazz



Dynamic Content has expired


Standard in C
from Mimi Fox’s Graduated Solos

The melody here is based on a standard 32-bar progression in the key of C. The chords are mostly from the key of C major but with some very cool exceptions – in this composition there is a liberal use of dominant chords (replacing the diatonic minor chords) functioning as a II dominant, a VI dominant, and a III dominant chord leading to the relative minor. Knowledge of arpeggios here is critical so you don’t have to change keys to realize these colorful harmonic ideas.

Our piece today can be used over literally hundreds of tunes, like “All of Me,” “Caravan,” “All Blues,” or “Sweet Georgia Brown.” One of the common progressions that you’ll hear in this 32-bar form are dominant chords moving up in fourths. These progressions are very common, not just in jazz but also in blues, rock and pop music. Once you start getting some of these licks and ideas over these dominant chords, you’ll be able to transpose them to other areas of the neck and use them in many other tunes.

Something else to take note of: don’t be afraid to repeat a phrase. Sometimes beginning students are scared to repeat a motif or lick because they’re afraid it will sound boring or not cool, but it can actually sound very hip. A common jazz development is to take the same figure and play it in three different octaves. It develops energy in your playing, and actually creates a sense of momentum and drive. We’ll use that technique frequently to develop themes throughout this solo.



Check out TrueFire's Interactive Video CD-ROM Library
Learn more about subscribing to TrueFire's All-Access - over 3,500 video lessons online



» Click Here to view the Digital Edition Version of this Article



Comments, Rants and Raves

J-bone on 3/7/2008 2:42:00 PM
Mimi Fox is clear and articulate and her chops are great. Lots to learn, but her manner is encouraging. Lowers the intimidation factor.



Add Your Comments  by using the form below. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us.


     Get your own Subscription to PG Today!


Link to this Article

Want to link to this article? Just copy and paste the text below into your website.
B3A8D54C-CC7C-4301-BB14-5356FAA80A4B 785