Questions tagged [jazz]
An original American music style that originated in the early 20th century by improvisation and syncopation.
3
votes
1answer
64 views
How to make jazz covers? [on hold]
I'm pretty new to the genre of jazz and would love to arrange some popular songs as jazz covers.
One that I really like is this one:
Sadly you can't see so easy ...
2
votes
0answers
48 views
What is the best book on Jazz Harmony? [closed]
I would like suggestions for good books on Jazz Harmony that are easy to understand, thorough and have readily applicable principles for compositions. Thanks.
6
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3answers
572 views
Are modes in jazz primarily a melody thing?
I was wondering when jazz cats talk about how they'd use a Lydian scale to improvise over a major chord, or a Dorian scale to improvise over a minor chord they're mainly talking about the melody? So ...
12
votes
4answers
3k views
A♭ major 9th chord in Bach is unexpectedly dissonant/jazzy
Measures 21-24 in Prelude VII from Bach's Well Tempered Clavier I
I was looking at the Prelude VII by Bach and noticed that on the measure 23 Bach ended that phrase with a A♭ maj9 chord. I was ...
4
votes
1answer
87 views
What to improvise over “fake” ii V I and succession of dominant chords
I frequently see "incomplete" ii V I sequences in standards (like Satin Doll for example) where only the ii and the V are played and I'm always wondering what I can play there, since I find most of ...
4
votes
1answer
67 views
Goodbye Porkpie Hat - solo harmonic analysis
I have been untangling Goodbye Porkpie Hat, the original on Mingus Ah Um. The solo section has different chords to the head on this version. I have listened to the sax solo, and I am making notes, but ...
2
votes
1answer
51 views
Thoughtfully Voicing Chords
I've begun to experiment with arranging for jazz big band. Something I don't quite understand is how to thoughtfully voice chords.
I understand generally how instruments should be voiced in a chord. ...
4
votes
2answers
264 views
Improvising over quartal voicings
One particular jazz piano technique is to voice chords using quartal voicings. A quartal voicing is a chord built on fourths. For example, one might voice Cmin with the notes (in ascending order) F-B♭-...
2
votes
2answers
76 views
What is chord melody?
I've heard the term "chord melody" used by a jazz player acquaintance of mine, but I'm not really certain what he is describing or how it works. Would someone please give me a definition in easy to ...
2
votes
1answer
58 views
What was Art Tatum's practice routine?
Did he do exercises, or just work on repertoire and improvisation? Are there any anecdotes that may shed light on Tatum's routine?
4
votes
3answers
725 views
Do jazz musicians improvise on the parent scale in addition to the chord-scales?
I noticed that jazz musicians improvise on actual chords. This makes sense for modal jazz since the chords in the progression might not be related.
But for tonal jazz, say we have a "ii-V-I" ...
2
votes
3answers
114 views
Whole-step technique for figuring out jazz scales?
I was watching a tutorial on how this guy finds scales to play on top of jazz chords. And I was wondering if this a good method to use, and if not how do I know which scales to improvise on chords. Do ...
0
votes
3answers
60 views
Do seventh chords add vocal pitches not found in triads?
I was wondering what is it about seventh notes...
Fmaj7 Tall and tanned and young and lovely G7 The girl from ipanema
goes walking
&...
4
votes
1answer
2k views
Jazz greats knew nothing of modes. Why are they used to improvise on standards?
My understanding is before 1970, few Jazz players thought about modes. For certain, Charlie Parker, Colman Hawkins, Bud Powell, Art Tatum, Monk, etc never thought in modes.
Barry Harris shows how ...
7
votes
5answers
868 views
How does modal jazz use chord progressions?
I read that jazz uses the chord progression "ii V I" alot. But another thing I heard is that modal jazz doesn't think in chord functions instead it uses modes. Which made me confused.
Does that mean ...
-1
votes
1answer
72 views
How to analyze this melody in modal/Jazz theory? [closed]
Update: I've updated this for clarity and with some context regarding how I interpret this passage, but my fundamental question remains the same. I really hope someone could help me parse out this ...
2
votes
2answers
81 views
what is the difference between a flat 5 and a sharp 11
I was looking at the chords from Blue in Green and Misterioso and in one there is a B flat major 7 sharp 11 which can be played b flat, D,E,A (those are notes)
And in the other there is a B flat 7 ...
