Diatonic Patterns With Neighbor Tones

This article originally appeared in Saxophone Journal, January/February 2003.  Volume 27, No. 3

 

            It goes without saying that part of the process of learning to improvise is mastery of scales in all keys.  After scales come diatonic intervals, triads, and arpeggios.  When improvising on chord changes, it is necessary to have a handle on scales, intervals, and simple patterns so that one can “play the right notes.”  The next step in using these materials is to embellish the basic patterns.  An easy way to dress up a simple pattern is to add neighbor tones.  In this column, I will show some different ways of using neighbor tones to add interest to diatonic patterns.  This method of practicing will not only build vocabulary for improvisation, but will also help develop technical dexterity.

 

DIATONIC THIRDS AND DIATONIC TRIADS

 

For the purposes of illustration, we will look at two basic patterns: diatonic thirds and diatonic triads.  Keep in mind that the basic principles can be applied to any diatonic pattern, such as fourths, seventh chords, or any melodic pattern.  Example one shows the basic patterns, in the key of C.  Before one attempts to embellish these patterns, it is important to be comfortable playing the unaltered originals.  It is also best to have the patterns memorized, especially if the intent is to build an improvisational vocabulary.

 

The first kind of neighbor tone is the diatonic neighbor.  These neighbors are within the given tonality, or key signature.  Example 2 shows the basic patterns with the addition of lower diatonic neighbors before each cell of the pattern.  On the way down, the pattern inverts and the neighbors are upper diatonic tones.

 

CHROMATIC NEIGHBORS

 

Another form of the ornamentation is to use chromatic neighbors.  Instead of staying within the given tonality or key signature, always place lower neighbors a half-step below and upper neighbors a half-step above. Example 3 show a portion of thirds and triads with chromatic neighbors.

 

Playing through these examples should give the general idea of how neighbor tones work.  Take these patterns through all twelve major keys, without look at music.  Once the sound gets in your ear, these should come relatively easily.  For clarity’s sake, the patterns in example 1-3 work well on the following chords: C major (ionian), D minor seventh (dorian), E phrygian, F major seven sharp eleven (lydian), G dominant seven (mixolydian), A natural minor (aeolian), and B Locrian.   The whole process could (and should) be repeated for the modes of melodic minor, and any other diatonic scale system that might prove useful for improvisation, such as harmonic minor, harmonic major (ionian flat six), etc.

 

YIELDING THE RIGHT NOTES

 

Practicing these patterns will build dexterity, and playing them will yield “right notes,” but the overall sound will be relatively bland and predictable.  The next step towards building a dynamic vocabulary, or “hipping things up,” is working with more interesting patterns.  Remember, neighbor tones will work on any pattern of repeating note cells.  Example 4 shows the pattern “up a second, up a fourth” with upper chromatic neighbors.

 

USING BOTH NEIGHBORS

 

Until now, we have been using one neighbor at a time.  It is possible to use both neighbors, upper and lower, to encircle the target note.  Example 5 demonstrates the same basic cell as Example 4, but embellished with double chromatic neighbors.

 

There are many other ways that neighbor tones can be applied to diatonic patterns.  One way is to place the neighbor tone inside the cell, instead of at the beginning.  Example 6 illustrates this concept by subscribing the lower chromatic neighbor to the third in diatonic triads.

 

MAKING UP PATTERNS

 

By practicing simple patterns for speed and comfort, it becomes possible to make up patterns on the spot, while improvising over chord changes.  It also develops mental and physical dexterity to play longer, more challenging patterns.  Example 7 shows a pattern which is larger and more complex than the preceding examples.  The pattern consists of fully extended thirteenth arpeggios with alternating upper and lower chromatic neighbors before every note.

 

USING MANY NEIGHBORS

 

When playing a complicated pattern with many neighbors, it helps to mentally focus on the basic notes of the pattern.  Visualize the neighbors in a different way, so that you don’t get tangled up in the chromaticism.  I try to see the target notes as rungs on a ladder, and the neighbor tones are the spaces between the rungs.  Another way might be to see the target notes as red and the neighbors as yellow, or whatever color scheme works for you.  I practice improvising patterns with the metronome, forcing myself to stay in perfect time.  IF I am unable to play the pattern precisely with the metronome, I keep turning the tempo down until I can play evenly and without pausing to think.  From there, if the pattern is musically attractive to me, I’ll keep speeding it up.

 

LESS THINKING MORE MOTOR SKILLS

 

In the early stages of practice, it is necessary to think about each note.  As the motor skills take over, there is less thinking involved.  The ultimate goal is to be able to turn a pattern on and let it fly with no mental effort.  The mind is then free to be creative with the pattern.  You might think about different rhythms to play, varying articulations, changing the time feel, or working with tone colors.  Music can be made using patterns, but never forget that patterns alone are not music!  Peace.  §

#diatonicpatterns #neighbortones