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Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone is able to help me recognise what mode or scale this person is improvising in? I know the melody but he embelishes and improvises a lot, and there seems to be a very distinct sound - can anyone identify it? I really like the tones and would like to explore the mode/scale/technique.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DryAyDb5Xw0

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Manachi

We can't help you until you tell us exactly where in the video youre talking about

Hi,

My apologies. I also should mention (as it's probably obvious already now!) that I'm completely new to Jazz. I learnt classical piano for many yearswhen I was younger, but now I've started getting back into it and am taking Jazz Piano lessons and am very excited about it. In particular, modes & jazz improvisation techniques are something I'm wanting to sink my teeth into.

In the video I guess I thought that the entire melody had a distinct 'tone' that I assumed (possibly incorrectly) might have all fit into a single scale or mode? And if so I was wondering what that is? I may well be wrong, my ears know what they like when it comes to Jazz, but certainly are untrained ears when it comes to the details.

Everything he does after 1:09 (when he starts the accompaniament and it speeds up a bit) I really like the sound of, but to give a more specific, small sample of it, at 2:30 he does some chord stabs, and FOLLOWING that he does a bit of a run down and then back up a scale of keys, with a very jazzy feel. (He does it again at 2:43) I don't think it's blues scale, because it has much more beautiful/samba-ey jazzy tones. Is that a recognisable scale or mode (or technique)?

Again, thanks for any help - this is a fantastic forum & community.

Manachi

It's not one mode or one scale, it's a complete chord progression on an AABA form. Sounds roughly like: GmAdd9, Ab7, Gm6/9 two bars, Am7(b5?), D7, Gm, Am7b5 D7 same bar and then reprise. Bridge (or B) is Cm7, F7, BbMaj two bars, Dbm7, Gb7, Bmaj7 two bars, Am7b5 D7 same bar and then the A part again (Gm, Ab7, Gm6 two bars, Am7, D7, Gm)

Everything is right, except for the fact that:

The BMaj7 is enharmonically incorrect. B Major has sharps, not flats. So if your using Dbm7 and Gb7, then you use CbMaj7. On the other hand, if you use C#min7, F#7, then you use BMaj7.

Just to point something out! Be careful about stuff like this.

I meant C#m7 Gb7 Hmaj7

KlinkKlonk is right. There isn't one specific "mode" that a tune is in. Generelly when modes are discussed (in my experience) it is usually regarding each individual chord as there is a corresponding relationship between the chord and the scale it comes from. For example, in the Key of C a Dmi7 chord is the 2 chord (built off the second scale degree). If you take the C scale, but start on the D and go from D to D and back down again, you get a flat 3 and a flat 7. This is called the Dorian mode. If you start on the E you get flat 2, flat 3, flat 6 and flat 7. This is the Phrygian mode and so on and so forth. The same exists within minor keys. The song is in the key of G minor. I guess you could call it a "minor mode" but I just call it a minor key. Making sense at all?