"Tell Me Something Good" Chord Melody

Here is a chord-melody version of Rufus' "Tell me something good" for guitar. It has been changed to the key of A major but since there are no open strings it can easily be "shifted" up or down into other keys.

The style of this particular chord melody is a "block'" chord style as the melody and rhythm dictate. This arrangement was originally for guitar/bass/drums trio but I imagine several other instrumentation formats would work well.

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1-2-3-5 Improvisation Study

The 1-2-3-5 concept is highlighted in this etude which was written for one of my guitar students. The structure of this study is simple and can easily be applied to any progression: over a given chord play a 1-2-3-5 pattern ascending from each scale tone, once the octave is reached descend using 5-3-2-1 or reverse 1-2-3-5 patterns.

In the music provided the following scales are used:

Dm7- ascending and descending Dorian
D-E-F-G-A-B-C

G7- ascending and descending Mixolydian
G-A-B-C-D-E-F

Cmaj7- ascending and descending Major
C-D-E-F-G-A-B

*G7- ascending and descending Major (from 1/2 step above root or minor 2nd)
Ab-Bb-C-Db-Eb-F-G

*This set of notes, while disguised as Ab, is functioning as a G altered dominant scale:
G-Ab-Bb-C-Db-Eb-F (less the b4)

This would be the G altered scale:
G-Ab-Bb-B-Db-Eb-F

Solo Over "So What"/"Impressions" Changes

This example was written out for a student of mine who was learning the 1-2-3-5 concept of improvisation. By using any tone of the given scale one can create ascending and descending lines (which is also teaching melodic contour) that provide more color than cut and dry arpeggios.

As a concept, this is a great way to hear the various extensions above chords and it also serves to familiarize the player with the scales and chords at hand.

The changes from the classic modal tunes "So What" or "Impressions" are used as a way to allow the student to stretch out and really play creatively.

Underneath the staves are the triads that the various 1-2-3-5 patterns create. Each chord created actually functions as an upper extension of the underlying chord.
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Whole Tone Scale Etude: Outlining Harmony

Today the topic of discussion is the in-out whole tone scale. I have fashioned a study (which I use for my students) that is a simple way to memorize the repeating harmonic structures of the whole tone scale. In a nutshell, all that is happening is 6 dominant 7th #5 (augmented) chords a whole step away from each other in all regards. If nothing else this study promotes technical facility with the scale and familiarizes the ear to the sometimes enigmatic sound of the whole tone.

I recommend, as always, to practice the study slowly to allow for focus on accuracy. Then once you feel comfortable take the tempo up. Have fun and feel free to ask questions.

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