Developing Your Minor Language

So, having played all your scales, your Dorian scales, and your chord tones, let's have a look at some ways to develop your minor language.

Learning a Simple Phrase

The first thing I'm going to do is introduce a short phrase that jazz has sometimes called a lick. It's just a really simple pattern in G minor.

The Phrase Breakdown

• Starts on the third
• Goes to the fifth
• Moves to the seventh
• Returns to the fifth
• Then to the sixth
• Back to the third
• Finally, returns to the root

Try to get used to numbering your phrases. I'm always coming back to my fingers and thinking, "What is the third of this phrase?" This allows for quick transitions between keys.

Transposing the Phrase

Here it is in G minor, but I'm also comfortable playing it in:

• B flat minor
• C sharp minor
• E minor

Having this ability to quickly access the numerical pattern of a phrase and move it through different keys is a really useful skill for jazz musicians, as you can never quite be sure what key you're going to be playing in sometimes.

Practicing with Backing Tracks

You can use your backing tracks for practice. You'll have:

• 16 bars of G minor
• 16 bars of B flat minor
• 16 bars of C sharp minor
• 16 bars of E minor

Having written out a phrase in those four keys, it's really good to start exploring your own language and try to create your own melodies that you can transfer through keys.

The Importance of Numbering

I always find numbering things to be really useful. If I've learned the phrase in G minor, I know it starts on the third and includes the fifth and seventh.

Being able to access this numerical knowledge quickly is an essential skill for a jazz player. It enables you to recognize unfamiliar chords and tap into your vocabulary.

Conclusion

So, put the tracks on! You've got 16 bars per chord on the backing track. Explore the sounds and create your own licks and phrases that you'll want to use in your solos.