Author: Jan

Je suis cool.

Bass day (1h 40m)

Walking bass / chord tones

  • All Of Me in C free run
  • 1st inversion + 2nd inversion over All Of Me (descending) — C, F

Reading

  • John Patitucci Etude in C Major
  • Hrabe #5 in Bb

Observations

When descending down the 2nd inversion from the 3rd (e. g. A7: C# — A—), if you can’t quickly figure out where to go next, it is safe to fall back to the 1st inversion and simply descend from the root (A in this case): A — G — E — C#.

Piano day (1h 30m)

Scale studies + Modes

  • Combining modes (4th apart)
    • Ionian into Lydian (1 octave scales)
      • C Ion →  F Lyd → Bb Ion → Eb Lyd → …
      • F Ion → Bb Lyd → Eb Ion → Ab Lyd → …
    • Dorian to Mixolydian (same approach)
  • Major blues scale recap (alternating blocks / broken 10ths in LH)

Left hand

  • Phrygian i — II — III7 in 5-1-10 + desc. arpeggios (F#)

Piano day (1h 30m)

Scale studies

  • Phrygian scales
    • Circle of 5ths from E
    • Cycle of 4ths from C

Left hand / Improvisation

  • Phrygian improv
    • LH: 5-1-10 + 7th arp descent, RH: shells
    • LH: 5-1-10 + octave jump back, RH: shells
    • LH: 1-5-10 + 1-5-6 recap
  • Blues scale recap (all keys, block — 1-3-4 — 7-1-2-3 accompaniment)

Jazz voicings

  • Fourthy voicings (D thru Bb)

Piano day (2h)

Chord tones / Left hand / Comping

  • All inversions of 7th chords over standard: All Of Me in G, C
  • 1-5-10-7-1-3-5 LH + Shells over All Of Me in C

Scale studies

  • All Lydian scales

Interpretation

  • Elvis — Can’t Help Falling In Love (1-5-10 + extensions, inversions, voice leading)

Observations

Always build the interpretation up from simple block chords!