LJS 74: How to Improvise Over Sus Chords




Welcome to episode 74 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to improvise over suspended chords. Specifically, we are covering the Dominant 7 Sus 4 chord, which shows up a lot in jazz music. These chords can sometimes stump an improviser when they come up and this lesson digs into some different ways to approach them. Listen in!
Listen to episode 74




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Suspended chords can be confusing to know how to improvise over them. The concept is relatively simple, but they still can leave a player unsure of how to approach them.
In this episode, we take an in depth look as some different ways to approach dominant 7 sus 4 chords. We uncover some chord/scale theory that can help you conceptualize note choices you have to work with.
At the end of the episode, I do a little bit of improvising myself over this chord, using all of the concepts that are talked about in this lesson.
G7sus4
Basic Formula: Root-4th-5th-b7

Approach #1: Mixolydian

Approach #2: ii Chord Dorian

Approach #3: ii Chord Minor Pentatonic

Approach #4: I Chord Major Scale

Approach #5: Relative major of ii Lydian
(or b7 of Dominant 7 sus4 chord Lydian)

Approach #6: Triads of b7 Chord and 7sus4 Chord

Listen to episode 73: 4 Strategies for Improvising Over Major 2-5-I's
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 unturned.
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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!