Improvising with Chord Tones in the Blues Form

I'm going to show you how to improvise using the chord tones throughout the blues form.

What are Chord Tones?

Chord tones, like we said, are the 1, 3, 5, and 7 of each chord. By using these tones,

• it's slightly more inventive and original than using the blues scale.

The Limitations of the Blues Scale

The blues scale, which we'll have learned from the first video, is a great way of improvising and playing over music. However:

• It can be limiting.
• It doesn't normally stress the harmony we're playing.

While the blues scale works well to play over the music, it doesn't necessarily highlight the harmony of the music.

The Importance of Harmony in Improvisation

When we use the chord tones, what we're saying to the rest of the band and to ourselves is that:

• We know the harmony that we're playing.
• We are able to show off our skill of improvising within the harmony of the music.

It's really important, as an improviser, to not just play over the music that you're playing.

Key Points

• Be inside the music.
• Nail the harmony.
• Get the ideas of the chords down.

Demonstration

I'm going to play the chord tones of each chord:

• F
• B flat
• F
• B flat

Using the right hand only, I'm going to improvise using the chord tones of the blues. What I was doing here is using the chords as a way of improvising.