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Improvising
Improvising is one of the great creative outlets available to musicians. Often a musician
will improvise a solo while another plays chords. The soloist chooses notes to
play over
the chords based on intuition, experience, and a few simple rules.
Playing Arpeggios Over Chords
A simple way to improvise is to play individual notes of a chord while the chord is
sounding during a song. For instance, when a measure has Cmaj7 in it, you
could play a
riff
of individual notes made up of C, E, G, B. As long as you stick to
these notes while the chord is playing, your improvising will harmonize with the
song.
Playing Scales and Modes Over Chords
Another way to improvise is to play individual notes of the scale or mode on
which the chord is based. For instance, since Dm7 is based on the Dorian mode,
you could play riffs using any notes from that mode.
Playing Over Dominant and Altered Chords
Sometimes it is appropriate to play scales or modes that are slightly different
from the scale or mode the chord is based on. By doing this, you introduce notes
that alter the harmony, usually making it more dissonant. Because altered chords
usually sound dissonate, they often make good dominant chords.
The example below shows the notes of G myxolydian against the Gdom7 chord.
Just below that is the G phrygian `3 mode (from the harmonic minor scale).
Playing this mode over a Gdom7 will make it sound like a Gdom7<9 by adding
the flatted 9 to the harmony.
C
D
E
F
G
A
B C
Major Scale
Cmaj7
D
D
E
F
G
A
B C
Dorian Mode
Dm7
G
G
A
B
C
D
E F
G Myxolydian
Gdom7
G
G A<
A<
B
C
D E<
F
G Phyrgian `3.
Gdom7<9
<9
<9
Maj7
Ionian
Lydian
Min6
Min7
Dorian
Aeolian
Phrygian
Harmonic Minor
Melodic Minor
Min7<5
Locrian
Locrian `6
Locrian `2
Dom7
Dom7<9
Myxolydian
Super Locrian
Phrygian `3
Blues Scale
Dim7
Alt <<7
Locrian
Type of Chord
Suggested scale
or mode for play-
ing over chord.
Below is a table of chords with suggested scales and modes appearing on the
Harmonizer that can be played over them. The root of the chord becomes the begin-
ning note of the scale or mode. Ex: Play G myxolydian over a Gdom7 (G7) chord.
