JLTP 060:Easy Jazz Improv in C with Trumpet Melody, Solo, and Duet
Podcast Episode 60: An Original Swing Tune in the Key of C
In Episode 60, I compose and perform an original medium-swing jazz tune with multiple chord changes—all in the key of C major.
This tune is designed to demonstrate an important concept in jazz improvisation: you can improvise over the entire song using the C major scale, even though the harmony moves through a variety of different chords and modes.
Throughout the episode, we’ll look at how the chord changes relate to the notes of the C major scale and how understanding the diatonic harmony of C major can make seemingly complicated chord progressions much easier to navigate.
What You Will Learn:
- How to swing: Learn how to approach a medium swing feel and apply it while playing the melody and improvising.
- Practice your reading: Use the original melody and written solo to improve your jazz reading skills.
- Recognize diatonic chord changes: Learn how multiple chord changes can all come from the C major scale and its seven modes.
- Improvise using one scale: Discover how the C major scale can be used to improvise over the entire tune while understanding how each chord relates to the scale.
- Navigate minor ii–V–I changes: Learn an easy tip for improvising over minor ii–V–I chord progressions at a comfortable medium-swing tempo.
Play-Along & Performance
At the end of the podcast, you’ll hear a play-along version of the original song so you can practice the melody and improvisation yourself.
You’ll also hear:
🎺 Me playing the melody
🎺 A trumpet solo version
🎺 A trumpet duet arrangement
There are also links to free PDFs of the melody, the trumpet solo, and both trumpet parts for the duet, so you can download the music and play along.
Download all of the trumpet parts by clicking this link
This episode is a practical way to see how one key, one major scale, and its diatonic modes can provide the foundation for an entire jazz composition and improvisation.
Grab your trumpet, download the free PDFs, and play along!
✅Subscribe to my newsletter by clicking the title and receive my free ebook “11 Scales For Jazz Improvisation”;More episodes from "The Jeff Lewis Trumpet Podcast"
Don't miss an episode of “The Jeff Lewis Trumpet Podcast” and subscribe to it in the GetPodcast app.
