: Break away from the predictable "step-wise" motion of scales to produce more modern, jagged contours.
Musicians use this method to expand their improvisational vocabulary and "get the sound under their fingers". It is highly recommended for those looking to elevate their performance from basic scalar playing to a more sophisticated, "intervallic" style. Walt Weiskopf Presents an Arpeggios and Scales Exercise
) builds a shimmering C Lydian texture without playing a predictable major scale up and down.
Understanding this methodology provides a structured path to a modern, angular jazz vocabulary. What is Intervallic Improvisation?
Try to solo for 12 bars without using more than two consecutive scale steps. Intervallic Improvisation Walt Weiskopf Pdf 42
: Exercises delve into all 12 diminished and inverted diminished scales, helping players understand different tonal colors. Performance & Study Details Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
: Reduces dense chords (like G^7\alt) into simple, manageable shapes shifted across the fretboard or keys. Core Pillars of the Weiskopf Methodology
Extremely thorough and highly recommended by educators and professional performers.
What is your current with jazz harmony (beginner, intermediate, or advanced)? : Break away from the predictable "step-wise" motion
Modern jazz improvisation can often feel like an overwhelming maze of scales, modes, and chord changes. For saxophonists and instrumentalists looking to break free from standard stepwise motion, Walt Weiskopf’s instructional framework offers a definitive roadmap. His acclaimed book, Intervallic Improvisation: The Modern Sound: A Step-by-Step Method for All Instruments , revolutionized how musicians approach linear construction.
Knowing this will allow me to provide targeted etudes or specific modal formulas for your practice. Share public link
While traditional bebop relies heavily on scalar patterns and chord tones (1, 3, 5, 7), intervallic playing introduces larger leaps and non-consecutive notes. This creates:
Walt Weiskopf, a renowned jazz saxophonist and educator, designed his book to help improvisers move beyond "playing the changes" and create more melodic, unpredictable, and intervallic lines. Key Concepts in the Book Walt Weiskopf Presents an Arpeggios and Scales Exercise
The book teaches you how to invert and permute these intervals. Instead of always playing an interval ascending, Weiskopf breaks down patterns into specific directions:
Intervallic improvisation shifts the focus from step-by-step scale degrees to larger leaps, or intervals. By skipping notes and emphasizing specific intervals like fourths, fifths, and sevenths, you create a more modern, angular, and unpredictable sound.
Weiskopf’s approach to intervallic playing is highly structured. It bridges the gap between complex music theory and practical execution on your instrument.
