Playing More Melodic Solos

[Lorin Cohen]

When it comes to soloing, do you feel like you're just “noodling” around the root?

The key to playing more melodic solos is to start incorporating the palette of colors from chord extensions and alterations.

I call these the “Money Notes”.

Here’s a very playable solo on “Autumn Leaves'' that uses these sounds, based on simple triads, 6th & 7th chord Arpeggios and Pentatonics.

Let me know if you’d like a PDF of the solo + the backing track I created for this video and I’ll DM to you

 

[Phil Smith]

Another key to more melodic solos would be thoroughly learning the melody and the harmony of the song.

 

[Lorin Cohen]

Another key to more melodic solos would be thoroughly learning the melody and the harmony of the song.

True! And when it comes to learning the harmony, I feel that learning how to integrate the extensions and tensions is essential.