Lesson 15 (30sec 30 Lessons) The Dominant Be-Bop Scale on the Trombone

In the UK we don’t get taught the Be-bop scale ( well I wasn’t) and I don’t really know why. I think it should be a foundation to all improvisers.

A monophonic instrument, like the Trombone, has to describe the chords it’s playing over, through the melody or line that one is improvising. ‘MAKING THE CHANGES’.

By adding 1 note to the usual Mixolydian scale (ie Bb major scale starting on the 5th, F, on an F7 chord) we can now hit the chord tones ( the roots, 3rds, 5ths and 7ths) on the beat.. therefore describing the chord tones on the strongest beats of the bar. In this case F7

If you add a chromatic passing note between the root and the 7th ( an E natural in this case) then your line will spell out F7.

For this exercise to work you HAVE to start your phrase ON THE BEAT and either ON THE ROOT, THE 3RD, THE 5TH OR THE 7TH. The scale is the same, you are just starting in a different place.. easy!!?? Ish … :)

If you fall on the wrong side of the beat …it will all go wrong and your Trombone will BLOW UP!!! and you will start emphasising all the other notes and start describing a whole other chord… so try and avoid that I reckon. ( BOOM!)

In later videos I will show you what to do if this happens… but for now. Practice this in every key. X

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