Improvising on “Inch Worm”

I want to look at a little bit of improvising on our major sevenths. In this case the two major sevenths Fmajor7 and Eflat major7

using our three routes to improvisation namely: scalic, chordal and motivic. The first scale that goes with Fmajor7 is F major - the Ionian scale. The scale which goes with Eflat major7 is Eflat major. We’ll just typically run up and down bits of that scale. Then we’ll do some chordal improvising using the major seventh chord - that’s for F major. Similarly, running up and down the notes that make up the major seventh chords. Then finally we’ll do a little bit of motivic improvisation using the opening phrase of the tune. First of all with the voicings in the lower part of the piano.

Now some chordal.

Now some tune.

Now let’s try our upper voicings.

A bit of scalic.

Now some chordal.

Now some motivic.