Exercises for Improvisation

Complied by Ralph Martin

All rights reserved ©January 2008 by Ralph Martin

Contents A. Introcuction and Acknowledgments ............................................................... 1

B. Progressions IIm7 - V7 ................................................................................... 2

1) 5ths Down [4ths Up] (or whole Step Down) ........................................ 2

2) Chromatic (1/2 Step Down).................................................................. 2

3) Chromatic (1/2 Step Up) ...................................................................... 2

4) Whole Step (1 Step Up) ....................................................................... 2

5) Minor 3rd down (1 1/2 Steps Down) .................................................... 2

6) Minor 3rd Up (1 1/2 Steps Up) ............................................................. 3

7) Major 3rd down (2 Steps Down).......................................................... 3

8) Major 3rd Up (2 Steps Up)................................................................... 3

9) 4ths Down .......................................................................................... 3

C. IIm7 - V7 Examples ........................................................................................ 4

D. IIm7 - V7 Exercises ........................................................................................ 5

1) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 1, 2, 3 ................................................................... 5

2) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 4, 5, 6 ................................................................... 6

3) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 7, 8, 9 ................................................................... 7

4) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 10, 11, 12 ............................................................... 8

5) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 13, 14, 15 ............................................................... 9

6) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 16, 17, 18............................................................... 10

7) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 19, 20, 21............................................................... 11

8) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 22, 23, 24 ............................................................. 12

9) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 25, 26, 27.............................................................. 13

10) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 28, 29, 30 .............................................................. 14

11) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 31, 32, 33............................................................... 15

12) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 24, 35, 36 .............................................................. 16

13) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 37, 38, 39............................................................... 17

14) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 40, 41, 42.............................................................. 18

15) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 43, 44, 45.............................................................. 19

16) IIm7 - V7 Exercises 46, 47, 48 ............................................................. 20

E. Imaj7 - VIm7 - IIm7 - V7 Exercises ................................................................ 21

1) Imaj7 - VIm7 Patterns.......................................................................... 21

2) IIm7 - V7 Patterns .............................................................................. 21

3) Imaj7 - VIm7 - IIm7 - V7 Pattern Combinations ................................... 22

1

Introduction and acknowledgements

These exercises were originally written for practicing patterns for

improvisation. While they could be used on their own, a basic foundation in

music theory is highly suggested. You should be able to understand and

build basic scales and chords. Also you should understand basic chord

naming structure.

The Im7 (II minor 7) - V7 (V dominate 7) chords are some of the most used

chord patterns in all music. The Imaj7 (I major 7) - VIm7 (VI minor 7) -

Im7 (II minor 7) - V7 (V dominate 7) are also widely used basic chord

patterns.

The first section is various chord patterns used to pass through all the keys.

These could be used for many different types of practices such as scales,

chords, patterns, licks, etc. Try to incorporate them into your practice and

you will get a much greater understanding and musical facility of music in

general.

I would like thank the many various teachers I have had over the years,

starting with the wonderful teachers at Berklee college of Music in Boston,

Mass. and the many musicians who have produced much wonderful and

exciting music and have helped me refine my musical craft.

Last, but definitely and certainly not least, I would like to thank my wife

and singer, Dena G., with whose love and support made all of this possible.

Progressions IIm7 - V7 1) 5ths Down [4ths Up] (or whole Step Down)

&c Cm7 F7 │Bbm7 Eb7 │Abm7 Db7 │F# m7 B7 │Em7 A7 │Dm7 G7 ││

&c Bm7 E7 │Am7 D7 │G m7 C7 │Fm7 Bb7 │Ebm7 Ab7 │C# m7 F# 7 ││

2) Chromatic (1/2 Step Down)

&c Cm7 F7 │Bm7 E7 │Bbm7 Eb7 │Am7 D7 │Abm7 Db7 │ G m7 C7 │

F# m7 B7 │F m7 Bb7 │Em7 A7 │Ebm7 Ab7 │Dm7 G7 │C# m7 F# 7 ││

3) Chromatic (1/2 Step Up)

&c Cm7 F7 │ C# m7 F# 7 │ Dm7 G7 │ Ebm7 Ab7 │ Em7 A7 │ F m7 Bb7 │

F# m7 B7 │ G m7 C7 │Abm7 Db7 │ Am7 D7 │ Bbm7 Eb7 │ Bm7 E7 ││

4) Whole Step (1 Step Up)

&c Cm7 F7 │ Dm7 G7 │ Em7 A7 │ F# m7 B7 │ Abm7 Db7 │ Bbm7 Eb7 ││

&c Bm7 E7 │ C# m7 F# 7 │ Ebm7 Ab7 │ F m7 Bb7 │G m7 C7 │ Am7 D7 ││

5) Minor 3rd down (1 1/2 Steps Down)

