This exploration started out as a way to learn chord inversions using a common chord progression. My initial goal was to have a chart of chords diagrams based on common playing situation rather than just a simple list of voicings. I placed the inversions in groups that harmonize notes in positoins gradually moving up the scale. The result is a set of voicings grouped in relative positions.
Once I saw the chart I saw it as an opportunity to improvise. I made two initial observations. You could stay on one line at a time giving a melody a small range or, you could jump from one line to another moving your melody through the scale and across the fingerboard. This is what I expanded on.
My improvisation moved up and down the neck by advancing one line at a time and using that pattern of voicing to generate melody. The resulting improvisations are shown three ways:
- Melody with chords
- Melody harmonized with chords from the chart
- Embellished with chord extensions, alterations and substitutions.
