February 2009 \ Premier Clinic \ Jazz \ Eight-Tone Scales

Eight-Tone Scales

Jody Fisher

Eight-tone scales are made by adding an additional tone to a major scale
Premier Guitar February 2009

from Jody Fisher's Mastering Jazz Guitar Improvisation
The use of eight-tone scales in jazz became popular in the 1940s and have since become a familiar sound. They are made by adding an additional tone to a major scale. There are many more eight-tone scales than there is room for in this lesson, but you should get a lot of mileage out of the two shown below.



The Eight-Tone ii-V7 Scale
This scale works very well over both the ii and the V7 chord in a ii-V7-I progression. It also sounds great over dominant 7th chord vamps.




The Eight-Tone I Scale
It is a major scale that includes both the natural 7 and the b7. Here it is in C. This scale works well over major chords. It is a major scale that includes both the 5 and #5. It has a very smooth sound. Here are some phrases illustrating the use of these eight tone scales.




Exercises:

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Related Articles

Jazz Bootcamp: Breaking Down Minor II-Vs
Jazz Chops: Arpeggio Blowout


Comments

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siore
on 01/15/2009 		I believe that's a typo.... "It is a major scale that includes both the natural 7 and the b7. Here it is in C." should be in that paragraph under eight tone ii-V7. Good lesson just the same. Thanks!



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