&c Cm7 F7 │ Am7 D7 │ F# m7 B7 │ Ebm7 Ab7 ││

&c Bm7 E7 │Abm7 Db7 │ F m7 Bb7 │ Dm7 G7 ││

&c Bbm7 Eb7 │ G m7 C7 │ Em7 A7 │ C# m7 F# 7 ││

3

6) Minor 3rd Up (1 1/2 Steps Up)

&c Cm7 F7 │ Ebm7 Ab7 │ F# m7 B7 │ Am7 D7 ││

&c C# m7 F# 7 │ Em7 A7 │ G m7 C7 │ Bbm7 Eb7 ││

&c Dm7 G7 │ F m7 Bb7 │ Abm7 Db7 │ Bm7 E7 ││

7) Major 3rd down (2 Steps Down)

&c Cm7 F7 │ Abm7 Db7 │Em7 A7 ││

&c Bm7 E7 │ G m7 C7 │ Ebm7 Ab7 ││

&c Bbm7 Eb7 │ F# m7 B7 │ Dm7 G7 ││

&c Am7 D7 │F m7 Bb7 │ C# m7 F# 7 ││

8) Major 3rd Up (2 Steps Up)

&c Cm7 F7 │ Em7 A7 │ Abm7 Db7 ││

&c C# m7 F# 7 │ F m7 Bb7 │ Am7 D7 ││

&c Dm7 G7 │ F# m7 B7 │ Bbm7 Eb7 ││

&c Ebm7 Ab7 │ G m7 C7 │ Bm7 E7 ││

9) 4ths Down

&c Cm7 F7 │Fm7 Bb7 │Bbm7 Eb7 │Ebm7 Ab7 │Abm7 Db7 │C# m7 F# 7 │

F# m7 B7 │Bm7 E7 │Em7 A7 │Am7 D7 │Dm7 G7 │G m7 C7 ││

5

7

9

11

13

15

17

19

Imaj7 - VIm7 - IIm7 - V7 Exercises Patterns: I VIm7 Cmaj7 Am7

IIm7 V7 Dm7 G7

21

Imaj7 - VIm7 - IIm7 - V7 Pattern Combinations: 1a - 2a 1a - 2b 1a - 2g 1a - 2h 1b - 2a 1b - 2b 1b - 2c 1b - 2d 1c - 2a 1c - 2b 1c - 2c 1c - 2d 1d - 2c 1d - 2c 1d - 2e 1d - 2f

1e - 2c 1e - 2d 1e - 2e 1e - 2f 1f - 2e 1f - 2f 1f - 2g 1f - 2h 1g - 2e 1g - 2f 1g - 2g 1g - 2h 1h - 2g 1h - 2h 1h - 2a 1h - 2b

2a - 1a 2a - 1b 2a - 1c 2a - 1d 2b - 1c 2b - 1d 2b - 1e 2b - 1f 2c - 1c 2c - 1d 2c - 1e 2c - 1f 2d - 1e 2d - 1f 2d - 1g 2d - 1h

2e - 1e 2e - 1f 2e - 1g 2e - 1h 2f - 1g 2f - 1h 2f - 1a 2f - 1b 2g - 1g 2g - 1h 2g - 1a 2g - 1b 2h - 1a 2h - 1b 2h - 1c 2h - 1d

Other books by Ralph Martin:

Collection of Conga Rhythms This book is to help you gain a greater working knowledge of rhythms for playing congas, bongos or almost any percussion instrument. Included is an instruction and basic hand technique for congas. Among the many patterns presented are, Samba, Clave, Latin Rhythms, Afro-Latin, West African, Middle Eastern and many more.

Exercises for Improvisation Exercises for any instrument using two of the most universal and basic chord

patterns; the IIm7 – V7 & Imaj7 - VIm7 – Iim7 – V7 chord patterns. These chord patterns will greatly enhance any musician’s improvisation ability.

Practice Regimen for the Beginning Player To get the most out of your practice time learn how and what to practice in each

practice session. Learn how to increase your playing ability smoothly and consistently. This book was written with the dedicated Beginning player in mind.

Practice Regimen for the Intermediate Player

To get the most out of your practice time learn how and what to practice in each practice session. Learn how to increase your playing ability smoothly and consistently. This book was written with the dedicated Intermediate player in mind.

Practice Regimen for the Advanced Player

To get the most out of your practice time learn how and what to practice in each practice session. Learn how to increase your playing ability smoothly and consistently. This book was written with the dedicated Advanced player in mind.

Selected Jazzified Bach Duets for Bb Instruments

Selected Jazzified Bach Duets for C Instruments

Selected Jazzified Bach Duets for Eb Instruments

Selected Jazzified Bach Duets for Alto Sax & Tenor Sax Instruments

Originally written for the piano, eight of J. S. Bach's two part inventions easily

transform from classical inventions into jazz duets with only some minor

modifications needed. This is a wonderful way to practice jazz both solo and with

any player. Any book in the series can be used together with any other book in

Selected Jazzified Bach series.