INSIDE FLAP

Many instrumentalists wish to pursue jazz improvisation, but are intimidated because they don't know what notes to play over chord changes, beyond the chord tones themselves. Frequently students who do know what scales they need to learn in order to play over changes are unable to internalize this information to the point of being able to use the scales in an actual playing situation. They may have difficulty learning the notes because they are unsure of what fingerings to use, or they may not have had enough guidance in making the transition from playing the scales to applying them in a playing situation.

This book provides specific details on practicing the Lydian mode in all twelve keys and applying it to jazz improvisation. You will also find exercises to help you improve your phrasing and comping, an original Lydian mode etude, and, since fingering is often an issue for less experienced pianists, fingerings for every scale in the book. The goal is to provide you with enough guidance to work confidently on your own so that you can integrate the Lydian mode into your playing while improving other aspects of your playing.

The Lydian is often considered a more "advanced mode" because it is used with more complex chord structures that do not appear naturally in the diatonic scales, such as the maj7#11. Before you begin this book, if you are new to improvisation, you may wish to start with one of the following books in this series: Volume 1 (the Major scale); Volume 2 (the Dorian mode) or Volume 5 (the Mixolydian mode). If you are already fluent with using those scales to improvise, then you are ready for this book. In this volume, you will learn to use the Lydian mode to create voicings and lines that transcend the bebop language that we have discussed in those other books. Like the other books in this series, this book offers a workbook to jazz improvisation with specific exercises that you can practice. You can listen to these examples on the Muse Eek website as well.

This book is part of a series (available as e-books or in paper format) that focus on learning and applying jazz scales in order to give you the vocabulary and skill to become a fluid jazz improvisor.