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Caravan Scales

i am working on �caravan�, from an arrangement that alternates between c7 and db7 in successive measures. these 8-note scales have been suggested for improvising over these changes:

over c7:
c db eb e f g ab bb

over db7:
db eb e f g ab bb cb

so when the chord changes, the only scale change is that  c changes to cb.

these are interesting scales, alright,  but i�m wondering: what is the best way to think about them?  do they have names? (f harmonic minor with eb thrown in at no extra cost? db lydian dominant with e thrown in at no extra cost?)   do a lot of improvisers use them on caravan? are they used on other songs too?

any insights would be appreciated.

thanks,

ed

by Rid on 06/09/2007, 16:59

There are 5 comments, leave a comment.

i usually think of the one you're using over the c7 (as you say) as the 5th mode of the f harmonic minor with the eb added in to smooth out the tone and a half gap between the db and the f. i really like the sound of this scale, but it doesn't seem to get talked about much, i wonder why that is?

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by superjames on 06/09/2007, 19:06

according to scaleopia

https://www.geocities.com/scaleopia/8notes.html

your first scale is the spanish phrygian scale, the 2nd is the 4th mode of the zirafkend scale.

not that any of this is helpful to you <g>

LJP Like

by 7 on 06/09/2007, 20:55

i also play the f harmonic minor. and i play it over both the c7 and the db7 without changing the scale at all. i also dip into the diminshed scale sometimes.
sometimes i play caravan with 12 bars of c7 sus (mixolydian).

LJP Like

by Jazz+ on 06/09/2007, 23:45

i agree with jazz+ that it's not necessary to change the scale every time the chord changes, which is quite hard to pull off convincingly and can lead to a rather stilted result. besides, there's only one note difference between your two scales!

the original version of this tune had just one chord for 12 bars - c7b9 - and the bass alternated c and db - that's where the idea of playing two chords came from. the diminished scale works great - start on e and play tone first...

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by DrJazz on 06/18/2007, 14:29

thanks for the thoughts, guys. very helpful.

of course, i'm hanging my head in shame, for not recognizing the zirafkend scale!

ed

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by Rid on 06/22/2007, 20:03

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Caravan Scales

There are 5 comments, leave a comment.

by superjames on 06/09/2007, 19:06

by 7 on 06/09/2007, 20:55

by Jazz+ on 06/09/2007, 23:45

by DrJazz on 06/18/2007, 14:29

by Rid on 06/22/2007, 20:03

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Caravan Scales

There are 5 comments, leave a comment.

by superjames on 06/09/2007, 19:06

by 7 on 06/09/2007, 20:55

by Jazz+ on 06/09/2007, 23:45

by DrJazz on 06/18/2007, 14:29

by Rid on 06/22/2007, 20:03

Reply to Thread

Jazz Piano Notebook Series

"Latinesque"

LJP Jazz Piano Blogs

Most Recent Discussions

Articles

Top Sheetmusic Picks

Jazz piano education is cool.

Rock on. Follow your passion.

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