LearnJazzPiano.com archives: seven steps to heaven soloing

BlackWhiteKey -- 10/02/2006, 15:21:19 -- #30222

i've just begun to lear this song, and i notice the chords changing everytwo beats in the begining. can i just use one scale to improvise on that, or do i have to stick the chord changes?

GreenDolphinSt -- 10/09/2006, 17:21:19 -- #30222

The key to soloing in a song that has a lot of ii-V-I progressions is to follow the I chords and use those major scales over the 2 measures associated with the I chord.  For example, in part B of Seven Steps, you start with Cmaj7 (obvious scale).  You can continue that over the Dm7-G7, etc.  When it changes to Fm7 Bb7, you are in Eb major (thus the following Ebmaj7 chord).  In part A, there is a twist.  When you can't find the ii-V-I progression, look for the common scale between the two chords.  With Fmaj7 and Bbmaj7, it is an F major scale with the dominant 7 Eb note instead of E natural. Another easy way to jump into soloing over chords is to think in terms of the arpeggios of the notes you are playing in the chord and expand from there using what I've shown you and your ear. Good luck-

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