Minor Triad Embellishments

A fundamental jazz improvisation skill is the ability to embellish the three primary chord tones in a minor triad…

Here are eight commonly used ways to embellish the primary chord tones 1, b3, 5 (Do, Me, So) of a C minorr triad in the key of C Minor. Notice that the target notes always fall on the strong beat and that the embellishments always anticipate each target note in swung 1/8th notes, creating a sense of forward motion and anticipation.

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Embellishment #1

Pattern: Approach the target note from a Minor 2nd below, played as a pickup starting on the 4& beat…

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Embellishment #2

Pattern: Approach the target note from the nearest diatonic note above, played as a pickup starting on the 4& beat…

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Embellishment #3

Pattern: Nearest diatonic note above + Minor 2nd below, played as a pickup starting on beat 4…

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Embellishment #4

Pattern: Minor 2nd below + nearest diatonic note above, played as a pickup starting on beat 4…

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Embellishment #5

Pattern: Target Note + Minor 2nd below played as a pickup starting on beat 4…

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Embellishment #6

Pattern: Target Note + nearest diatonic note above, played as a pickup starting on beat 4…

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Embellishment #7

Pattern: Target + Minor 2nd below + Target + nearest diatonic note above, all played as a pickup starting on beat 3…

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Embellishment #8

Pattern: Target + nearest diatonic note above + Target + Minor 2nd below, all played as a pickup starting on beat 3…

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Homework

Please let Frank know if you’d like him to produce downloadable MP3 play along files in all keys at a variety of tempos (Hint: nobody has asked yet).

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