Miles Davis was one of the most innovative musicians of the 20th century. This book will shed some insight into the music and soloing devices he used during his earlier periods. First, to help the student better understand Miles' early bebop style of improvising, the authors discuss the use of guide tones, bebop scales, three to flat nine, targeting, and other techniques commonly used in the bebop language. Then the text presents numerous one-, two-, and three-measure jazz lines in Miles' style grouped by the harmony over which they can be used. The accompanying play-along audio provides the rhythm parts for each section, including a track for each section that modulates through the cycle of fourths, helping you master the phrases in all keys. By combining various lines, musicians will be able to mix and match numerous combinations of these lines to play over ii-V-I progressions, turnarounds, and other harmonic situations. Incorporate these essential jazz lines into your vocabulary and you will be able to create your own lines in the style of Miles Davis.

Miles Davis

Jazz Language

Guide Tones

Scales

Dorian

Be-Bop Scales

Harmonic Minor

Melodic Minor

Diminished Scale

3 to b9

Playing the Upper Structure of Chords

Targeting

Studying Miles Davis

Minor chord Material

Minor Chord Vamp

Minor Moving in Fourths

Dominant Seventh Material

Dominant Seventh Vamp

Dominant Seventh Moving in Fourths

One Measure ii-V (short ii-V) Material

Short ii-V Vamp

Short ii-V Moving in Fourths

Two Measure ii-V (Long ii-V) Material

Long ii-V

Long ii-V Moving in Fourths

Major Chord Material

Major Chord Vamp

Major Chord Moving in Fourths

Minor ii-V Material

Minor ii-V Vamp

Minor ii-V Moving in Fourths

Turnarounds

Turnaround Vamp

Turnaround Moving in Fourths

Play-Alongs

Short ii V-I Vamp

Short ii-V-I Moving in Fourths

Long ii-V-I Vamp

Long ii-V-I Moving in Fourths

Minor ii-V-i Vamp

Minor ii-V-I Moving in Fourths

Etude

Play-Along Recordings

Progression Similar to Pent Up House

Progression similar to Confirmation

About the Authors

Blank Staff Paper