The diminished scale is often a tricky one to learn, because it has a few different functions and can resolve into several different keys. It offers a wide variety of sounds that can be used in jazz, modern jazz, blues, and funk. In this course, we break down step by step how to utilize this beautiful scale and unravel its mysteries, helping you move from simply knowing the diminished scale to applying it with control, vocabulary, and musical direction.
What you will learn
You will learn the two main harmonic applications of the diminished scale, scale breakdowns, diatonic harmony, scale positions, the difference between half-whole and whole-half diminished, scale patterns, thirds, and how to apply diminished vocabulary through breakdowns and demonstrations of phrases by Sonny Stitt, George Coleman, John Coltrane, Chick Corea, Frank Gambale, and Michael Brecker. The course also covers the modern diminished sound, diminished major 7th ideas, 13♭9 chord voicings, horizontal chord pairs, diminished half-step-below concepts, intervallic cell harmonization, modern voicing applications, resolving the same phrase into four keys, tonic diminished, and ii–V–I / VI7alt movement so you can connect the sound directly to real musical situations.
Full lesson preview: Lesson 15, George Coleman Lick Demonstration
Lessons
1. Introduction (2m 25s)
2. The 2 Harmonic Applications (2m 16s)
3. Scale Breakdown & Perspectives (4m 02s)
4. Diatonic Harmony (4m 19s)
5. Scale Positions (8m 21s)
6. Half Whole vs Whole Half (2m 02s)
7. Scale Patterns (1m 37s)
8. Scale Patterns Demonstration (0m 52s)
9. Thirds (1m 23s)
10. Thirds Demonstration (0m 27s)
11. Sonny Stitt Lick Breakdown (2m 45s)
12. Sonny Stitt Lick #1 Demonstration (0m 24s)
13. Sonny Stitt Lick #2 Demonstration (0m 30s)
14. George Coleman Diminished Lick (1m 15s)
15. George Coleman Lick Demonstration (0m 55s)
16. Coltrane Diminished Lick Breakdown (1m 34s)
17. Coltrane Lick Demonstration (0m 45s)
18. The Modern Diminished Sound (2m 16s)
19. Exploring Modern Diminished Phrases (6m 04s)
20. Chic Corea b9 Lick (0m 34s)
21. Descending & Ascending 4ths Gambale Style (0m 22s)
22. Brecker 6th Descending Triads (0m 45s)
23. Brecker Descending Maj Triads (Four Note Cell) (1m 09s)
24. Diminished Maj 7th Explained (3m 13s)
25. Diminished Maj 7th Performance (0m 38s)
26. 13b9 Chord Voicings (0m 52s)
27. Horizontal Chord Pairs (1m 06s)
28. Diminished Half Step Below (1m 54s)
29. Intervalic Cell Harmonisation (3m 47s)
30. Modern Voicing Applications (2m 14s)
31. Same Phrase Resolving into 4 Keys (2m 48s)
32. Tonic Diminished Explained (2m 06s)
33. ii – V13b9 – IoΔ to I – VI7alt Voicings (0m 42s)
34. ii – V7 – I Tonic Diminished Demonstration (1m 55s)
35. Closing Remarks (3m 21s)
1h 11min
£59.97, for lifetime access