jam tracks tips

Use these tips to navigate our bonus backing tracks

➊ Smooth Minor Blues (Cm)

Here we have a blues progression in C minor, with a smooth groove jazz feel to it. Basically, the C Minor scale (Aeolian mode) works throughout. The notes are C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab Bb.

and Of course C Minor Pentatonic and the Blues scale will work great too. You could also try outlining the arpeggios for the chords – Cm7 (C-Eb-G-Bb), (F-Ab-C-Eb)

Fm7 and (G-Bb-D-F). Gm7

➋ A Mixolydian Groove

This track is based on a two-chord vamp: A and G/A, which effectively creates a specifically Mixolydian context. A Mixolydian mode is the 5th mode of the D Major scale and contains the notes A-B-C#-D-E-F#-G. I also recommend playing around with the Pentatonic scales inherent in this harmonic context: Em Pentatonic (E-G-A-B-D) F#m Pentatonic (F#-A-B-C#-E) Bm Pentatonic (B-D-E-F#-A).

➌ Bossa I-II-V (Am)

This bossa style track features a continuous loop of two bars on the Im chord (Am), followed by

IIm7b5 (Bm7b5) one bar on the

V7b9 and one bar on the chord (E7b9).

I suggest using A Minor scale (A-B-C-D-E-F-G) for the first two chords and then applying A Harmonic minor (A-B C-D-E-F-G#) for the final V chord. Notice that only one note changes: the G becomes a G#, which effectively ‘pulls towards’ and resolves on the Am chord.

➍ Funky Blues (E)

Here we have a standard 12-bar blues progression in E with a funky feel and groove to it. To make it sound great try E major Pentatonic (E-F#-G#-B-C#) with E minor Pentatonic (E-G-A-B-D) for some nice bluesy colours in your soloing. Major Pentatonic works best on the I chord (E9) and V chord (B7), whereas the minor Pentatonic works best on the IV chord (A7).