The primary and most authoritative resource for this style is Scott Henderson's educational DVD, Originally released as two separate videos, "Jazz Fusion Improvisation" and "Melodic Phrasing," this DVD compiles them into a comprehensive two-hour-plus masterclass.
He blends fast legato lines with articulate alternate picking, allowing for smooth, horn-like lines that can jump into explosive articulated bursts.
When soloing over a progression, ensure your lines land on the 3rd or 7th of the resolving chord. This grounds your "outside" lines and proves to the listener that your dissonance is intentional.
Intrigued, Alex typed "Scott Henderson Jazz Fusion Improvisation Pdf" into his search engine, and to his delight, he found a link to a PDF download. He quickly downloaded the guide and began to study it. Scott Henderson Jazz Fusion Improvisation Pdf
To help you get the most out of your practice session, tell me:
: One of the most famous techniques covered is Pentatonic Substitution , where Henderson uses a single minor pentatonic shape over different chords to imply complex jazz tonalities (e.g., using C minor pentatonic over Db Major 7 to create a Lydian sound).
Guide tones (3rds and 7ths) define the character of any chord. The primary and most authoritative resource for this
: A hallmark of Henderson's style. He demonstrates how to use familiar minor pentatonic boxes over "outside" chords to imply different modes, such as using a B minor pentatonic over a C Major 7 chord to achieve a Lydian sound. Scale and Mode Application : Detailed breakdowns of when to apply the Melodic Minor Diminished Whole-Tone scales to create tension and resolution. Triad Pairs and Arpeggios
Saxophonists cannot easily play wide, skipped-string intervals. They move step-wise through scales. Henderson mimics this by focusing on scalar connection, legato playing, and slides. Rhythmic Displacement
removes the harshness of the perfect 4th, giving your lines a sophisticated, modern jazz bite. 2. The Altered Scale ( 7th7 raised to the t h power mode of Melodic Minor) This grounds your "outside" lines and proves to
What specific in this style gives you the most trouble?
Before you download any PDF, you need to understand the philosophy. Most jazz fusion players fail because they jump straight to "altered scales." Henderson starts with three specific pillars.
: The charts are often organized by "tension," starting with "inside" (consonant) sounds and progressing to more "outside" (dissonant) options.
Record a static drone or a simple II-V-I progression. Force yourself to solo using only the Altered scale over the V chord, resolving cleanly to the I chord. 📥 Implementing the PDF PDF Concepts
While the first section focuses on what notes to play, the second, "Melodic Phrasing," focuses on how to play them. As Henderson himself states, phrasing is the "hard to teach" subject that separates competent players from masterful improvisers. Scott breaks down the basics of many rhythmic and melodic motifs used to build solos, along with his many conceptual approaches to phrasing.