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MAJOR 7th Chords

Module 47


LESSON 1: Idiomatic Front F Lick

During a Skype lesson, one of my students was having trouble using his front F key on the saxophone. He couldn’t get comfortable with it. I created this lick to show him how I often access the key.

I refer to this as an “idiomatic” lick because it lays so well on the horn. This is not the only way to use the key, but it’s a good introduction to get comfortable with the unique hand position required for front F.

Includes PDF practice notes.


LESSON 2: Major Seventh Chord Inversions

In this video lesson, I play the major seventh chords in all inversions with what I call the “top margin” of my “C” on tenor, with all notes descending: C B G E (Cmaj7), C Ab G Eb (Abmaj7), C A F E (Fmaj7), and C Ab F Db (Dbmaj7).

Playing the inversions in this manner really highlights the interval structures of the chords and improves the accuracy of the ear. This is a great practice approach for ear training and improved control of your major seventh chords.

Advanced level. Includes PDF practice notes for Bb, Eb and C instruments.


LESSON 3: Getz Double Note Articulation Effect

In this video lesson, I demonstrate a specialized type of articulation that I call the “Getz Double Note Articulation Effect.”

This is a device that I first heard on an album called “Stan Getz Plays.” It gives the illusion of double-tonguing, but it’s single tonguing with very strategically placed slurs.

Learning to use this effect has really improved my control and speed for articulation. This is a great tool to have in your “special effects” bag of tricks to add something unique to your solos.

Includes PDF practice notes for Bb, Eb and C instruments.


LESSON 4: The Blues Scale – Part 1 of 2

In this video lesson, I explore the blues scale. This part one video teaches scale construction and application of the blues scale over a dominant and a minor chord.

I share my thoughts on using the scale over the full range of the horn and demonstrate some popular techniques used by the masters with this scale, including sequencing and repetition.

Includes PDF practice notes for Bb, Eb and C instruments.


LESSON 5: The Blues Scale – Part 2 of 2

This video lesson continues where part one ended, exploring options for adding extra chromatic notes to the scale.

Includes many examples in which I play some of my favorite phrases using the scale with the extra notes.

I also share my thoughts on the overuse of this scale by beginning players and explain why I look at this scale as a sort of musical spice, used to enhance the flavor of a chord progression.

Includes PDF practice notes for Bb, Eb and C instruments.


approx 44 min

Module 46


LESSON 1: Introduction to Major Seventh Chord Inversions

In this video lesson, I share my technique for hearing all inversions of a major seventh chord.

I explain why this unique approach helps the ear to hear the differences between the intervallic structures of root position, first inversion, second inversion and third inversions of the major seventh chord.

Includes PDF practice notes for Bb, Eb and C instruments.


LESSON 2: Major Seventh Chord Inversions Echo Game

In this video lesson, I play the major seventh chords in all inversions with what I call the “bottom margin” of my “C” on tenor: C-E-G-B (Cmaj7), C Eb G Ab (Abmaj7), C E F A (Fmaj7), and C Db F Ab (Dbmaj7), followed by the remaining eleven notes in the cycle acting as the “bottom margin notes.”

Playing the inversions in this manner really highlights the interval structure and improves the accuracy of the ear.

This is a great practice approach for ear training and improved control of your major seventh chords. Advanced level.


LESSON 3: Hip Lick #73

In this video lesson, I explore Hip Lick #73 and demonstrate how I adapt the lick to change it from a Bossa Nova style lick into a Swing style lick, with extra notes and less syncopation.

Hip Lick #73 is based on a popular chord progression known as “Parallel Major to Minor.” This means that the chord changes from Cmaj7 to Cmi7. Many of the old standard songs, including Green Dolphin Street, I’ll Remember April, How High The Moon, I’m Glad there Is You, etc., use this chord progression.

The video concludes with and ECHO GAME of the lick in all twelve keys, played in the cycle. Includes PDF practice notes for Bb, Eb and C instruments. Intermediate Level.


