Upper Structures for 8-note scales

by Laurence Mollerup

Pages: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4

Now for more fun!
If we invert some or the triads, we can go up the scale playing a different triad built off each note. There are two ways to do this. In this first example, we start with the root major triad, then play a triad built on the #11 (a tritone away at C#) in second inversion. Then we play a triad built on the #9 (Bb) in root position, followed by its tritone in second inversion.

Then we play the C# major in root position followed by G major in second inversion. Then we play E major in root position followed by Bb major in second inversion.

In other words, the major triads are now built on G, C#, Bb, E, C#, G, E, Bb.

The sequence could continue into a second octave now, and practicing this is great idea, because the concept works really well for soloing.