Lesson 8: Guide Tones - Scale Degrees 3 and 7
Focus on Melody

Index - Introduction - Lessons

Guide Tones

Scale degrees 3 and 7 are very important chord tones that help us to establish and outline the harmonies of a piece of music.  In many standard harmonic progressions, there is a melodic line that runs smoothly between each chord by using scale degrees 3 and 7 which are called guide tones.

A guide tone line creates either common tones or connecting tones between each harmony.  A common tone is one pitch that is a chord tone in two different chords.  For example, the chords C minor 7 and F7 have both the pitches C and E flat in common, making them common tones:

Connecting tones link one chord to another through an interval of a half step or whole step.  In the examples below, there is a connection of a step between almost every measure where scale degree 3 moves to scale degree 7, or scale degree 7 moves to scale degree 3.

There are two guide tone lines in our blues.  One line begins on scale degree 3 of the B flat 7 chord, and the other begins on scale degree 7 of the B flat 7 chord.  Memorize them!

Guide tone line beginning on scale degree 3:

Guide tone line beginning on scale degree 7:

 

Lesson 8 Assignment

Part 1: Compose

Part 1.1 Compose a blues solo using only the pitches of the guide tone line that begins on scale degree 3 of the B flat 7 chord.  Begin with a two-measure riff on scale degree 3 of the B flat 7 chord, and scale degree 7 of the E flat 7 chord.  In the next two measures, compose a rhythmic variation on your first idea, using scale degree 3 of of the B flat 7 chord.  Compose two-measure variations throughout the rest of the blues using the exact pitches of the first guide tone line. (For free blank staff paper, visit www.Music-Paper.com)

Example of a B flat blues guide tone solo beginning on scale degree 3:

 

Part 1.2  Compose a blues solo following the same instructions as above, but begin on scale degree 7 of the B flat 7 chord, and follow the second guide tone line.

Example of a B flat blues guide tone solo beginning on scale degree 7:

 

Part 2: Memorize

Memorize the two guide tone lines and the solos that you have written.  Practice them many times so that you can play them effortlessly and accurately.

Part 3: Improvise

Improvise in the same style as your written solos, and use the two guide tone lines for your choice of pitches.  Create rhythmic variations with each two-measure phrase.

Suggestions: Create simple ideas, especially at the beginning of your solos.  Make them easy to play and memorable.  Avoid making the solos too complex.  Remember that a complicated solo is not necessarily a good solo.

Lesson 9: Contrasting Ideas