Building a Solo from the Ground Up
This is a simple exercise to help “prime the pump” for musical ideas when soloing and to help your ear hear how each
note sounds in a chord. This exercise is demonstraon CD#5 which is in a Jazz style. This exercise uses your knowledge of chord tones as a place start wted in the Session 19 bonus workshop using Jam Alonhen soloing. g track #7
Here are the steps as demonstrated in the Session 19 bonus workshop.
Play the ROOT of each chord. Look at each chord and play the root of each chord as a whole
note. One note for each measure.
Play the THIRD of each chord. Play the third of each chord as half notes.
Play the FIFTH of each chord. Play the fifth of each chord and you can use any rhythm you want.
Try several repeated notes in row - some short, some long.
Play the SEVENTH of each chord. Play the seventh of each chord. You can use any rhythm and
octave. Try high notes. Try low notes. Some of tgiven, play the root instead. he chords are triads. In the case of a triad where no seventh is
Approach the ROOT of each chord from BENEATH. This time play two notes for each
chord - the note beneath the root of each chord followed by the root. The note beneath the root can either be a half
step or whole step away from the root. The note benis C. eath the root should be in the key of the song, in this case the key
Approach the THIRD of each chord from BENEATH. Play the note beneath the third of
each chord followed by the third. As before, the note beneath the third can either be a half step or a whole step away
from the third. Generally, when choose the note beguide you. Experiment with approaching notes by a neath it is best to stay within the key of the songhalf or whole step and listen for how that changes , but let your ear the sound. Part
of this exercise is training your ear.
Approach the ROOT of each chord from ABOVE. Play the note above the root followed by
the root. As before, it is good to stay in the key when choosing the notes above the root, but experiment with using
either half or whole steps to hear how each sounds.
Approach the THIRD of each chord from ABOVE. Play the note above the third of each
chord followed by the third.
Approach the ROOT of each chord from BELOW then ABOVE. Here is where it
starts to sound like music. You are going to play three notes - the note beneath the root, the note above the root and
lastly the root.
(^)