Exercises for Improvisation

8/11/2019 Exercises for Improvisation

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Exercises for Improvisation

Complied by Ralph Martin



Contents

A. Introcuction and Acknowledgments............................................................... 1B. Progressions IIm7 - V7 ................................................................................... 2

1) 5ths Down [4ths Up] (or whole Step Down) ........................................ 2

2) Chromatic (1/2 Step Down).................................................................. 2

3) Chromatic (1/2 Step Up) ...................................................................... 2

4) Whole Step (1 Step Up) ....................................................................... 25) Minor 3rd down (1 1/2 Steps Down) .................................................... 2

6)

Minor 3rd Up (1 1/2 Steps Up) ............................................................. 3

7)

Major 3rd down (2 Steps Down).......................................................... 3

8) Major 3rd Up (2 Steps Up)................................................................... 3

9) 4ths Down .......................................................................................... 3C.

IIm7 - V7 Examples ........................................................................................ 4

D. IIm7 - V7 Exercises ........................................................................................ 5

1) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 1, 2, 3 ................................................................... 5

2) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 4, 5, 6 ................................................................... 6

3) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 7, 8, 9 ................................................................... 74) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 10, 11, 12 ............................................................... 8

5) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 13, 14, 15 ............................................................... 9

6) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 16, 17, 18............................................................... 10

7)

IIm7 - V7 Exercises 19, 20, 21............................................................... 11



8) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 22, 23, 24 ............................................................. 12

9)

IIm7 - V7 Exercises 25, 26, 27.............................................................. 13

10) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 28, 29, 30 .............................................................. 14

11) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 31, 32, 33............................................................... 15

12)

IIm7 - V7 Exercises 24, 35, 36 .............................................................. 16

13)

IIm7 - V7 Exercises 37, 38, 39............................................................... 17

14) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 40, 41, 42.............................................................. 18

15) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 43, 44, 45.............................................................. 19

16) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 46, 47, 48 ............................................................. 20

E.

Imaj7 - VIm7 - IIm7 - V7 Exercises ................................................................ 21

1)

Imaj7 - VIm7 Patterns.......................................................................... 21

2) IIm7 - V7 Patterns .............................................................................. 21

3) Imaj7 - VIm7 - IIm7 - V7 Pattern Combinations ................................... 22



1

I n t r o d u ct i o n a n d a ck n ow l ed g em en t s

These exercises were originally written for practicing patterns for

improvisation. While they could be used on their own, a basic foundation in

music theory is highly suggested. You should be able to understand and

build basic scales and chords. Also you should understand basic chord

naming structure.

The Im7 (II minor 7) - V7 (V dominate 7) chords are some of the most used

chord patterns in all music. The Imaj7 (I major 7) - VIm7 (VI minor 7) -

Im7 (II minor 7) - V7 (V dominate 7) are also widely used basic chord

patterns.

The first section is various chord patterns used to pass through all the keys.

These could be used for many different types of practices such as scales,

chords, patterns, licks, etc. Try to incorporate them into your practice and

you will get a much greater understanding and musical facility of music in

general.

I would like thank the many various teachers I have had over the years,

starting with the wonderful teachers at Berklee college of Music in Boston,

Mass. and the many musicians who have produced much wonderful and

exciting music and have helped me refine my musical craft.

Last, but definitely and certainly not least, I would like to thank my wife

and singer, Dena G., with whose love and support made all of this possible.



Progressions IIm7 - V7

1) 5ths Down [4ths Up] or whole Step Down)

&c Cm7 F7 │Bbm7 Eb7 │Abm7 Db7 │F m7 B7 │Em7 A7 │Dm7 G7 ││

&c Bm7 E7 │Am7 D7 │G m7 C7 │Fm7 Bb7 │Ebm7 Ab7 │C m7 F 7 ││

2) Chromatic 1/2 Step Down)

&c Cm7 F7 │Bm7 E7 │Bbm7 Eb7 │Am7 D7 │Abm7 Db7│ G m7 C7 │

F m7 B7 │F m7 Bb7 │Em7 A7 │Ebm7 Ab7 │Dm7 G7 │C m7 F 7 ││

3) Chromatic 1/2 Step Up)

