Practicing Chord Tones Jazz

[cire113]

Whats a good way to practice Chord tones for jazz with the basic type chords.. Major , Minor, Augmented, Diminished, ?

Im trying to think more chordally when playing jazz instead of i can play xx scale over xx chords...

I hear carol kaye always preaching about this.. any thoughts?

[Rick Robins]

Jeff Berlin - A Comprehensive Chord Tone System for Mastering the Bass 1987

[Intenzity]

Well, off the top of my head...

1. Pick any standard and play the arpeggios of the progression. Start on the root of each chord, then the third, then the seventh, then alternate starting on the third of the first one and the the seventh of the next, then switch it around.
2. Play each kind of chord up in fourths - C, F, Bb etc. Do it with one type first, then alternate major/minor, then major/diminished etc.
3. Play each kind chromatically - C, C#, D, Eb, etc.
4. Play all of the ii-v progressions as 7th chords doing the same thing as the first example, start on the root of each, then the third, then the root of one, the third of the next until you mix all the combination. Do it for major and minor ii-v's.

That should keep you busy ...for at least 20 years.

[Chrispurchase]

Check this thread if you haven't already HOW TO PRACTICE ARPEGGIOS

[cire113]

That jeff berlin chord tone book is just what i was looking for!!! man its money! I take it the exercise he does with cmaj7 he wants you to do with every other chord type?

I guess this is JUST what i was looking for... Tons of inversions for chord tones.. something beyond CHOPS... wow

[the_stone]

You can also go to the Double Bass side of TB and check out Lynn Seaton's "Ask a Pro" section. Lynn has a method of learning standards that he teaches his students which involves a lot of scale and arpeggio work over the changes to tunes. I don't remember the exact thread, but most of the subjects involve the best way to practice or learn tunes.

[anonymous122511]

THIS from Ed Fuqa

Also Patterns For Jazz by Jerry Coker is all about arpeggiated patterns that won't bog you down with complex theory. Just play though it and you start to hear what's going on.

[Mesa]

There is also a column by Jeff Berlin with an abbreviated version of his chord tone/inversion drills. I have a copy if anyone needs. There are also about 2000 pages from Jeff in an old thread(s) that when you sort out the bashers and the rah rahs actually has a great amount of value.
Just search his name.

[Russell L]

I haven't studied anyone in particular for their method, but from my knowledge of music theory I can say that I understand what chords "look like" on bass and guitar. I always taught guitar students to know what the function of each note in a pattern is. Guitar chord diagrams certainly do have a shape to them. And having played guitar helped me learn bass. Also, going to a keyboard is a good way to see chords and understand how they differ. Start with a C major chord and take it through its various flavors form major to minor, diminished, and augmented. Notice how thirds get stacked and how other notes get added. Then, when you understand it, apply it to the fingerboard and see how it looks there.

Just one way to look at it all.

[Warfender]

Mesa,
can you email me the column you have?

[cire113]

on a side note what happened to jeff i says he is banned lol.. I would like that column as well

[Mesa]

I'm happy to forward the column along. Just shoot me a PM with your email address. The TalkBass messaging system won't let me attach it.

Thanks,

Steve

[devine]

How come Jeff B. got banned?

Scott.

Free Online Bass Lessons - Scott's Bass Lessons
SCOTT DEVINE-BASS PLAYER-COMPOSER-EDUCATOR

[JTE]

I think the safest way to discuss why Jeff got banned is to say that he's not the most genial person with written words and some people on TB (well, the 'net in general) delight in provoking storms. Combine the two with Berlin's uncompromising assertions about education and learning tools to be a professional musician and you have all the requisite ingredients for melt-down.

John

[cire113]

Now ive been working on berlins chord tones and stuff but doesn it make sense to some how practice these chord tones in a musical way?

Like lets say im practing all the C chord tones... Set a vamp with just like C chord and practice soloing with the different fingers with each chord.. does that make more sense?

Or should i just monotonusly practice the chord tone inversions to get them under my fingers...

[Basshoofd]

Try studying them academically before you try to use them musically. Learn the chords and the inversions in any key, at any location, in different fingerings, all over the neck etc.

If you have that down, the neck will open up a lot more and give you more musical fluidity - that's where the musical part comes in. That part is up to you, Berlin gives you the tools and you can decide what to do with them.

[anonymous122511]

Originally Posted by cire113

Or should i just monotonusly practice the chord tone inversions to get them under my fingers...

Oh no, don't do that. Make music every time you pick up the instrument. Play it like it's the last time you're ever gonna get to play. One time it will be and you never know when that time will be. So always be musical in everything you play. Start by playing the chord tones slowly, in time paying special attention to the weight of every note. Make sense?

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by cire113

Now ive been working on berlins chord tones and stuff but doesn it make sense to some how practice these chord tones in a musical way?

Like lets say im practing all the C chord tones... Set a vamp with just like C chord and practice soloing with the different fingers with each chord.. does that make more sense?

Or should i just monotonusly practice the chord tone inversions to get them under my fingers...

Originally Posted by jeff arddun

Oh no, don't do that. Make music every time you pick up the instrument. Play it like it's the last time you're ever gonna get to play. One time it will be and you never know when that time will be. So always be musical in everything you play. Start by playing the chord tones slowly, in time paying special attention to the weight of every note. Make sense?

Originally Posted by Basshoofd

Try studying them academically before you try to use them musically. Learn the chords and the inversions in any key, at any location, in different fingerings, all over the neck etc.

If you have that down, the neck will open up a lot more and give you more musical fluidity - that's where the musical part comes in. That part is up to you, Berlin gives you the tools and you can decide what to do with them.

I too, have being putting a lot of time into chord tones and inversions recently. However, I'm a bit confused about the seemingly different approaches to practicing them, as given here by Basshoofd and Jeff Arddun.


Jeff : I can see the benefits and merit of playing these inversions musically, but initially, is not Basshoofd's method (which I interpret as "monotonously practicing" them in order to get them under your fingers and in your ears ) the first step

I would certainly like to be able to practice them musically, but at present I am still familiarising myself with the sounds and patterns of each inversion. As a result, I have to think for a second, and I sometimes hesitate, before playing an inversion. So, is it not a case of learning to walk before you can run ? It's not easy to "make music" when you are at this stage of the learning process.

Perhaps I am missing some important point here ? If so, perhaps you would be so good as to elaborate a little on what you said in my quote ?


Thanks.

[Chupacabra]

Originally Posted by fearceol

...

I would certainly like to be able to practice them musically, but at present I am still familiarising myself with the sounds and patterns of each inversion. As a result, I have to think for a second, and I sometimes hesitate, before playing an inversion. So, is it not a case of learning to walk before you can run ? It's not easy to "make music" when you are at this stage of the learning process.

Perhaps I am missing some important point here ? If so, perhaps you would be as good as to elaborate a little on what you said in my quote ?


Thanks.

Jeff (Berlin) advocated separating the art & the academia. You can't be artistic/musical if you don't have the knowledge underpinning it (not completely accurate, but...).
You're right to spend the time finding the notes, listening to the chords & the inversions etc., before trying to be musical. Ignore tempo, rhythm & what not to begin with. The music kinda just starts happ'nin' as you get more familiar with the chords & fingerings... at least it's how it's worked out for me.

[JebDude]

@Mesa,

PM'ed.

Sounds like a great reference for practice.

JB