In this lesson , we are going to learn Minor scales and Arpeggios.
Gypsy jazz songs in minor keys is easier to make solo gypsy-jazzy and it’s a lot of fun to improvise.
Before going to the lesson, I will show you common scales and names which I already told you in the previous lesson ‘Major scales and arpeggios’.
scale names
Ionian scale・・・1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (so called ‘Major scale’)
Dorian scale・・・1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7（so called ‘ Minor scale’）
Aeolian scale・・・1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7（So called ‘ Minor scale’）
Mixolydian scale・・・1 2 3 4 5 6 b7（so called ‘Dominant scale’）
Phrigian scale・・・1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Lydian scale・・・1 2 3 #4 5 6 7
Locrian scale・・・1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7
If you haven’t taken the lesson ‘ Major scales and arpeggio ‘ and ‘7th chord scales and arpeggios‘, have a look at them as well!!
What is a scale?
In music theory , a scale is set of musical notes ordered by fundamental frequency or pitch.
For example , C major scale has no # or b.
C , D , E , F , G , A , B
This is called Ionian scale which we learnt in the previous lesson.
What about minor scale?
C D Eb F G A Bb（Dorian）
C D Eb F G Ab Bb（Aeolian）
C D Eb F G Ab B (Harmonic minor)
C D Eb F G A B（Melodic minor）
C D Eb F# G Ab B (Hungarian scale)
Minor Scale
To be honest, there are lot more scales out there but if you know these 5 scales , you can do lots of things.
Dorian scale
Dorian is often used in gypsy jazz because we use m6 chords often and this 6 is not b6 , so this gives you very nice melody.
Aeolian scale
I guess you hear this scale often.
Harmonic minor scale
This scale has maj7 means 7th chord is not flat and this fits in gypsy styles of music.
Melodic minor scale
Hungarian minor scale
People often think this is gypsy jazz scale and it’s not true but it fits very good. Anyway you often hear this scale in gypsy music general.
Scale fingerings
To know all the scale degrees and all the notes in every keys is important , but first of all , you should memorize the fingerings .
Practice these fingerings from 0 fret to about 15th fret.
<Red circle is the root note>
Arpeggio
Try to play the arpeggios from top to bottom, bottom to top on the fretboard in every keys
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Need to know more minor chords? Have a look at the lesson Must-Know gypsy jazz chords
After learning scales and arpeggios, try this one as well ”Daily Arpeggio practice” to be able to play solos like gypsy jazz!!