1
vote
3answers
57 views
Do I play my key signature for my instrument or on the paper?
If I'm auditioning for jazz for high school band and I play the flute, and my audition piece is for saxophone, do I play my key signature or the key signature on the sheet music?
2
votes
1answer
60 views
2/4 vs 4/4 time signature in Dixieland Jazz
I'm teaching on the IB Music Diploma Programme and am looking at an examiner's markscheme for a question about the Dixieland jazz piece "Tiger Rag" (similar to this version:
...
4
votes
3answers
106 views
Help Understanding Guitar Lick
My uncle is a jazz player and showed me a few licks while I was visiting him but never explained what context he would play them in. I'm not much of a jazz player but I love the sound of one lick in ...
9
votes
8answers
1k views
Can anyone precisely describe what it means (or feels like) to play exactly what your “inner ear” is hearing?
I've been improvising jazz and other styles on piano for decades, and yet there is still a very significant amount of my improvisation which is based on physical patterns developed over the years, ...
0
votes
3answers
166 views
Are Secondary Dominants related to Chord-Scales? [closed]
This is in relation to my last question about chord-scales. I was wondering if secondary dominants enable an application of chord-scale theory that would allow me to expand an existing chord ...
6
votes
1answer
404 views
What is this musical symbol?
First I thought it was a weird flat sign, but when I played the score it sounded odd. It looks a bit like a natural sign.
Here's the whole measure:
4
votes
5answers
168 views
How to turn each chord in a progression into separate scales?
I was jamming with some jazz guys yet I'm not so good in jazz so I made a bunch of mistakes. One of the things they told me is is how inside of a chord progression, you then spread each chord to its ...
2
votes
2answers
127 views
Melody over chords in advance [closed]
I'm trying to wrap my head around this concept which is really common in practice, but I only find references to it here and there in books and lessons.
E.g. you're playing a chord progression II-V-...
1
vote
6answers
177 views
How to build chords from a single note? [closed]
I'm working on a simple theory to apply both in real life and in a computer program I'm writing.
Basically, I realized that we can create (or add) any chord above a melody (vocal track, e.g.), as ...
4
votes
2answers
181 views
Did Jeff Beck “play the changes” on Goodbye Porkpie Hat?
I have read several different accounts of Charles Mingus' reaction to Jeff Beck's cover of Goodbye Porkpie Hat. One account says he liked it and sent Jeff a note saying this while another says he didn'...
3
votes
1answer
94 views
Sibelius is playing the acciaccatura differently
I'm writing a piece in swing feel. When I use the grace note, Sibelius plays it differently than how I think it should sound but when I notate the same thing using a dotted 32nd, it plays the same ...
3
votes
1answer
83 views
Default left-hand piano voicing for Dbmaj7 Eb7-9 Abmaj7
I came across a lead sheet for a jazz tune ("Haunted Ballroom" by Victor Feldman) in which the following chord symbols appear:
Dbmaj7 Eb7-9 Abmaj7
I'm a bad amateur jazz saxophonist and an even ...
1
vote
2answers
55 views
Where does the Eb diminished 7 in I Wanna Be Around come from and how to play over it?
I am interested to know where the Eb diminished 7 in the first 4 bars of jazz standard I Wanna Be Around come from? My guess was that it relates as being a sort of tritone substitution for the V of ...
4
votes
2answers
71 views
How does Rainbow's End by Peter Weniger work?
This is Rainbow's End, composed by German saxophonist Peter Weniger. It first sounds like a straightforward 12-bar Blues in F, The melody sounds pretty normal, but as soon as it comes to the solos, ...
1
vote
5answers
198 views
How do you build a blues scale?
Hi I am doing grade 8 theory (Trinity).
I need a quick and easy way to remember/ know of how to build blues scales.
TIA
1
vote
1answer
186 views
Solo Scales to Blue Train (John Coltrane)
Blue Train (John Coltrane) is a blues in Eb. What are the best options for soloing to it (Trombone)? major pentatonic?
It feels somehow strange... the F minor pentatonic seems to fit quite well also.
1
vote
3answers
103 views
Studying artists like Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson, Monk - how can I improve in this style
I am currently taking jazz piano lessons from a jazz pianist. I am very fascinated by this music style, and listen to it a lot. I found out that I really like the traditional kind of jazz piano, ...
