Two Birds With One Stone: Applying the Same Vocabulary Over Both Major and Minor II-Vs

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*There’s a typo in the PDF in the caption under the Bb diminished scale. It says “ Bb diminished scale (same as C#/Db, Eb,Gb/F#) but it should be “same as C#/Db, E, G”.

This piece of vocabulary works over both major and minor ii-V’s. The key is to understand how it’s built and how it relates to the underlying chords. Spend the majority of your time practicing it slowly, focusing on feel and technique. Don’t worry about the lick coming out in your playing, the practicing of it is the most valuable aspect.

Takeaways:

• Keep the metronome at 60, but practice at different rhythmic levels – ie: 32nd, 16th, 8th, and quarter notes.
• Articulation can hide how inefficient our time can be, your fingers need to be the time-keeper.
• Double down on your slow practice. This is the key to sounding relaxed and even when playing fast.
• This is exactly how assimilating vocabulary works – Identify the piece of vocabulary, drill it over and over again, and then let it go. Don’t worry about it coming out in your playing.

Related Lessons:

• Thinking Ahead: How to Practice Executing New Vocabulary
• Understanding the Architecture of New Vocabulary
• Using Diminished Major 7 over a II-V-I