jazz guitar improvisation... . . . . . . .... SYSTEM BACKGROUND

JAZZ GUITARISTS DREAM


The Mystery of Jazz Harmony:

THIS METHOD OF COMPOSITION CONSISTS OF KEY SIX-VOICE PATTERNS THAT CONTAIN HARMONIC EXTENSIONS UP TO THOSE EQUAL 13TH CHORDS.

THE METHOD OF COMPOSITION USES CIRCLES OF FIFTHS, WITH GENEROUS CHORD SUBSTITUTION, AVAILABLE POLY-CHORDS, LINE-PROGRESSIONS AND MELODIC POTENTIAL. THROUGH THE SYNTHESIS OF CHARTS BASED ON JAZZ HARMONY IN MAJOR ARISES A 'COMMON DENOMINATOR' (so to speak) THAT ALTHOUGH SHARED, IN ESSENCE, BY ALL MAJOR KEY PROGRESSIONS IN JAZZ, IS NOT CLEARLY DEFINED IN A FORM THAT IS READILY ACCESSIBLE THROUGH MOST INSTRUCTION METHODS. A CLEAR REFERENCE TO THIS CORRELATION IS MADE UNDER THE THEORY LINK IN THE MAIN MENU.



THE COMMON DENOMINATOR
IT IS SIMPLY THE CONVENIENT ALIGNMENT OF UPPER CHORD TENSIONS ON THE FRET BOARD WHEN A COMPOSITION IS BUILT FROM PROGRESSIONS OF CHORDS WHO'S ROOTS ARE BASED ON A PHRYGIAN (rather than diatonic) OR MORE ACCURATELY DEFINED, AN INTERVALLICLY INVERTED DIATONIC SCALE WITH THE ROOTS OF THE 'i' THROUGH 'VII' CHORDS DESCENDING THROUGH THE SCALE, RATHER THAN ASCENDING.
(copyright©1999-2025 Frank Spagnolo)



FOR THE IMPROVISATION SYSTEM DESCRIBED HERE, THIS HARMONIC CONVENIENCE IS APPLIED TO WHAT'S MORE OBVIOUS, THE GRAPHIC NATURE OF THE GUITAR FRET BOARD. TOGETHER, THESE FURNISH ACCESSIBILITY TO HARMONICALLY COMPLEX JAZZ IMPROVISATION WITH POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT TO MUSICIANS WITHOUT FORMAL MUSIC EDUCATIONS.


MAJOR, MINOR, DOMINANT, AND A VERY EXTENSIVE VARIETY OF CHORD TYPES ARE UTILIZED BY THIS SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY. HOWEVER, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT COMPOSITION IN MINOR KEYSIN JAZZ COULD NOT BE READILY ORGANIZED IN SUCH A CONCISE FASHION. TO THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY, EXPERIENCE, DEXTERITY, EAR, RHYTHM and TASTE ARE INDIVIDUAL MATTERS


IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT THIS SYSTEM OF JAZZ IMPROVISATION WILL BE, AT THE VERY LEAST, OF SOME INTEREST TO ANY TECHNICIAN OF THE GUITAR FRET BOARD WHO IS INSPIRED BY AMERICAN JAZZ AND WHO HAS NOT YET MASTERED JAZZ GUITAR THEORY (I think that would include most of us). Jazz Guitar Improvisation in ONE Lesson! IS DESIGNED FOR THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO IMPROVISE TRUE JAZZ BUT WHO ARE, FOR WHATEVER REASON, NOT LIKELY ACHIEVE THIS LEVEL OF IMPROVISATION BY STUDYING THEORY IN THE TRADITIONAL FASHION.

THOUGH THIS METHOD OF LEARNING IS NEW, THE SYSTEM IS BASED ON TRADITIONAL AMERICAN JAZZ HARMONY.

Comments Criticisms are welcome,

Frank Spagnolo frank@musician.org



IT IF YOU'VE READ ALL OF THIS, IT IS PROBABLY ALREADY OBVIOUS TO YOU THAT THESE DIAGRAMS AND SURELY NOT A FRET BOARD GRAPHIC STYLE SYSTEM FOR THEIR APPLICATION ARE NOT FOUND JUST ANYWHERE IN A CONCISE FRAMEWORK AS IT IS PRESENTED HERE. TRUE CLASSICAL AMERICAN JAZZ IMPROVISATIONAL SKILLS ARE WITHIN REACH.

Certainly this system for improvisation can be enjoyed along with the study of jazz theory. Even though the latter may take more years than many will actually be willing to wait for results, extensive study of theory is quite interesting and knowledge also improves listening skills and pleasure.



Sincere thanks for your interest.

Best of Life to you, friends!

Special undying thanks to the rare soule', enthusiasm generosity of
David Steinberg

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Please direct comments to: Frank Spagnolo, author frank@musician.org