| Try playing modal too...... If you think in terms of just triads over bass notes (Slash chords) then your playing will 'sound' modal. Upper-structure harmony is where "OUT" comes from.
If any of you want I'll post the whole upper-structure triad over bass note formula. This will help to start organizing the different sounds in your head and in your ears! For those that know this already, you know what I am talking about.
Here are a few examples of the upper-structure triad over bass note formula: (Slash chords)
Phrygian = b2/1 (ex. Ab/G) Phrygian cluster 1,b2,4,5
sus = 5/1 (ex. D/G) OR b7/1 (ex. Bb/C)
Augmented = 3/1 (ex. E/C)
Diminished = 7/1 (ex. Bdiminished/C)
Keep in mind you also have Lydian, Aeolian, Locrian.
Playing with altered and diminished types of scales will also help you to sound out. (melodic minor, auxillary diminished, whole tone) The possibilities are endless.....
Wayne Shorter, Herbie, Woody Shaw, Clifford, Horace Silver, Duke Ellington, etc,... all used these kinds of chords when composing to give the sound a little twist but in the long run gave the soloist more to work with in terms of 'colors' to play with. Herbie and Wayne Shorter are great examples to use.....McCoy Tyner too!!!
This is how most jazz guitar players are taught to think. It helps them to 'lock in' the right harmony without having to play the chords with all of the notes, 1,3,5,7,9,11,13. thats 7 notes and a guitarist only has 4 fretboard fingers. This causes them to have to choose the right color tones to play in the chord. When playing a C-11 a guitar player just might play a Bbsus triad. Bb,Eb,F Those notes take care of the b7, the b3, and the 11 of the C-11 chord while the bass is playing the root...... You get it? Let me know if you would like me to post the slash chord formula.
If you think in these terms, then not only will you scare the squares, but you might even scare YOURSELF!!!!
Find the best teacher you can and listen carefully. The knowledge that they have is priceless. Also listen to trumpet players that you want to sound like. If you listen enough and transcribe their stuff then you see what it is that they are actually doing.... Sooner or later it will make its way into your playing if you are dilligent.
-Cory- |