Re: guide tones/analysis

Michael Temple ( mdtemple@ix.netcom.com )
Thu, 12 Dec 1996 10:06:13 -0800

Bert I am confused (not suprising since I am a beginning improvisor
myself). What does the movement to the IV (Bb) have to do with playing
an Eb (instead of the E) over the Cm7 chord (I do realize that in the
key of Bb the E would be Eb)?

I would NEVER want to play an E over the Cm7 since The Eb gives the
chord it's minor quality. This seems independant of whether or not you
are progressing towards a Bb in the line. I tend to think in terms of
the appropriate chord tones for a given change embellished by chromatic
and scalar notes. I guess in a strange sense this is a guide tone mind
set where the guide tone is ANY of the relevant chord tones (or
extensions).

Perhaps you ment that someone may simply noodle around in the key of F
over the whole progession and thereby play the E instead of the Eb.
This is a foriegn concept to me since I have always focussed on the
chords instead of the key. Any insight is greatly appreciated. I am
learning ALOT from this highly knowledable group and greatly appreciate
this forum.

Mike Temple

You wrote:
>
>Take any tune (like Misty or Cherokee) that progresses to the IV
chord. In
>F the progression might be:
>
>F ///| ////| Cm7 ///| F7///| Bb ...
>
>What is the difference between the two keys? The pitch Eb. All the
rest of
>the notes are the same, so for a melody to actually makes the change,
you
>would have to include the Eb, probably in a significant spot in your
line.
>What is the guide tone note for the Cm7 chord? The pitch Eb. Same
results
>from two points of reference.
>
>We can all hear the difference in a beginning player who would
continue to
>play E naturals through the Cm7 F7 measures. I may suggest the theory
of
>guide-tones or target notes to get them to hear the difference that
one
>note can make, or I may suggest the concept of modulating briefly to
the
>key of IV, which requires the Eb.
>
>
>
>_______________________________________
>Bert Ligon
>Director of Jazz Studies
>_______________________________________
>School of Music
>University of South Carolina
>Columbia, SC 29208
>Voice: (803) 777-6565
>Fax: (803) 777-6508
>bligon@mozart.sc.edu
>_______________________________________
>
>
>
>