Practicing Notes for “Building” Exercise
Here is the overview to this simple but helpful ear training and soloing exercise.
- Play the various chord tones for each chord, one per bar.
- the ROOT
- the THIRD
- the FIFTH
- the SEVENTH.
- You can even play non-chord tones like the NINTH, or the FLATTED SEVENTH, or the SIXTH.
-^ Experiment with all of these to hear how these notes sound against the chords.
- Approach chord tones from below or above.
(^) • Play the note below or above the target note followed by the target note.
oo Experiment using approach notes in the key of the sExperiment using approach notes that are a fixed distance from the target note - either a half or ong.
whole step. Hear how this creates more harmonic tension because the notes are not in the key.
-^ Listen to the difference between using notes in the key as opposed to notes out of the key.
3) Approach the target note from below and above.
- Play the note below the target, then the note above the target, then the target note.
- Try switching the notes. Play the note above the target, then the note below the target, then the target note.
(^) This exercise may be tedious at first but give it some time. Approaching a solo in this way forces you to learn the
chord tones well enough to recall them instantly. notes sound. You will find after a few times goingIt also systematically trains your ear to hear how through this exercise that when you look at a chorthese different d you no longer
see a blank musical slate. After going through thioptions you could play. s exercise several times you can look at a chord and see a myriad of
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