Giant Steps? Is this correct?

[arbitrary]

I put this in the double bass forum as well just to get some more info.

But I decided to put my education to more use and figure out Giant Steps, mostly just how the chords move and what keys to solo in.

So this is what I got (used from the real book): Correct?

B D7 | G Bb7 | Eb | A-7 D7 |

I V7 I V7 I II- V7 | ----?


G Bb7 | Eb F#7 | B | F- Bb7 |

I V7 | I V7 | I | II- V7 | ----?


Eb | A-7 D7 | G | C#-7 F#7 |

I | II-7 D7 | I | II-7 V7 | ----?


B | F-7 Bb7 | Eb | C#-7 F#7 |

I | II-7 V7 | I | II-7 V7 | ----?

So does this mean then I solo in B modes, G modes, Eb modes, G modes, Eb modes, B modes, Eb modes, G modes, B modes, Eb modes, and then back to B modes? Does this stand up correctly? Or is there another way to do this?

Thanks a bunch.

[tkozal]

dude, there are other ways. Levine, in his book, gives a way to solo over Giant Steps using three modes. When I get home tonight, I'll dig it out and post. You might have it already. I think the key is pentatonic scales, but let me get the book out.

As a bassist, I usually just content myself with getting the bass line down!

[arbitrary]

I'm curious now, becuase that is still only using 3 modes

[tzadik]

The only way I can solo over Giant Steps -- and mind you, it has worked every time -- is to shut my eyes...breathe... and play melodic phrases. As long as I resolve them every now and then, by using a note from an arpeggio of a target chord (whatever one I am headed for), then it works.

Mark Levine is awesome too, though.

[tkozal]

B-G-Eb is what Levine has.......then he goes on to say you can play the pentatonic based on the V chord, or pentas on F#-D-Bb......

me, I just play the bass line :-(

[arbitrary]

Isn't the pent sclae just a variation on the mixo mode though?
So it makes senese.

I'm really just hoping this allows me to play more that root then halfstep leading tone in the bars with 2 chords.

[geoffkhan]

Originally Posted by tkozal

B-G-Eb is what Levine has.......then he goes on to say you can play the pentatonic based on the V chord, or pentas on F#-D-Bb......

me, I just play the bass line :-(

Yup that's in the Jazz Piano book by Mark Levine.

It's a handy little trick to know, though don't overuse it.

[tkozal]

John Goldsby is doing a series on this tune in the current Bass Player magazine, well worth checking out. Not online yet

[Audiophage]

Originally Posted by arbitrary

Isn't the pent sclae just a variation on the mixo mode though?
So it makes senese.

I'm really just hoping this allows me to play more that root then halfstep leading tone in the bars with 2 chords.

Major Pentatonics are like the relative majors of Minor Pentatonics, start on the minor third and you'll get the same thing. I believe that a Major pentatonic scale has as much in common with a mixolydian scale as it does with a major scale.

Yeah, so Giant Steps has 3 key centers, I'd have to check it out to make sure, but don't think of it so much in terms of modes.