Broken arpeggios are one great way to integrate some larger intervalic material into your improvisation while still outlining the chords that you are playing over. This simple ii-7b5, V7#5, i-6/9 melody utilizes broken arpeggios and underlying step-wise voice leading.
By playing a melodic phrase instead of simply practicing the broken arpeggios individually, you get a better idea of how to use them melodically through harmony and, it’s usually a bit more interesting for the ears and mind.
Below is a PDF, an mp3 and video of the melodic pattern. It’s played through all 12 keys starting with concert Db-7b5 and continuing around the circle of 4ths.
Try singing the melody while playing the shell voicings at the piano (the root, 3rd and 7th of each chord), this will help you hear how the melody works against the basic harmony (I’ve included a short mp3 of the midi file so you can hear it that way as well).
To add some rhythmic interest, the melody is grouped in 3/4 against 4/4. so that it creates an harmonic anticipation of each chord.
~ Enjoy!
.
.
.
.
To support mattotto.org please visit the store: https://mattotto.e-junkie.com/
