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How to Play Jazz Scales

Edited by Wawahey, Luv_sarah, Teresa, Mark Davis and 4 others

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If you want to learn to play jazz, you need to understand the modes, or special scales, of jazz.
Here's how to do it.
Edit Steps
1. 1

Take any major scale. This is the ionian mode, as it starts on the first degree of the
scale- in other words, the ionion is another word for a major scale.

2. 2

Now, play the same scale, but start from the second note of the scale. This is
called the dorian mode.

3. 3

Now, if we start on the third note, this is called the phrygian mode.

o In essence, you can start on any note of a major scale, and it will be a jazz
mode. The full list, as well as the notes they will have starting on C major, is
thus:

o Ionian- starts on C; Dorian- starts on D; Phrygian- starts on E; Lydian- starts

on F; Mixolydian- starts on G; Aeolian- starts on A;

o Locrian- starts on B

In general, the best way to find the respective chords you use these
scales over is by taking the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th of the root.

For example, C ionian (or major) scale consists of C, D, E, F, G, A and

B. The 1st is C, the 3rd is E, the 5th is G and the 7th is B.

So that is the chord you would play it over- C major 7.

4. 4

Practice. Here is a list of some of the chords you would play on these scales, again
from C major:

o Ionian- C major 7; Dorian- D minor 7; Phrygian- E minor 7; Lydian- F major

7; Mixolydian- G dominant 7; Aeolian- A minor 7; Locrian- B half
diminished/B minor b5

However, the scales you use over a chord also relies heavily over the
context in which you use them- for example, if the key was D Major,
you wouldn't use E phrygian over E minor 7, but rather more likely
would be E dorian.

5. 5
 Remember that these aren't the only scales you can use over these chords.

o You can use pentatonic scales for Major and minor that work very well for
soloing

o You can use inversions of harmonic minor scales

o You can use inversions of ASCENDING melodic minor scales. **(However,

melodic descending scales are, in essence, dorian scales, and therefore they are
not needed in jazz.)

6. 6

Learn Diminished scales- these are complicated and hard to memorize, but they
can be extremely useful. There are two options- you either play:

o Root, Tone, Semitone, Tone, Semitone, Tone, Semitone, Tone, and Semitone
brings you back the root, OR

o Root, Semitone, Tone, Semitone, Tone, Semitone, Tone, Semitone, and Tone
brings you back to the root.

These both work, because they both have the chord tones (or notes in
the chord) of the diminished chords.

7. 7

You can also play whole tone scales, which are:

o Root, Tone, Tone, Tone, Tone, Tone, and Tone brings you back to the root.

8. 8

Learn other scales. There are major pentatonic scales, which are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd,
5th and 6th notes in an ionian, or major scale.

o There are also minor pentatonics, which start on the 6th of the major
pentatonic, and starting from the root go: 1st, Minor 3rd, 4th, 5th and
Dominant/Minor 7th.

o Blues scales are simply minor pentatonics with a #4 in between the 4th and
fifth.

Edit Video

Demonstration and theory behind the altered scale. This is a very common jazz scale.
Edit Tips
Try to buy a jazz book with information that complements the above.

The best way to get "fluent" at this is practice, and even better if it is with a band. A
possible substitute (and a very effective one, at that) for a band is Jamey Abersold's
publications, that come with a playalong CD.

This information can take years to learn, but don't be dissuaded- it is worth it.

Try learning one mode in all the keys, as you won't merely need it in C major for your
whole life!

Edit Warnings
This is not easy, but don't give up too soon if you are finding it hard. This information
alone won't make you a great jazzer- try and find a competent jazz teacher in your
area.

Edit Related wikiHows

How to Play Pentatonic Scales

Article Info
Categories: Music | Music Techniques

Recent edits by: BR, KnowItSome, Maluniu

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