trying to solo with chord voicing is what Im really after. Im trying to get into running scales with voicings so I can figure this out and solo with it...anyone with knowledge or findings ??

Joe Pass and Wes Montgomery were both great at soloing with chords,usually 3&4 note voicings. Both have transciption books and I think there are some Joe Pass "methods".

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Originally posted by monkeyman:
trying to solo with chord voicing is what Im really after. Im trying to get into running scales with voicings so I can figure this out and solo with it...anyone with knowledge or findings ??

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Any luck on finding out where to go for this? If so, please let me know as I'm also interested in soloing with chord voicing. Thanks.

If you're like me and have only dabbled at the type of serious chord melody that cats like Ron Ecshete` and Joe Pass mastered, you might find this "lazy man's chord melody" approach useful in your improvs. It's based on "stacked fourth" intervals.

Try these two fretboard shapes:

S = string
F = fret

S F
- -
3 11
2 12
1 12

S F
- -
4 4
3 4
2 5

If you are playing the E blues scale, think of these two shapes as the "root" or "I". Try moving across the fingerboard, alternating between the shapes, as well as moving up and down the fretboard with one of the shapes. For starters, use it just like you would the blues scale, and don't forget the "flat 5th" passing note interval. Add some grease by using finger vibrato, quarter tone bends, and slides. Try using the low E bass note as a pivot and jab on the stacked fourth intervals on the off beats. You can transfer the intervals to the 6th,5th, and 4th strings, as well as the 5th, 4th, and 3rd strings, but the two shapes I noted will probably have more clarity and definition, as well as allowing for more "finger grease". Works best with a cleanish tone, and I use either a hybrid pick and fingers approach or brush with the thumb, a la Wes Montgomery. The sound is a bit ambiguous and unresolved, and adds some dark spice to single note improvs. I've been using this "cheater's chord melody" device for years, especially on stuff like static funk vamps.

stacked 4th are fun. try learning these.

s f f f f f f f
1|2 4 5 7 9 10 12
2|2 4 5 7 8 10 12
3|0 2 4 6 7 9 11
4|0 2 4 5 7 9 11
5|0 2 4 5 7 9 10
6|0 2 3 5 7 9 10

those are your 7 stacked 4th chords. The first is actually like a 2 chord. I sorta did this in the key e dorian. try learning the full shape, very dense sounding(6 note chords!) then try just using fragments, whatever you can think of. These chords are really ambiguous sounding, so they work good during a solo and can fuction as many chords, it's all in the context. That's why I say the first is kinda like a 2 chord, but it could be other chords.

peace.

Lenny Breau is greatest guitarist ever.

I like to 'travel on the neck' using diads and triads something that's related to what you guys are discussing.

I simply visualise the scale I want over the fingerboard and play diads and triads that fits within the scale I chose.

I used to make drawing of scales covering the whole fingerboard while I was in high school... some class were boring what can I say so maybe that's why I can visualise them it sure helped.

Confessed Pickaholic!