Knowing which scale to play when improvising over a dom7b9 chord can be confusing. There are commonly three scales to choose form: Diminished, Altered and Harmonic Minor from the tonic (e.g. over D7b9 play G harmonic minor.). Some notes from the diminished and altered scale can clash against the dom7b9 chord, therefore, I recommend the harmonic minor scale as a starting point. Within the harmonic minor scale exists a diminished arpeggio (e.g. within G harmonic minor is an Eb diminished arpeggio). This arpeggio will sound great when played over a Ddom7b9 chord. Try all 3 scales out! I beleive the harmonic minor to be the "safest" option, not necessarily the best or most artistic.
Main Influences:
Led Zeppelin
Jimi Hendrix
Pat Martino
Wes Montgomery
Joe Pass
John Coltrane
Miles Davis
Aerosmith
The Black Crows
Top 5 favorite Albums:
"A Love Supreme"- John Coltrane
"Kind of Blue"- Miles Davis
"El Hombre"- Pat Martino
"Virtuoso 1"- Joe Pass
"America"- The Black Crows
Currently in my CD Player:
"Smokin' at the Half Note"- Wes Montgomery
Bosse School of Music • 998 Middle Street • Weymouth, Ma. 02188 President: Ron Bosse • Vice President: Trina Aitken e-mail: bosseschoolofmusic@verizon.net
