Jazz Is

Jazz is extended, altered chords based on a logical system of scales. The simplest way to view it is to start by  imagining a major scale.  If you have ever studied any music, you should know at least 1 major scale.  Starting with this major scale, any or all tones of this scale can be altered (except for the first note, which of course would make it a different scale).

First lower the seventh tone of the scale.  There you have a normal dominant scale.  Just like a major scale except the seventh tone is lowered by a half step.  A 4 note chord build from the first note of this scale is a typical dominant chord. This chord normally can resolve down a fifth, so a C dominant chord will resolve to an F major chord.

From here any number of other notes in the scale can be altered.  Lowering the third along with the seventh creates a kind of minor scale known commonly as a Dorian, typically played over a minor chord.

The most interesting chords/scales are altered dominant ones.  Continuing from lowering the seventh note of the major scale, altering other notes creates a plethora of possible dominant sounds including:

• lowered 9th
• lowered 9th and 13th
• lowered 5th
• raised 9th
• fully altered : lowered 9th, raised 9th, lowered 4th, lowered 5th, lowered 13th

Other combinations are possible.

One fundamental skill is to know all the scales and be able to create many patterns following the contour of the intended scale starting from any note in the scale.  Then, application of this skill includes the movement of chords that might change scales quickly.