Selected and adapted from Slonimsky’s ‘Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns’, this is a 20 page document which will no doubt stretch your head (and fingers!).
1/ Triads from 12 Tones This exercise focuses on the different triads that are possible from using all 12 tones, I have given an alternative version after each which voice leads a little better in places and gives an alternative to play around with. I have found these great as seeds to explore when writing and also as material to practice non functional soloing ideas. I recommend experimenting with adding an upper extension as well, there’s lots of potential in playing around with these.
2/ Pandiatonics 1 Pandiatonics is the act of using all the available tones from a scale or pitch collection without omission or repetition. I have adapted the original work into a dorian mode, dorian an octave higher and also into a super locrian/altered scale. It’s a good workout and inspiring for developing your own melodic ideas and fretboard knowledge. I enjoy using snippets over tunes like Blue Bossa as a way to keep my improvisations fresh. The concept that he uses; original, inversion, retrograde and retrograde inversion to make a logical line is a very elegant way to think about variations and how you could do the same when writing. As they form 7 note phrases I added a crotchet which as you can see I move from right to left throughout the 4 bars phrases to add another element.
3/ Pandiatonics 2 This is solely in C dorian and uses a lot of octave displacement - Joe Diorio fans will love this!
4/ 12 Tone Spirals Again, one for Jerry Bergonzi and Joe Diorio fans as these are tricky to play but really open up your mind to intervallic leaps.
