Simplify and Expand with Four-note cells

by Scott Hesse

Often times simplicity is best in music, as in life. So I thought for this week's tip, I'd go back to something fairly simple...then expand it. After all, I do like some complexity mixed in too!

This exercise is designed to help make your playing more colorful by utilizing the extensions of a chord (9, 11, and 13). In doing so, you will hear immediate results as you add this on top of what you already know how to play.  

What you see below, in Example #1, are seven different groups of notes that can be played over an F7 chord. They are arranged in four-note cells and ascend diatonically. The cells themselves are also put together positionally on the guitar. For example, Group 1 starts in first position and includes four notes you can play from the mixolydian scale on the B and high-E strings. The rest of the groups follow the same basic intervallic pattern as they ascend by position and through the scale. 

Example:

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Each group is played only on the B and E-strings. When you play all the groups in succession, the result is a colorful and modern way to approach this particular chord.

Remember, too, that these notes that work over an F7 chord will also work well over Am7(b5), Cm7, and EbMaj7(#11).

So, the main idea is to stay simple here. Use only the top two strings of the guitar. I find that these little cells are great to use as foundation melodies when improvising. As you progress up the neck, each cell includes at least one extended chord tone. You have the choice to use the entire exercise as a larger melodic sequence by moving from position to position, or you can isolate one or two of the cells. It's up to you to use as much or as little of the cells as you like.  

Happy practicing!!