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Scale for Am to Bb7?

Discussion in 'Music Theory [DB]' started by hublocker, Dec 13, 2007.

  1. Dec 13, 2007 #1
    hublocker

    hublocker Guest

    May 17, 2007
    I usually play country, blues and rock, but my singer friend has a new interest in jazz standards.

    We do "Girl from Ipanema" and I do alright accompanying the chords of the song, but in the coda, he likes to jam on an Am to Bb7 chord repetition.

    Is there one scale that would work over that progression?

    I enjoy doing an A minor thing and then into a Bb7 arpeggio/scale thing, but we were just wondering if one scale or mode could cover both.
     
  2. Dec 13, 2007 #2
    TroyK

    TroyK Moderator Staff Member Gold Supporting Member

    Mar 14, 2003
    Seattle, WA
    Are you keeping the groove for her, soloing, playing free or what?

    If you're job as the bassist is to hold it together, I wouldn't get too cute on bossa novas, especially ones that everyone who has ever been in an elevator knows. Try A and E over the A minor and maybe something snappy like B-flat and F over the B-flat7 chord.

    Unless you guys are going for something non-traditional.

    My other suggestion would be to check out some Bossa Nova recordings. Getz/Gilberto is generally considered the referrence recording of that song, but there are about 17,000,439,234,923.2 others to chose from.
     
  3. Dec 13, 2007 #3
    hublocker

    hublocker Guest

    May 17, 2007
    I know it is a cliche, but we do it almost tongue in cheek?

    We're doing a loungy corporate party tomorrow night, and the guitarist likes to vamp on chords and sometimes give me nod indicating "play a solo."

    It's just a guitar/drums/bass trio.

    Throughout most of the song I am in fact playing the root/five figure as you suggest.
     
  4. Dec 13, 2007 #4
    Stellar Blues

    Stellar Blues

    Oct 15, 2007
    In the groove
    Usually, only the notes C, D, F and G are common to both scales, so the whole point, perhaps is to shuffle back and forth between the Am and B flat 7th scales.

    At least you don't need to change hand positions.
     
  5. Dec 23, 2007 #5
    Mike Montgomery

    Mike Montgomery Guest

    Dec 23, 2007
    hublocker wrote: "I enjoy doing an A minor thing and then into a Bb7 arpeggio/scale thing, but we were just wondering if one scale or mode could cover both."
    --------------------------------------------
    The A Neopolitan scale will work for both chords:
    A-Bb-C-D-E-F-G#(Ab)

    -Mike
     
  6. Dec 23, 2007 #6
    moles

    moles

    Jan 24, 2007
    Winnipeg, MB
    Troy,
    Who recorded the .2? I'd like to hear that version :rolleyes: