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1-2-5s everywhere! I'm seein' 'em in my sleep! This time it's 1-2-5 and it's dear cousins, Pentatonic and Perfect 4th (P4th), that gets our attention. The notes of a Maj. pentatonic scale are formed by two 1-2-5 patterns a whole tone apart (C-D-G + D-E-A = C-D-E-G-A). The close...

The 1-2-5 Pattern intrigue continues with this single unit exercise (one 3-note unit per chord, including inversions) over the Cycle of Descending Major Thirds (aka "Coltrane Changes").

Let's take a look at a very hip sounding scale, Melakarta #31, known as Yagapriya. As you can see, Yagapriya has an unusual interval makeup: 1 1/2 steps - half step - half step - whole step - half step - half step - 1 1/2 steps

One of the legendary alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano's greatest and lasting legacies has been exposing an entire generation of Western musicians (including yours truly), primarily in Europe, to the highly intricate beauties of South Indian (Carnatic) Classical Music culture.

Leaving the dusty little town of Giant Steppes has been no easy task. While sitting in the bar down-the-road-a-piece from the 'Trane Station, known as "The Cycle of Descending Major Thirds", I ran into this demonic looking, but sophisticated gentleman of dubious nobility who introduced...

This week, on our way back from 1-2-5 St., we'll take a little detour to the tiny town of Giant Steppes, where, thirsting for knowledge, we'll descend the stairs to a local establishment known as "The Cycle of Major Thirds" to get a taste of some "fluid" voice leading.

All aboard! Here's Part 2 of our little trip to 1-2-5 Street, this time stopping at the corner of Maj.7#11 Ave, to witness different combinations of two 1-2-5 groupings.

This week, we hop on the subway of your mind and get off at 1-2-5 St., where we'll hang out with a couple of three note groups, co-mingling to form a min7 (11) chord. We don't even need a token, except possibly, a token of your appreciation.

Here's something I just posted, including a free downloadable exercise / pattern, dealing with the Augmented Scale being used as a sub for the modes of Melodic Minor, which some of you may find interesting. Thanks. Bobby

The Pentatonic b6 is derived from the 5-6-7-9-(b)10 scale steps of the Melodic Minor Scale (i.e. C Pentatonic b6 = C-D-E-G-Ab, is derived from F Melodic Minor). It can be used, in theory, in any situation which utilizes Melodic Minor Scale harmony. More plus download. Thanks. Bobby

Here's a groovy little line, and free download, based on groups of diatonic 4ths from the Melodic Minor scale.

You're probably talking about Andrew White. He supposedly did over 700 hundred of them. Seems like they are hard to find, though.

Here's a downloadable transcription of John Coltrane's soprano saxophone solo on the original version of his composition "Big Nick", released as part of the album "Coltrane", on the Impulse! label. This is not the Coltrane - Ellington version, and unfortunately I was unable to find a YouTube...