LJS 61: How to Use Scales In Your Jazz Solos the Right Way




Welcome to episode 61 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to use scales in your jazz solos the right way. You'll learn what scales are good and bad for, how to think about scales as pitch collections, and examples of how to convert them into actual melodies. Listen in!
Listen to episode 61




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In this episode
What scales are bad for:

* Learning jazz language.
* Creating melodies.
* Improving your ear.

What scales are good for:

* Improving technique.
* Learning your instrument.
* Conceptualizing musical ideas.

Think about scales as pitch collections.

* Imagine pitch collections as a "map" of a chord.

Cmaj7 lick using the major scale:

Dmin7 lick using the Dorian mode:

C7 lick using the Mixolydian mode:

Bmin7(b5) lick using the Locrian mode:

A minor pentatonic over a Bmaj7(#11):

Listen to episode 60: How to Develop Relative Pitch (feat Aimee Nolte)
Mentioned in the show
Zero to Improv eBook
Our flagship eBook, Zero to Improv, is a book that teaches you how to become a great jazz improviser from the ground up. No stone is left un-turned. This isn’t your ordinary music book. Zero to Improv calls you to action! Packed full of improv and jazz theory lessons, you’ll start from the beginning and build up all of the skills and knowledge you need. Audio examples are included for all music notation.
Versions are available for C, Bb, Eb and Bass Clef instruments. Designed for all skill levels.
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Om Podcasten

The LJS Podcast is the podcast where you get weekly jazz tips, interviews, stories and advice for becoming a better jazz musician! Hosting the show is the jazz musician behind learnjazzstandards.com, author, and entrepreneur Brent Vaartstra, who’s one goal is to answer any question about playing jazz music you may have. Jazz can be a challenging music to learn and play, but it doesn’t have to be so hard. Each episode features a specific musical challenge that jazz students may come across, where it is discussed and answered. Special jazz guests frequent the show, sharing their expertise on an array of different musical subject matter. Listeners are invited to call in with their jazz questions to the podcast hotline, where it could get answered on a future LJS Podcast episode. Join thousands of other listeners getting free jazz education every week!