Lesson 3: Dominant Bebop Scale Etude in F Preparatory exercises

To make scale practices effective for jazz improvisation, it’s crucial to break up the scale direction as much as possible. This means introducing various elements to ensure it doesn’t merely sound like a scale exercise. A fundamental technique for adding interest and tension to scales is the use of enclosures.

Let’s start slowly to grasp the theory and logic behind each note.

Step 1: Approach the Root and the 5th.

Step 2: Get comfortable with challenging fingering.

Step 3: Construct longer lines by integrating the Dominant Bebop Scale with Enclosures.

The sequence includes:

Descending Scale + Enclosure (5th)

Descending Scale + Enclosure (5th) + Descending Scale + Enclosure (Root)

Descending Scale + Enclosure (5th) + Descending Scale + Enclosure (Root) + Descending Scale + Enclosure (5th)

Ascending Scale + Enclosure (5th), and so on.

Step 4: Improvise with left-hand voicings and rhythm patterns.

Remember, you have the option to shift your voicings a half-step up or down to create more tension.

Step 5: Play as it is written.