Okay, so I may be showing my ignorance here. Â Thankfully it won't be the first time.
This is just twisted in my mind, help me untwist...
I was playing Herbie Hanco ck's "Cantaloupe Island" with my teacher on Tuesday. Â We were using Dorian scales to play along, 4 bars each of F-, Db7, D-, F-.
When we got to the Db7 he said "play Ab Dorian".
To which I cleverly replied "huh?"
And he explained that Db7 is the 5th of Gb and Ab is the second degree of that scale. Â
To which I cleverly replied "Doh!"
So of course it worked. Â But why?
I understand that Db7 is the 5th of Gb and Ab is the second degree of that scale. Â No problems here.
But why does what I think of as a minor scale work over a non-minor chord? Â
Does it cease to be a minor scale and become a dominant scale? Â
I could look it up but that would be too much work. Â
Nick
I know this wasn't meant for me and I can in no way claim to be able to play on any jazz standards but I'll give my 2cents here anyway  :)
Normally you'd think "Db7 = Db "Mixolydian", right?
Well Ab is the 5th scale tone of the Db7 chord as well as of Db Mixolydian.
So Ab Dorian "IS" Db Mixolydian starting from the 5th! Â ;)
Derp's dead-on with the answer, Nick. The thing with modes is that you're just shifting the tonal center... if he told you to play in Gb major it wouldn't trouble you to hear that against the Db7 chord; you're just playing Gb major notes with a 'doh'-nal center of Ab :)
Tom
Guitar teacher offering lessons in Plainfield IL
LOL, Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees.
Have you ever had one of those moments where you get so twisted thinking of something it will never work itself out. Then someone wonders why are you thinking that way, explains it in plain English and viola, it hits you like a 9 lb sledge.
Thank you both very much.
Started with a new instrument, there, Nick? ;)
plain English and viola
I started with nothing - and I've still got most of it left.
Did you know that the word "gullible" is not in any dictionary?
Greybeard's Pages
My Articles & Reviews on GN
I think he means violão. Google it. ;)
Well I meant it that way, instead of voila...of course!
Did you know that there are more violist jokes than jokes about all other musicians combined?
--
Helgi Briem
hbriem AT gmail DOT com
Did you know that there are more violist jokes than jokes about all other musicians combined?
Only because drummers aren't musicians.
BA-DOOM *TSSSK*!
