Saxophonist John Coltrane was one of the most innovative, creative, and influential jazz artists of the 20th Century. Both stylistically and harmonically, he opened doors for others to follow. This book will focus on the first period of Coltrane's career, when he was with Miles Davis, and the jazz vocabulary he used. First, to help the student better understand Coltrane's bebop style of improvising, the authors discuss the use of guide tones, bebop scales, three to flat nine, targeting, and other techniques. Then the text presents numerous one-, two-, and three-measure jazz lines in Coltrane's 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 John Coltrane. Includes access to online audio.

John Coltrane  

The Style of John Coltrane  

Jazz Language  

Guide Tones  

Bebop Scales  A

Mixolydian Bebop  

Major Bebop  

Minor Bebop  

Scalar Patterns  

3-f9

Augmented Dominant  

Playing the Upper-Structure of Chords  

Targeting  

Substitutions  

John Coltrane’s Style  

Summary  

Minor Chord Material  

Dominant Seventh (V) Chord Material  

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

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

Major (I) Chord Material  

Minor ii-V Material  

More Play-Along Recordings

Short ii-V-I  

Long ii-V-I  

Minor ii-V-i  

Turnarounds  

Creating Solos  

Progression similar to Pent Up House  

Coltrane Changes/Giant Steps  

Practicing the Coltrane Changes  

Long ii-V-I with Coltrane Changes  

Eight Measure Giant Steps Vamp  

Progression Similar to Giant Steps  

Superimposing the Coltrane Changes  

Blues for a Giant  

Snap Shots  

Conclusion  

Selected Discography  

About the Authors