Author’s Note
Acknowledgements
Introduction
A Note on Terminology and Chord Symbols
Glossary

PART I. Theory: Chords and Scales
CHAPTER ONE. Basic Theory
Intervals
Intervals Inverting
Triads
CHAPTER TWO. The Major Scale and the II-V-I Progression
Modes of the Major Scale
The II-V-I Progression
Voice Leading
The Cycle of Fifths
Other Common Chord Progressions
The Locrian Mode and the Half-Diminished Chord
Modal Jazz
CHAPTER THREE. Chord/Scale Theory
Why Scales?
Major Scale Harmony
Melodic Minor Scale Harmony
Diminished Scale Harmony
Whole-Tone Scale Harmony
CHAPTER FOUR. How To Practice Scales
CHAPTER FIVE. Slash Chords
What are Slash Chords?
PART II. Improvisation: Playin’ the Changes
CHAPTER SIX. From Scales to Music
From Scales to Music
Sequences
The Continuous Scale Exercise
Masters of the Sequence
Triadic Improvisation
7th Chord Sequences
Common Tones
Stretchin’ the Changes
CHAPTER SEVEN. The Bebop Scales
The Bebop Dominant Scale
The Bebop Dorian Scale
The Bebop Major Scale
The Bebop Melodic Minor Scale
Bebop Scale Licks
Piano and Arranging Stuff
CHAPTER EIGHT. Playing “Outside”
Sequences
Playing a Half Step Away
Playing a Tritone Away
Playing Scales to Get Outside
Some Piano Stuff
The Chromatic Scale
Be Brave, Go Ahead and Play Outside
CHAPTER NINE. Pentatonic Scales
The Pentatonic Scale
The Modes and the Minor Pentatonic Scale
The I, IV, and V Pentatonic Scales on II-V-I Chords
Playing Pentatonic Scales on “Giant Steps”
Pentatonic Scales and “Avoid” Notes
The II Pentatonic Scale over Major 7th Chords
The IV Pentatonic Scale over Melodic Minor Chords
The In-sen and Other Five-Note Scales
The Minor Pentatonic and the Blues Scale
Practicing Pentatonic Scales
CHAPTER TEN. The Blues
Blues Changes
Special Kinds of Blues
The Blues Scale
The Minor Pentatonic Scale
Pentatonic, Minor Pentatonic, and Blues Scale Equivalents
CHAPTER ELEVEN. “Rhythm” Changes
CHAPTER TWELVE. Practice, Practice, Practice
Make Music When Practicing
Practice Everything in Every Key
Practice to Your Weaknesses
Speed Comes from Accuracy
The Tactile and Visual Aspect
Licks and Patterns
Transcribing
Play-Along Recordings
Play Along with Real Records
Keep a Notebook
Relax
Tap that Foot
Cultivate Your Environment
Form
PART III. Reharmonization
CHAPTER THIRTEEN. Basic Reharmonization
Reharmonizing V as II-V
Tritone Substitution
Reharmonizing Minor Chords
Reharmonizing V Chords
Reharmonizing I Chords
Reharmonization During Solos
Reharmonizing “I Hear A Rhapsody”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN. Advanced Reharmonization
Contrary Motion
Parallelism
Slash Chords
Ascending and Descending Bass Lines
Build a Chord On Any Root
Sus and Sus 9 Chords
Deceptive Cadences
Chromatic Approach
Anticipating a Chord with Its V Chord
Using the Diminished Chord
Change the Melody
Change the Chord
Common Tones
Pedal Point
Combining Techniques
CHAPTER FIFTEEN. Coltrane Changes
“Giant Steps” Changes
A History Lesson
“Countdown” and “Tune Up”
Coltrane Changes Played on Standards
Tonal Centers Moving by Minor 3rds
McCoy Tyner’s Locrian V Chord
CHAPTER SIXTEEN. Three Reharmonizations
John Coltrane’s Reharmonization of “Spring Is Here”
Kenny Barron’s Reharmonization of “Spring Is Here”
John Coltrane’s Reharmonization of “Body And Soul”
PART IV. The Tunes
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. Song Form and Composition
Determining a Song’s Form
Intros, Interludes, Special Endings, Shout Choruses, and Verses
Tunes with Improvised Sections
Nothing is Sacred
Tunes with the Melody Played by the Bass
Jazz Composition and Song Form
Billy Strayhorn’s “My Little Brown Book”
Sam Rivers’ “Beatrice”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. Reading a Lead Sheet
The Key Signature
The Melody
The Changes
Rhythm and Phrasing
Chord Symbols: Right, Wrong, or Optional
CHAPTER NINETEEN. Memorizing a Tune
The Form
The Melody
The Changes
CHAPTER TWENTY. Heads
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE. The Repertoire

PART V. The Rest of It
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO. Salsa and Latin Jazz
What Is “Latin Music”?
The Clave
The Invisible Bar Line
A History Lesson
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE. Loose Ends
The Four Myths
The Harmonic Minor Scale
The Harmonic Major Scale
Four-Note Scales
The Limitations of Traditional Theory
Wrong Notes
Criticism
Book Review
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR. Listen

Index