The Intervallic Approach for Hipper Solos

Mike B. asked a great question:

“I’m confused by the choice of notes in the Sick Licks Modern Level 1 example you give (no. 22). I understand and try to use chromatic approach notes, but the descending Ab, Eb, and Bb against the G7 chord have me baffled.”

Here’s the lick in question:

Sick Licks Intervallic

So, there are a couple of ways to think about those wacky notes on the G7:

Ab is the b9

Eb is the b13

Bb is the #9

All of these altered extensions are very common on Dominant 7 chords. After all, V7 chords are inherently dissonant with their tritone interval between the 3rd and the b7th:

B D F

Altered extensions like the b9, #9, and b13 provide even more dissonance, which can then be resolved in the following IMaj7 chord.

The altered scale does a great job of capturing the sound of the fundamental chord tones (1 3 5 and b7) while also including the more dissonant altered extensions: b9, #9, #11 (or b5), and b13 (or #5).

Here’s the altered scale on a G7:

G Ab Bb B C# Eb F

1 b9 #9 3 #11 b13 b7

Alright, let’s take a step back for second…

This analysis of the original three notes in question is very much a vertical examination – we are relating the pitches to the chord symbol written above the staff.

However, there is another way we can dig in here by analyzing these notes horizontally.

A horizontal analysis is invaluable when examining more modern music like the licks included in the Sick Licks Modern collection. Oftentimes, the raison d’être of those “outside” notes is purely intervallic, not harmonic.

You see, the intervals between the descending Ab, Eb, and Bb are all perfect fourths, which convey a modern sound – think Roy Hargrove, Woody Shaw, Kenny Garrett, etc.

Furthermore, the following measure echos the same stacked fourth motif with the ascending B, E, and A. Talk about thinking horizontally!

What’s the big takeaway here?

An intervallic approach can be a big help when you want to play more modern sounding lines.

To see more examples and find out which interval combinations sound best, be sure to check out the Sick Licks Modern lick books.

I guarantee you will set your solos on fire in no time by integrating these lines into your playing.

Listen to some more demos and get your copy of Sick Licks Modern here.

Happy Shedding!

Jeff

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