This is a basic exercise, written out in Tenor Key, which I recently developed for several of my Skype students which I thought I'd share here (hope they don't mind). It utilizes 2 Melodic Minor scales, D & Bb Melodic Minor to be exact, alternating over a tonic minor (i) chord (D-6, D- Maj7), and an altered dominant (V7) chord (A7alt), each chord lasting a measure apiece.
This is also a simplified version of an exercise found in "The Melodic Minor Handbook" by yours truly and published by Jamey Aebersold. The exercise in the book consists a 4 bar minor ii-V7-i using 3 different Melodic Minor scales. Both exercises are "continuous scale' types, where the inherent first note of each new scale picks up where the last note of the previous one left off.
For example: measure #1, (D- = D Mel. Min. = D-E-F-G-A-B-C#-D).
measure #2, (A7alt = Bb Mel. Min = Eb-F-G-A-Bb-C-Db-Eb)
measure #3, (D- = D Mel. Min. = E-F-G-A-B-C#-D-E).
And so on. Get the drift?
This is also a simplified version of an exercise found in "The Melodic Minor Handbook" by yours truly and published by Jamey Aebersold. The exercise in the book consists a 4 bar minor ii-V7-i using 3 different Melodic Minor scales. Both exercises are "continuous scale' types, where the inherent first note of each new scale picks up where the last note of the previous one left off.
For example: measure #1, (D- = D Mel. Min. = D-E-F-G-A-B-C#-D).
measure #2, (A7alt = Bb Mel. Min = Eb-F-G-A-Bb-C-Db-Eb)
measure #3, (D- = D Mel. Min. = E-F-G-A-B-C#-D-E).
And so on. Get the drift?
Several measures start on the same notes. These are the common tones between both D & Bb Melodic Minor, and they are F, G, A and C# (Db). That makes 4 of them, so that would means there are 3 uncommon tones between the two scales. Hmmm, interesting! Maybe worth investigating further.
In any case, this exercise can be used practice blowing over the the "A" Section, for the most part, of the standard "Softly as in a Morning Sunrise".
On most lead sheets of the tune, the A7 is preceded by it's ii chord (E-7b5); but as the rule of thumb says that a V chord can be subbed for by it's ii, and vice versa, or the ii can be left out altogether, for the purposes of this exercise, that's exactly what we'll do.
We can even put an Eb in the bass as under the A7 as a tritone sub, for the first two beats or the whole measure. This sounds kind of "Horace Silver-ish"
There are also several lick and pattern examples. The real point of all of this is to get these scales in your fingers and ears, internalize them, and invent your licks, patterns and exercises.
In any case, this exercise can be used practice blowing over the the "A" Section, for the most part, of the standard "Softly as in a Morning Sunrise".
On most lead sheets of the tune, the A7 is preceded by it's ii chord (E-7b5); but as the rule of thumb says that a V chord can be subbed for by it's ii, and vice versa, or the ii can be left out altogether, for the purposes of this exercise, that's exactly what we'll do.
We can even put an Eb in the bass as under the A7 as a tritone sub, for the first two beats or the whole measure. This sounds kind of "Horace Silver-ish"
There are also several lick and pattern examples. The real point of all of this is to get these scales in your fingers and ears, internalize them, and invent your licks, patterns and exercises.
B. Stern
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