How to Improvise Using Scale Patterns

This article will use a simple eight-measure melody in C as a basis for improvisation using scale patterns. To prepare to improvise, analyze the piece in terms of its rhythm, melody, and harmony.

• Clap the rhythm of the melody while tapping your foot to the steady underlying beat.
• Study the melody. Note the similarity of measures 2, 3, and 4 to measure 1; the similarity of measures 5 and 6; and then the contrasting but similar closing two-measure phrase. Notice that the melody is very scalewise.
• Be familiar with the left hand chords. The chord progression in measures 1 and 2 are repeated in measures 3 and 4; measures 5 and 6 go together and move into the closing C D b C progression in measures 7 and 8.

The eight-measure improvisation below is on the previous tune "Melody in C." Obviously the patterns are very scalewise.

Note the melodic contour of each phrase. After a series of notes in one direction, you may feel that an immediate turn in the opposite direction will give the idea more shape. Notice the skips at the end of the scale patterns in measure 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6. Play them expressively, as well as the scale part of each pattern.

There are two general rules to remember when improvising using scale patterns:

1. Begin and end on chord tones.
2. Don't skip from non-chord tones.

1. With C, Am, Dm, and G7 chords, use the C major scale because those chords are made from the C major scale.
2. With the C7 chord, use the F scale (C7 is made from the F scale).
3. With the F7 chord, use the B b scale (F7 is made from the B b scale).
4. With a D b chord, use the G b scale (G b has a C b [B natural] which is the leading tone in the key of C, the harmonic destination.)
5. There are three blue notes, namely the flat 3rd, flat 7th and flat 5th.
6. Note that the first and last notes of measures 1, 3, 7 and 8 are notes of the melodic skeleton. Measure 2 begins while measure 6 ends on skeleton note. However, the patterns do not have to start or end on skeleton notes, but they should be notes of the immediate chord.