&c Cm7 F7 │ C m7 F 7 │ Dm7 G7 │ Ebm7 Ab7 │ Em7 A7 │ F m7 Bb7 │

F m7 B7 │ G m7 C7 │Abm7 Db7 │ Am7 D7 │ Bbm7 Eb7 │ Bm7 E7 ││

4) Whole Step 1 Step Up)

&c Cm7 F7 │ Dm7 G7 │ Em7 A7 │ F m7 B7 │ Abm7 Db7│ Bbm7 Eb7 ││

&c Bm7 E7 │ C m7 F 7 │ Ebm7 Ab7 │ F m7 Bb7 │G m7 C7 │ Am7 D7 ││

5) Minor 3rd down 1 1/2 Steps Down)

&c Cm7 F7 │ Am7 D7 │ F m7 B7 │ Ebm7 Ab7 ││

&c Bm7 E7 │Abm7 Db7 │ F m7 Bb7 │ Dm7 G7 ││

&c Bbm7 Eb7 │ G m7 C7 │ Em7 A7 │ C m7 F 7 ││



5



7



9



11



13



15



17



Imaj7 - VIm7 - IIm7 - V7 Exercises

Patterns:

I VIm7Cmaj7 Am7

IIm7 V7Dm7 G7



21

Imaj7 - VIm7 - IIm7 - V7 Pattern Combinations:1a - 2a1a - 2b

1a - 2g1a - 2h1b - 2a1b - 2b1b - 2c1b - 2d

1c - 2a1c - 2b1c - 2c1c - 2d1d - 2c1d - 2c1d - 2e

1d - 2f

1e - 2c1e - 2d

1e - 2e1e - 2f1f - 2e1f - 2f1f - 2g1f - 2h

1g - 2e1g - 2f1g - 2g1g - 2h1h - 2g1h - 2h1h - 2a

1h - 2b

2a - 1a2a - 1b

2a - 1c2a - 1d2b - 1c2b - 1d2b - 1e2b - 1f

2c - 1c2c - 1d2c - 1e2c - 1f2d - 1e2d - 1f2d - 1g

2d - 1h

2e - 1e2e - 1f

2e - 1g2e - 1h2f - 1g2f - 1h2f - 1a2f - 1b

2g - 1g2g - 1h2g - 1a2g - 1b2h - 1a2h - 1b2h - 1c

2h - 1d



Other books by Ralph Martin:

Collection of Conga RhythmsThis book is to help you gain a greater working knowledge

of rhythms for playing congas, bongos or almost any percussioninstrument. Included is an instruction and basic hand techniquefor congas. Among the many patterns presented are, Samba,Clave, Latin Rhythms, Afro-Latin, West African, Middle Easternand many more.

Exercises for ImprovisationExercises for any instrument using two of the most universal and basic chordpatterns; the IIm7 – V7 & Imaj7 - VIm7 – Iim7 – V7 chord patterns. These chordpatterns will greatly enhance any musician’s improvisation ability.

Practice Regimen for the Beginning Player

To get the most out of your practice time learn how and what to practice in eachpractice session. Learn how to increase your playing ability smoothly andconsistently. This book was written with the dedicated Beginning player in mind.

Practice Regimen for the Intermediate Player

To get the most out of your practice time learn how and what to practice in eachpractice session. Learn how to increase your playing ability smoothly andconsistently. This book was written with the dedicated Intermediate player inmind.

Practice Regimen for the Advanced Player

To get the most out of your practice time learn how and what to practice in eachpractice session. Learn how to increase your playing ability smoothly andconsistently. This book was written with the dedicated Advanced player in mind.

Selected Jazzified Bach Duets for Bb Instruments

Selected Jazzified Bach Duets for C Instruments

Selected Jazzified Bach Duets for Eb Instruments

Selected Jazzified Bach Duets for Alto Sax & Tenor Sax Instruments

Originally written for the piano, eight of J. S. Bach's two part inventions easily

transform from classical inventions into jazz duets with only some minormodifications needed. This is a wonderful way to practice jazz both solo and with

any player. Any book in the series can be used together with any other book in

Selected Jazzified Bach series.

Exercises for Improvisation

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