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DIMINISHED SCALE PATTERNS
This is one of many useful jazz patterns for improvising, typical of Oliver Nelson.
- If used on D7, the opening bar of this example consists of root, 7th, b10th, b9th, b5th, 3rd, 13th, 5th. Of course the Gb in this case would be F#.
- If used on F7, the opening bar of this example consists of 13th, 5th, root, 7th, b10th, b9th, b5th (#11th), 3rd. In this case the 3rd is enharmonically correct.
- If used on Ab7, the opening bar of this example consists of b5th, 3rd, 13th, 5th, root, 7th, #9th, b9th. The A natural in this case would be Bbb.
- If used on B7, the opening bar of this example consists of b10th, b9th, b5th, 3rd, 13th, 5th, root, 7th. In this case the Eb would be D#, Ab would be G# and Gb would be F#.
The next example (B) is just an embellishment of (A), which can be played as straight
semiquavers as written, or played as a bounced
turn as shown here:
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All the fingering exercises in the "Patterns & Exercises" section are available in PDF format. These contain expanded versions of the online exercises (many of them in all keys) and also many extra exercises. All for only £5. All proceeeds will be donated to charity. You will receive the PDF files via email.
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