Linear Jazz Improvisation Books 1 and 2 supply practice
exercises to prepare the serious jazz improvisation student
for the Chromatic Targeting of Reduced Melodies, as
prescribed in LJI Book I. Book 1 targets the 4 basic triad
types (major, minor, augmented, and diminished), with the
10 LJI Chromatic Targeting Groups–in 2 octaves and 3 keys.
This is a starting point towards making these patterns
and chords part of your vocabulary. These exercises are here
notated in 3 keys only–the 3 most common keys in jazz:
concert C, F, and Bb. Do the other 9 keys by ear, since oral
transposition is a basic jazz skill that this method intends
to foster. You should eventually be able to improvise on
them in various tempos with a metronome alone. While we
supply targeting exercises in 2 octaves, your ultimate goal
will be to extend them throughout the entire range of your
instrument. This will supply you with the skills necessary
to target Reduced Melodies, Guide Tone Lines, and Root
Progressions of specific tunes such as those found in the
LJI Songbook Series.
All LJI exercise books include state of the art
playback files with which to practice. Sing all of these
exercises. Read each exercise at first if you must, but
only as a starting point, since our goal is to make these
patterns part of your vocabulary.
How to Practice with the Sound Files
1. Play and Sing each exercise as written.
2. Play and Sing by rote (without reading).
3. Improvise on each. Experiment with different jazz
articulations, inflections, vibratos, tempos, and rhythmic
styles.
4. Play back one exercise type, such as the reduced melody,
while practicing another (guide tone line or root
progression).
5. While this book is programmed to play back at q.n. = 60,
you can set the document for any tempo in the tempo menu at
the top.
6. Measure numbers are supplied, since you will need to
type that number into the measure box at the top in order to
return to a specific measure.
7. For best results, keyboard players should do all of
these exercises in octaves with both hands, not looking at
your keyboard or fingers.
Linear Jazz Improvisation Book 2 focuses on LJI
Chromatic Targeting, and takes the method into applied
practice, including free Finale sound files to practice
along with. Develops the 4 basic triad types, and targets
each of them with the 10 LJI Chromatic Targeting Groups,
notated in the 3 most common jazz keys, ranging over 2
octaves.
LJI Book 3 does the same, but focuses on the 12 LJI 7th
Chords, spanning 2 octaves. Check out the links below to see
and hear examples:
Triads: http://www.byrnejazz.com/product.php?id=2
7th Chords: http://www.byrnejazz.com/product.php?id=3
Linear Jazz Improvisation E-Book Combo ~ Save 20% by
purchasing Linear Jazz Improvisation Books 1, 2 & 3 in a
convenient all-in-one download:
http://www.byrnejazz.com/product.php?id=13
To get a better idea of LJI and how it works, there
are a great many both music and sound examples of the 15
different LJI books to be found in the More Information
sections for each book in the ByrneJazz Online Bookstore
(just click on each book): http://byrnejazz.com/store.php
Tomorrow I will discuss LJI Targeting of Essential
Elements of specific tunes.
Best,
Ed
Leave a Comment so far
Leave a comment
JazzTalk with Ed Byrne 