Jazz Improvisation Exercises Pt. 2
Christopher Collins
The quarter note in each bar can be the root, 3rd, 5th, or 7th of a chord. Choose a chord color (Maj7, Min7, Dom7, Min7(b5), etc… and, decide whether the given note will be the 1,3,5,or 7 – arpeggiate down or up from the given starting note. You can initially write the answers – But, strive to do the exercise in your head changing the chord color and/or the given note’s function each time – Always play with good time!
Examples of this exercise follow on the next page.