Non-diatonic means not all the chords are in the same key. These jam tracks all contain one or more non-diatonic chords so that they are more harmonically colorful.

Dom 7

This groove is similar to Forget You (CeeLo Green). Easy to improvise with major pentatonic, but arpeggios bring this to life

Progression:

G7 | A7 | C7 | G7

Improvise using:

  • G major pentatonic
  • Arpeggios

Non-diatonic Rock Ballad

Progression:

C E7 | F G |
C E7 | F C |
C E7 | F Fm |
C E7 | F G

Improvise using:

  • C major
  • E7 – bring out the G#
    • E maj pentatonic
    • E mixolydian (A major)
  • Fm – bring out the Ab
    • Fm pentatonic
    • F dorian (Eb major / C natural minor)
    • F aeolian (Ab major)
  • Throw in C minor pentatonic every once in a while

Major Chord Jam

This is a rock track with lots of chords across two sections.

SECTION A (play 2x):

E  |  E  |  B  |  B  |
D  |  D  |  A  |  A  |

SECTION B (play 2x):
F  |  G  |  A  |  A  |
F  |  G  |  B  |  B  |

A Major with Dominants

This has two dominant 7th chords, both of which are secondary and functioning. What’s a secondary dominant? What’s a functioning dominant?

A | C#7 | F#m | A7
D | E | A | E

What to use?

  • Chord tones chord tones chord tones! (Connected by an A major scale, or let your ear guide you!)
  • Chorus 1 – target all chord roots
  • Chorus 2 – target all chord 3rds
  • Chorus 3 – target all chord 5ths
  • Chorus 4 – mix them up