Simple melody

ExAMPlES 1A-1C

eXAmpLe 1A moDifying A moTif: We begin with a simple four-note motif with nothing fancy from either a technique or rhythmic perspective. The important aspects here are the choice of notes, zoning in on specific important chord tones and how these notes might be manipulated to address some of the main chord types found in jazz: Major 7 (R-3-5-7), Dominant 7 (R-3-5-b7), Minor 7 (R-b3-5-b7) and Minor 7b5 (R-b3-b5-b7). eXAmpLe 1b moving A moTif Through ChAnges: This example shows us how a little can go a long way, with essentially the exact same three-note idea, albeit with the occasional rhythmic twist along the way, transposed through a cyclic sequence of Major 7 chords. eXAmpLe 1C ConneCTing 3rDs & 7Ths: If understanding verbs is the backbone of a language, then the understanding how 3rds and 7ths resolve is the backbone of jazz harmony. This swinging example based around the opening four bars to a jazz blues in Bb demonstrates how the 7th of Bb (Ab) drops down a semitone to the 3rd of Eb (G) and how this pattern of 3rd to 7th and 7th to 3rd continues to evolve over the ensuing bars.