Creating Diminished Lines

Jeff Ellwood

The Diminished Scale is one of the most important sounds in jazz improvisation. These are some exercises to apply the diminished sound withour being too sequential. Because of the minor 3rd structure, improvisors can get caught up sequencing patterns and not really playing lines. We will start by learning some very simple shapes. These exercises will be applied to Dom7b9 chords. The diminished scale used on Dom7b9 chords is constructed in a 1/2 step, whloe step combination.

C 7( 9)

Diminished moves in intervals of minor 3rd's so the above scale can work over C7b9, Eb7b9, F#7b9 & A7b9 Let's look at some simple shapes. Remember: all of these shapes must be learned in the 3 other keys The rst set of shapes will deal with a major triad in various inversions.

&

1/2 step, whole step

C 7( 9)

& & &

& &

2013 Ellwood Music

Creating Diminished Lines

Most of the time improvisors will sequence a triad shape in minor thirds. (C,Eb,F#,A)

C 7( 9)

&

b b

# #

Here are the same triads moving in a less sequential way

C 7( 9)

&

# #

Here is an example combining multiple triad shapes

&
b

C 7( 9)

b b

# # # #

With the exercises above, I'm trying to connect smoothly from one triad to the next by the closest step possible Here are more shapes. Play and learn these shapes in the 3 other keys (Eb7b9, F#7b9, A7b9)

& b & & b &

C 7( 9)

b b

b b b b

b b b

43

Creating Diminished Lines

Here are some lines that combine multiple shapes

b & b b b & & b &

b b # n

# # # # # #

# b b # # # N b

56

b b b

61

# # #

b n b #

&

& b

# # #

b #

b b b