by Steve Herberman.

Steve Herberman. Photo by Michael G. Stewart.

One example, when I’m improvising over a tonic minor chord for several bars, I might use the solid architecture of a guide tone line starting on the tonic and descending chromatically, to add motion to my line. Yes, this is the same descending line used in the opening changes to "My Funny Valentine" and even "Stairway To Heaven" and thousands of other tunes. If the improviser practices this sequence melodically weaving in other notes, the result can be a complex line that has a solid substructure.

Next, why not try the ascending chromatic line starting on the 5th (think James Bond)? There are many great melodies that utilize this line. Usually the composer is artful enough to obscure it slightly by creating a second line or interspersing a pedal tone. It’s all in the great songs just waiting to be discovered! A useful practice is to keep an ongoing list of tunes that exhibit specific characteristics.

Example:

Tunes that use a descending minor line cliché starting from the root: “In Walked Bud,” B section of “Top Hat,” bars 5-7 of “Nature Boy” etc.

Add to the list as you notice other tunes utilizing this idea. When you are practicing, set some time aside to compose similar melodic lines, so they will become embedded. Also, compose your own songs that draw from these principles. Soon you’ll be hearing these naturally and it will come out in your improvising unforced!

Other important things to take note of in the standards are: phrase lengths, use of repetition, how phrases balance against other phrases, use of space, recurring rhythmic patterns, etc.

Improvisers can help themselves (and their listeners!) by studying what makes the great standard tunes so great; identifying the architecture and reasoning behind the melodies, harmonies and rhythms.

I had a great deal of fun last month preparing a class on this topic available for download at www.reachmusicjazz.com/lessons.html which will then direct you to Mike Gellar’s website called Mike’s Masterclasses, an informative site of online lessons. Hope you found this helpful. See you next month!

Steve