LESSON 4: Echo Game with Random Chord Types

I’ve had many member requests for a video in which I play the “big five” chords in the cycle, but randomize the chord types instead of just playing them in a preset order.

In this video lesson, the first half is designed for intermediate players and I reveal each chord type after I leave space for you to echo the chord arpeggio that I have played. The second part of the video is slightly more challenging.

I randomize the chords again through the cycle, but this time I don’t reveal the type played. The final part of this echo game is for more advanced players, with the randomized chords descending from the seventh.

This is an excellent way to improve your ear and your ability to focus on the unique sound of the “big five” chord types: maj7, dominant 7, minor 7, half-diminished and diminished chords. Intermediate & Advanced level.


approx 30 min

Module 02


LESSON 1: Interval Study – Major 7th intervals
Intervals are one of the most overlooked practice items. However, I consider them just as important as practicing scales and chords. In this video, I demonstrate my approach to practicing major 7th intervals by playing them in the cycle, both ascending and descending.
This approach is great for the ear, and it will help you to recognize the interval when you hear it in melodies. Once you get this approach under your fingers and in your ears, we’ll take the next step with intervals and apply them to many different harmonic situations. (more videos on this subject are coming in the future).
After working with this video, review many of the melodies you like to play, and look for the presence of this interval used both ascending and descending. When you do this, your ear will start to pick up on the interval, and you’ll be hearing at a deeper level.

LESSON 2: Hearing the Location of the Root, 3rd, 5th, and 7th in Chords
This lesson demonstrates my system for hearing the location of a specific note in a chord. If you can already play your chords from the 1-3-5-7 ascending and 7-5-3-1 descending, this video will take you to the next level. This system has helped many of students reach a deeper level of hearing harmony, to the point where they can play a “C” and hear that note clearly in their mind’s ear as the Root, 3rd, 5th or 7th of any chord type.

LESSON 3: Transforming a Maj7 Chord into a Diminished (maj7) Chord
This is a common trick among pro players, temporarily transforming a maj7 chord into a dimMaj7 chord for added harmonic flavor.

LESSON 4: Six Melodic Variations on a Descending Minor 7th Chord
In this lesson, I discuss and demonstrate Six Melodic Variations on a Descending Minor 7th Chord, and the theory behind them.

LESSON 5: Sunrise/Sunset Neck Exercise
This lesson features a technique I call “Sunrise/Sunset” for improving your breath support and dynamics. I use the neck alone to produce a concert E, demonstrating some of the techniques I use to improve tone, dynamics, and breath control.

LESSON 6: The Butterfly Tongue
This lesson features a technique I call the “Butterfly Tongue.” The is a technique for slightly muting the note and changing the timbre while the tongue rests on the reed. Getz, Prez, and many of the old-school masters use this technique to achieve both ghosted 8th notes, as well as quickly repeated notes, similar in sound to double-tonguing, but much smoother. This is a challenging one, but well worth the effort!
LESSON 7: Road Tips – Location of Notes within Maj7 Chords – Part 2 of 3
In this lesson, I show you how to think of one note in four different locations within a major 7th chord. For example, C = Root of Cmaj7, but C = the 3rd of Abmaj7, C = the 5th of Fmaj7, and C = the 7th of Db maj7. The importance of enharmonic notes is also discussed in the video.

approx 40 min

Module 04


LESSON 1: Hearing Intervals from the Roots of the “Big 5” Chords
Demonstration of a system for training the ear to hear the intervals from the root to the 3rd, 5th, and 7th of what I call the “Big 5” chords; Maj7, dom7, mi7, mi7b5, and dim7 chords. Also includes instruction on hearing from the 7th of the chords down to the root. BEGINNING & INTERMEDIATE LEVEL.

LESSON 2: Major 7th Chords in Four Directions
This lesson demonstrates ways of practicing Major 7th chords in the cycle, in four directions. Essential for ALL LEVELS.

LESSON 3: Mainstream Articulation
Greg demonstrates his system for learning mainstream jazz articulation. INTERMEDIATE LEVEL with some tips at the end of the video for ADVANCED LEVEL, as well.

