Scott Jones

Here are some tips on getting into the mind of Scott Henderson:

For starters: as much as you can convert things to melodic minor...do so....

D Dorian >> use D mel min

>> Also think of it this way:

Dorian >> use mel min from root of chord:
(D = D)

G7 >> use D mel min (also known as G Lydian Dominant)

>> Also think of it this way:

Dominant 7 >> use mel min from 5th of chord:
(G = D)

C#7#5b9 >> use D mel min (also known as C# Superlocrian)

>> This is a tritone substitution of G7

>> Also think of it this way:

Dom 7 alt (#5, b9, or #9) >> use mel min from half step above root of chord:
(C# = D)

Cmaj7 (or maj9) >> use A mel min

>> This will produce, or imply a Maj7#5 harmony

>> Also think of it this way:

Maj7 (maj9) >> use mel min from the 6th of the chord:
(C = A)

OTHER MEL MIN TIPS:

For dominant chords:

Use mel min from the 4th of the chord:

G7 >> use C mel minor

For maj7 chords:

Use mel min from the 4th of the chord:

Cmaj7 >> use F mel minor


Another tricksy tool, is the use of diminished and whole tone scales:

Use half whole diminished scales for dominant chords:

G7 >> use G Ab Bb B Db D E F G

...and whole half dim scales for minor chords:

Cmin >> use C D Eb F F# G# A B C

Tips for whole tone scales:

Use them with Dominant 7 chords, from the root of the chord
(implying a #4, #5):

G7 >> use G whole tone G A B C# D# F

And over minor chords (within Dorian), from the 5th of the chord

D min7 >> use A whole tone A B C# D# F G

TRIADS:

Find "like triads" within the framework of ANY of the above and apply them liberally...

...for example:

Major Triads within the diminished context:

G half-whole dim = G B D --- Bb D F --- Db F Ab --- E G# B

Minor Triads within the diminished context:

G half-whole dim = G Bb D --- Bb Db F --- Db E Ab --- E G B

NOW MIX THEM:

G B D > Db E Ab > Bb D F > E G B > Db F Ab > G Bb D > E G# B > Bb Db F


Listen to: Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Coltrane.......then: Jeff Beck, Weather Report, Hendrix, Stevie Ray and Michael Landau........then: Holdsworth, and Scofield


...more to come....

....oh and GET HIS VIDEOs!!!!!!

Peace,

Scott