0
votes
2answers
76 views
What would be needed beat and synthesis wise in order to make something like this?
I'm really concerned on how they did the piano and clarinet echo (if that's even what it is), because I've been looking for tutorials on YouTube for stuff like how to make a "boombape type beat" or "...
1
vote
2answers
73 views
How do you play a 3 note jazz voicing for a slash chord?
Please answer for piano specifically.
So classic 3 note jazz voicing to my understanding is Root in the left hand and the 3 and 7 in the right. But what if you have an inversion with 3 or 7 in the ...
-1
votes
5answers
60 views
How can I pick a minor II - V on a Real Book standard?
I'm having trouble understanding when to play minor7♭5 and dominant7♭9 chords. This is definitely because I didn't pay enough attention during my lessons (sorry teachers).
I'm currently ...
1
vote
1answer
240 views
How do Jazz pianists learn to improvise and make up chord progressions that make it sound more complicated than it actually is? [closed]
I know that classical, or Western artistic music mainly uses traditional chords e.g. major, minor, dominant seventh, augmented, suspended and diminished. But, Jazz goes way more into it..Major ...
0
votes
0answers
38 views
how is called what Diego Figueiredo is doing by adding / substituting chords
What's called what he is doing with the chords in this song: I mean he is substituting a lots of chords...and it sounds great.
Thanks
4
votes
1answer
108 views
Melodic minor and the ii chord
I am curious about the following. If you look at the Melodic Minor scale (ascending) it is really just Dorian with a major 7th.
In Jazz we do not alter this mode when descending. In classical ...
4
votes
2answers
261 views
Is the melodic minor scale use as the basis of chord progressions in modern jazz?
I know about the use of the modes of melodic minor to get colorful scales...
MELODIC MINOR MODES
Mode 2 Dorian ↓2
Mode 3 Lydian ↑5
Mode 4 Lydian Dominant (↓7)
Mode 5 Mixolydian ↓6
Mode 6 Locrian ↑2
...
3
votes
2answers
113 views
Practicing Jazz?
I have been playing the saxophone for about 4 years, but primarily in the style of classical music. I've always been interested in jazz saxophone, and want to learn how to actually play it. How should ...
6
votes
1answer
150 views
What is the rhythm of this Herbie Hancock song, and why is it so weird?
I've always listened to a lot of jazz and heard some weird rhythms, but only this year did my high school offer music theory - and right now, we're learning about rhythm. All we've done so far is ...
2
votes
1answer
47 views
How does the chord change from VII7 to I work in the Jobin's Meditation?
I have been learning the tune Meditation by AC Jobin. In the arrangement I have been given the first five bars of the progression go
C69 C69 B11 B13 Cmaj7. I like to understand how the chords are ...
2
votes
3answers
143 views
The function of the opening chords of Love is Here to Stay by Gershwin
I was interested to know the function of the opening chords of the standard "(Our) Love is Here to Stay". It opens with a G7, Gm, C7, F.
I was intrigued by the surprise of the G7 to Gm. Is this a ...
2
votes
5answers
90 views
How can I make the individual saxophones stand out?
I am composing a Jazz Quintet. Never learned jazz theory but I know uneven rhythms are key to jazz. And saxophones are most commonly used in jazz. So I decided to compose a piece for 5 saxophones.
...
5
votes
2answers
90 views
Can the blues scale be used over iim7 V7 Imaj7?
In typical blues using V7 IV7 I7 the blues scale can be used - and as I understand - without concern for avoid tones.
Can I do something similar over jazz iim7 V7 Imaj7?
I made this chart of chord ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
What is this articulation mark that looks like a short upside-down slur?
From Jamey Aebersold's "Cantaloupe Island," Maiden Voyage, vol. 54.
1
vote
1answer
32 views
What is the musical form of Kamasi Washington's “Truth”? [closed]
I'm pretty new to music theory, so I have been analyzing songs I enjoy for practice. I thought I was getting decent at it, but the length and complexity of this song has been giving me some trouble.
...
4
votes
1answer
74 views
Spud Murphy tune calls for “Red Mute” on trumpet and trombone parts
In my 25 years of playing, I've never heard of a "red mute". Any ideas? My bandleader said it meant a cup, but later in the song, it had us use plungers while still muted (the notation was pretty ...
