I have designed this document in order to share my point of view and to deal with the different basic harmonization and improvisation tools. The way we harmonize and improvise is individual, depending on the choice of chords, melodic phrases, etc. A question of taste!
At the beginning, the challenge is to learn the basic musical tools and, most important, to constantly keep them in mind in order to be able to use them at any time. The concept is simple but broad; its many ramifications and connections (keys, chord substitutions, etc.) easily become a kind of maze if we are not methodical. The goal is to create a path for ourselves which in the long term will become automatic mental and visual reflexes.
This method is intended for:
- To all those who need the necessary tools (knowledge and ability to read chord charts, improvization, etc.) to enter the work force as a musician other than that of the environment of the classical music.
- To all those who play music from scores and feel the need to analyze what they are playing.
- To all who wish to get out of their usual chord range to harmonize, compose, etc.
The practice tools described in this document are primarily based on jazz and brazilian music but the concepts apply to music in general, whatever the style.
