This is fabulous stuff Mark, thanks. I’m pretty much self taught and looking for some kind of route to improvisation. It’s always been my ultimate goal, and you showing these exercises has offered an opening of the door to that route. I’m copying them into my music book and will enjoy playing them in the park tomorrow. Finally, somewhere to begin the journey. Nice.
Really great Video Mark. At last that Dorian mode over Cmin 7 makes sense to me and I loved your solo at the end. I am really struggling with my improv at the moment as I do find it tricky to navigate when chords change every 2 beats at a quick tempo :( Sometimes it sounds better if I ignore the chords and just play by ear. Do you have any suggestions?
Yes, I know what you’re talking about and I’m planning on making a future video about that. But you’re on the right track. Sometimes those chords are related and you don’t have to think about hitting every chord change. Check out my video on playing rhythm changes which addresses that.
thanks for the great video - one question: do you advice for a beginner to learn first all 12 dorian scales in this way, than all 12 mixolydian scales and so on, which is very systematic, but may feel timeconsuming and little bit like hiking up a big mountain in very tiny steps, or do you advice to practise one or two dorian scales, than some other different scales, and so on, to be able to play over a 2-5-1, but which may be a quite chaotic and not very systematic way of learning....
Great question! I would say that knowing your major scales would solve most of your issues. If you practice learning your major scales by playing up and down starting on the root, then the 2nd note (Dorian), then the 3rd note (Phrygian), etc, then you have learned the vast majority of the scales you need to know to make it through most changes.
Thank you! Very valuable.
Excellent videos! More players need to be taking advantage of these FREE lessons from a WORLD-CLASS musician/trumpet player!
This is fabulous stuff Mark, thanks. I’m pretty much self taught and looking for some kind of route to improvisation. It’s always been my ultimate goal, and you showing these exercises has offered an opening of the door to that route. I’m copying them into my music book and will enjoy playing them in the park tomorrow. Finally, somewhere to begin the journey. Nice.
Glad you're finding these helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to email me through my website and I'll try to answer them as best I can.
Really great Video Mark. At last that Dorian mode over Cmin 7 makes sense to me and I loved your solo at the end. I am really struggling with my improv at the moment as I do find it tricky to navigate when chords change every 2 beats at a quick tempo :( Sometimes it sounds better if I ignore the chords and just play by ear. Do you have any suggestions?
Yes, I know what you’re talking about and I’m planning on making a future video about that. But you’re on the right track. Sometimes those chords are related and you don’t have to think about hitting every chord change. Check out my video on playing rhythm changes which addresses that.
thanks for the great video - one question: do you advice for a beginner to learn first all 12 dorian scales in this way, than all 12 mixolydian scales and so on, which is very systematic, but may feel timeconsuming and little bit like hiking up a big mountain in very tiny steps, or do you advice to practise one or two dorian scales, than some other different scales, and so on, to be able to play over a 2-5-1, but which may be a quite chaotic and not very systematic way of learning....
Great question! I would say that knowing your major scales would solve most of your issues. If you practice learning your major scales by playing up and down starting on the root, then the 2nd note (Dorian), then the 3rd note (Phrygian), etc, then you have learned the vast majority of the scales you need to know to make it through most changes.
Thank you :)
i thinks its a great vid but my playing is so freeform cuz i never have any backing at all. my ear is good though. my cadences sound about right.