LESSON 4: Adding Lower Neighboring Tones to the Descending Major Scale
This lesson demonstrates a system for adding Lower Neighboring Tones to the Major Scales. INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED LEVELS.

LESSON 5: Road Tips – The C = ?
Greg shows how to keep your mind focused and sharp even when you’re away from the horn. This music theory game involves thinking of the note “C” as different degrees of major scales.

approx 30 min

Module 09


LESSON 1: Cry Me A River Lick (Rosetta Stone of Licks) Sax Version
In this video lesson, I teach eight applications of the famous CMAR lick (Based on the first few notes of “Cry Me A River”). I call this the “Rosetta Stone” of licks, because it can fit in 96 different places. I apply the lick to: mi7, altered dominant, mi7b5, maj7#11, straight dominant, mi13, maj7 and sus7b9 chords. Be sure to also watch the companion video in which I demonstrate this same material at the piano. In that video, I have additional commentary about the changing “mood” of the lick as it is applied to the various settings. INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED LEVEL.

LESSON 2: Cry Me A River Lick (Rosetta Stone of Licks) – Piano Version
In this video, I demonstrate eight different harmonic settings for the “Cry Me A River” (CMAR) lick. I call this the “Rosetta Stone” of licks, because it works over so many different types of chords. This video is different than the saxophone version–In this video. Toward the end of the lesson, I mention my interpretation of the “moods” implied by each of the different harmonic settings. Also, this version lets you hear the lick against a chord voicing,, with all of the notes sounding together, while the sax version features a chord arpeggio, followed by the lick. Both videos are fun and packed with essential materials. INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED LEVEL.

LESSON 3: Dominant 7th Chords – Piano Accompaniment
In this video lesson, I play the piano to accompany your practicing the dominant 7th chords in all four directions: 1. UP 2. DOWN 3. UP/DOWN ALTERNATING and 4. DOWN/UP ALTERNATING. Play your saxophone along with this piano accompaniment and match the pitch and time of the piano. This is excellent training for the chords, and it will drastically improve your tone, pitch and time. Everything is played at a comfortable eighty-eight beats per quarter note, so it will not present a technical challenge. I have included full notation of the entire exercise for Concert, Eb Alto and Bb Tenor. To ensure your success as an improvising musician, it is absolutely essential that you learn these chords by memory and practice them daily. INTERMEDIATE LEVEL.

LESSSON 4: Major 7th Chords – Piano Accompaniment
In this video lesson, I play the piano to accompany your practicing the major 7th chords in all four directions: 1. UP 2. DOWN 3. UP/DOWN ALTERNATING and 4. DOWN/UP ALTERNATING. Play your saxophone along with this piano accompaniment and match the pitch and time of the piano. This is excellent training for the chords, and it will drastically improve your tone, pitch and time. Everything is played at a comfortable eighty-eight beats per quarter note, so it will not present a technical challenge. I have included full notation of the entire exercise for Concert, Eb Alto and Bb Tenor. To ensure your success as an improvising musician, it is absolutely essential that you learn these chords by memory and practice them daily. INTERMEDIATE LEVEL.

LESSON 5: Minor 7th Chords – Piano Accompaniment
In this video lesson, I play the piano to accompany your practicing the minor 7th chords in all four directions: 1. UP 2. DOWN 3. UP/DOWN ALTERNATING and 4. DOWN/UP ALTERNATING. Play your saxophone along with this piano accompaniment and match the pitch and time of the piano. This is excellent training for the chords, and it will drastically improve your tone, pitch and time. Everything is played at a comfortable eighty-eight beats per quarter note, so it will not present a technical challenge. I have included full notation of the entire exercise for Concert, Eb Alto and Bb Tenor. To ensure your success as an improvising musician, it is absolutely essential that you learn these chords by memory and practice them daily. INTERMEDIATE LEVEL.
LESSON 6: Road Tips – The Ab = ?
Greg shows how to keep your mind focused and sharp even when you’re away from the horn. This music theory game involves thinking of the note “Ab” as different degrees of major scales.

aprox 35 min