Playing Over Am7b5 & Cm7b5

[Dale Rottacker]

Quite some time ago Rick Schmidt encouraged me to use iReal as a practice tool and not just something to play Old Real Book Standards to.

Thats what I was trying to do here. I tried playing over just two chords, Am7b5 & Cm7b5. I don’t know what notes, modes, intervals or chords I played, though I think there were some Diminished a couple Maj7th and maybe a 13th. My only concern was finding patterns, and chords I could play against those two chords, while trying to be somewhat musical. I’m still digesting what if anything I learned from this or what value there was in this little exercise, but maybe someone here can clue me in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpmHx1gZ3S4

[Andrew Frost]

I like your approach Dale
...many ways one could look at the half dim animal but playing what feels and sounds right is ultimately where its at no matter how you get there.

[Sam Conomo]

I really like what you are doing,don't change a thing.just for information only. The half dim chord mostly work with a Dom7(b9) for eg.
A minor 2 5 1 ,meaning the 2 chord Am7b5 to the 5 chord D7b9 to the 1 chord G minor. You could use a G harmonic minor scale or melodic patterns from that scale ,over the 2 and the 5 then resolve to your favourite 1 chord minor stuff.
G harmonic minor scale.
G,A,Bb,C,D,Eb,F#,G.

The notes in a A half dim chord are.
A,C,Eb,G,

The notes in a D7b9 chord are.
D,F#,A,C.

The notes of G minor.
G,Bb,D.

Please keep in mind ,what you are doing is perfect.

[Dale Rottacker]

I like your approach Dale
...many ways one could look at the half dim animal but playing what feels and sounds right is ultimately where its at no matter how you get there.

Thank you Andrew, I needed that ... I seem to have trouble remembering that one, and tend to make things more difficult than I need to ... If I was sitting on an Am7b5, and saw Aø I'd be looking for that everywhere BUT under where I was already sitting.

I really like what you are doing,don't change a thing.just for information only. The half dim chord mostly work with a Dom7(b9) for eg.
A minor 2 5 1 ,meaning the 2 chord Am7b5 to the 5 chord D7b9 to the 1 chord G minor. You could use a G harmonic minor scale or melodic patterns from that scale ,over the 2 and the 5 then resolve to your favourite 1 chord minor stuff.
G harmonic minor scale.
G,A,Bb,C,D,Eb,F#,G.

The notes in a A half dim chord are.
A,C,Eb,G,

The notes in a D7b9 chord are.
D,F#,A,C.

The notes of G minor.
G,Bb,D.

Please keep in mind ,what you are doing is perfect.

Sam, thank you for that information ... When I get back to the Steel I'm going to try to map this out. I even thought that this ONE TIME, I might try to tab out what I did to see it that would help me better understand. (Not a tab fan )

[Marc Muller]

Don't overthink. Underthink and just play like you're playing over F7 for the A-7b5 and Ab7 for the C-7b5.

[Dale Rottacker]

Don't overthink. Underthink and just play like you're playing over F7 for the A-7b5 and Ab7 for the C-7b5.

Thank you for that Marc ... I'm the consummate over-thinker, and it's often what brings me to a screeching halt. IF I can make it difficult I will.