In this lesson, I break down how to build melodic lines with a quartal, non-tertian sound. Instead of using the usual 7-note scales or pentatonics, I teach you a great but lesser-known approach using a hexatonic (6-note) scale as the foundation. I start by clearing up a common misconception: quartal harmony doesn’t mean every interval you play has to be a 4th, those lines are drawn from the underlying scale, not just the chord. That sets up the real question this lesson answers: how do we improvise lines that sound quartal instead of tertian?

 I also show you how to build two sets of triads in 4ths from the hexatonic scale which can be combined and overlapped to generate authentic quartal-sounding lines. These are the kind of lines you hear in the playing of John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Michael Brecker, Joe Diorio, and other post-bop greats. I also cover where these lines work best (modal tunes,  II-V-Is and superimposed over a variety of chords). Finally I show you how to push the sound further with “side slipping” for an outside, tension-and-release effect. Ready to take your playing to the next level?

PDF & AUDIO DOWNLOAD:

The “Using Quartal Harmony to Improvise “ download  includes the following files: –PDF booklet with 18 lines including major and minor II-V-Is ( all in standard notation and detailed TAB), Application theory for a variety of chords and Quartal Triad permutation studies. Also -MP3s of everything  and  -Band in a Box & Guitar Pro files to make your practice sessions more productive.

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Suggested:

Comping with Triad Pairs in 4ths -Part1

Joe Diorio Tribute Lesson

McCoy Tyner Tribute Lesson