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The melodic minor scale is one of those scales that can be used to explain what we call "chord scale theory" in jazz improvisation.  It's essentially like the mixture of a minor scale and a major scale, having the major third included in it, and you can do all sorts of different cool things, playing the melodic minor scale in different sorts of ways over top of different kinds of chords.Well, in today's episode, I want to simplify all of that. Forget about all of the possibilities that you could use the melodic minor scale and jazz improvisation and narrow it down to three. That, I think, will be really helpful for you for using the melodic minor scale.In this episode:The melodic minor scale is a versatile scale in jazz improvisation.Simplify the approach by focusing on three specific applications of the melodic minor scale.Scales are tools for conceptualizing note choices, not the primary resource for improvisation.The first application is using the melodic minor scale a minor third up from a half-diminished chord.The second application is using the melodic minor scale a half step up from a dominant seventh chord, creating an altered sound.The third application is using the melodic minor scale of the minor chord itself.The melodic minor scale can provide altered sounds and substitutions for minor chords.Understanding the melodic minor scale and its applications help develop patterns and muscle memory for improvisation.Jazz musicians focus on hearing the scale's sound rather than analyzing each note.The melodic minor scale provides pitch collections that sound good over specific chords in jazz standards.Important Links:Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLJS Inner Circle MembershipListen to the Learn Jazz Standards PodcastLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Hey, I've got a question for you. What's your relationship with music like? Is it good? Is it bad? Is it perhaps a little bit of both? Well, on today's episode, I'm gonna get a little bit vulnerable with you, share a little bit my personal life experience with music, my journey with music, and how oftentimes in this journey of playing music and exploring it and getting better, it was quite an abusive and unhealthy relationship. And this past of mine with a bad relationship with music has greatly informed how I approach teaching jazz and the way I help my inner circle members and beyond so that they don't have the same relationship with music for themselves. In this episode:1.  My personal experience with music and how it has shaped his approach to teaching jazz.2. Developing a strong attachment to your identity as a musician and the self-worth tied to your musical abilities.3. The comparison game and the constant feeling of dissatisfaction with your own playing.4.  The extreme practicing and the focus on becoming the best musician, leads to a skewed mindset.5. The importance of dissatisfaction as a driving force for improvement that emphasizes the negative consequences of constantly feeling unsatisfied.6.  The impact of stress and anxiety on playing, particularly when comparing yourself to others. 7.  Avoiding the same mindset and mistakes others made by promoting a healthier and more enjoyable approach to playing music.Important Links:Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLJS Inner Circle MembershipListen to the Learn Jazz Standards PodcastLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

"You miss 100% of the shots that you don't take".  Have you ever heard that old Wayne Gretzky quote? That's the greatest hockey player that ever lived. Or was it Michael Scott from The Office? I get that one a little bit confused sometimes. Anyways, we're gonna talk about that quote, "You miss 100% of the shots that you don't take". In today's episode, we're going to be talking about some musical mindset and how we can propel our music and our jazz playing forward. In this episode:1. The quote "You miss 100% of the shots that you don't take" is attributed to Wayne Gretzky, the famous hockey player.2. The importance of taking action and not being afraid to try new things.3. The analogy between hockey and music, emphasizing the need to take musical "shots" or try new ideas.4. The significance of persistence and continuous practice in improving musical skills.5. The idea of experimenting with different strategies and approaches to music to find what works best.6. The concept of learning from mistakes and using trial and error to enhance musical abilities.7. The role of improvisation in jazz music and the importance of taking risks and reaching for new ideas.8. The connection between exploration and creativity in music.9. The impact of AHA moments and how they can lead to breakthroughs in musical expression.Important Links:Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLJS Inner Circle MembershipListen to the Learn Jazz Standards PodcastLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!