A Practical Guide to Improvisation:From the Diatonic to the Chromatic by Harold Kemp

For the intermediate player

OK., you've been grafting away on your horn for a couple of years, you know the basics and you're wondering how the guy on the record gets his way out licks. It could be because you're locked into diatonic (simple scale) mode.This book will get you out of the rut, open your eyes to new possibilities, give you a renewed interest in improvisation and propel you into the stratosphere (well, hi Buzz!)

diatonic mode ?

yeah, that same old G7 time and time again- the same sound, the same fingering, yawn... Did you know that there are at least five alternative scales that can substitute the tired G7 ? These alternative scales will bring new colour and fresh nuances to your playing. 

This book is for any musician, no matter what style he's into,  who wants  to improve his improvisational technique The chapters listed below may look to you just  like another theory book, but in fact it's packed with practical suggestions, many not seen in any other book of this kind, on how to improve your improvisational skills. It's aimed at the intermediate player wishing to get out of 'straight ' playing  and explore the several alternative scales and chord substitutions waiting to be discovered. The book takes a simple tune and looks at each chord, examines how that chord functions and then suggests several more colourful alternative scales, chords and progressions. Along the way there's a really thorough analysis and appraisal of Diminished scales and patterns (know your HW's from your WH's and when to use them), a step by step evaluation of alternative minor, dominant and major scales and lots more including  the use of pentatonics (not just a shortened version of a scale!), tritones and mode extraction. Sounds complicated, but all is explained with easy to remember graphic formulas (even my granny can remember them) and over 350 practical examples in a relaxed style. The book avoids explanations that base scales on where they are naturally found e.g. 'this scale comes from the fifth mode of the harmonic minor.' !!! ? [ this is, however, explained in Part Two of the book] but instead tries to show that the scales that you create, by sharpening or flattening various notes to your taste, are the scales that you'll want to hear and play. Anyway, the great thing is that, except for the diminished scales, there are very few new scales to learn, enabling you to add a new dimension to your technique virtually overnight.(Sounds like a miracle, but true!.) There's an interesting new take on the Blues scale which allows the improviser to use a more structured approach. Finally, the book gives an insight into what most (advanced) intermediate players are doing during a performance and is a good jumping off point for further explorations. If you want to move on, this is the book for you. This book is wire bound, 130 pages, A4. Will post overseas. Anyone who buys the book will receive immediate email replies to any help they require if they get stuck/something needs clarification.  In the meantime, feel free to ask me about the contents of the book and whether it contains any specific info that you're after. Have a  successful new year.HK Jan 2008

	Dear jazzmansbook,
	Hi Harold, It's a great book. My progress with it is slow but sure. Regards , Mike.
	- musicleelee

• CHAPTER HEADINGS:
• WHAT TO PLAY OVER A MAJOR SCALE        DIATONIC SUBSTITUTIONS                          MAJOR EXERCISES                                   LEAVING THE TRACK                              CHAINED 2-5's
• ALTERNATIVE MINOR SCALE                         CHANGING THE CHORD QUALITY                MINOR EXERCISES                                    WHOLE-TONE SCALES                            PRACTICE NOTES
• DIMS AND DOMS                                              GOOD OLD DORIAN                                      DOMINANT SEVEN EXERCISES                THE LYDIAN AND OTHER MODES           THE W-H DIM AS A MINOR                        
• EXTENDING THE MINOR                                 TURNAROUNDS                                             DOMINANT SEVEN ALT. EXERCISES        MINOR SCALES EXPLAINED                               
• ALTERING THE DOM                                       HALF- DIMINISHED EXERCISES                    PICK-UPS                                                    EXTENDED BLUES SCALE                     
• MINOR/DOM INTERCHANGE                            DIMINISHED SCALES EXPLAINED                RUN ENDINGS                                            MODAL INTERCHANGE
• BLUES-THE SECOND LINE                               DIMINISHED SCALES AND PATTERNS        FORMULAS                                                 CHORD EXTENSIONS 
• DROPPING DOWN ON THE DIM                       MORE SLIP-SLIDING                                     COMPARISON OF MINOR SCALES            HARMONIC AND MELODIC MINOR SCALES        

	Dear jazzmansbook, Hi, Apologies for the delay in responding, been on holiday. Getting on fine with 'The Guide'. In fact, I would go as far to say that this is an excellent resource; Informative and well laid out. Congratulations on producing a first class volume. Regards, Gerry Siviter (aggsbags) - aggsbags   Dear Jazzmansbook Hi Harold. Received you're book fine. This is a far more expansive study than I anticipated. That is good. Regards, Jeff