Major is Harmonic

Major Is Harmonic (and Other Essays) is a must-read, for all instrumentalists, that explores the highly underrated Harmonic Major Scale and its applications for jazz improvisation.

In this book the great jazz educator Randy Vincent examines where the scale and its harmonies show up, such as in the so-called Bebop scales and in cellular improvisation. In addition, it gives you a way to discover 'hidden chords' outside of the basic diatonic chords in a scale.

Examples from well-known jazz recordings are written out to show Harmonic Major's usefulness in real life playing. For example, jazz musicians from Charlie Parker to the present have used the Harmonic Major scale for such cases as the Eb7#9 in "Donna Lee" and Abdim7b13 in "Corcovado."

The book contains extensive exercises to develop fluency on this "forgotten scale," as well as fresh ways to practice bebop scales, quartal triads and tetrads, ten-note bebop scales, ways to use target notes during cellular improvising, and much more.

If you are serious about expanding your soloing vocabulary, this book will become an essential part of your practice regimen. Don't miss it!

Spiral-bound, 88 pages, Table of Contents.

Sample Pages:

• Page 16
• Improvising Using Cells
• Harmonic Major Scale Revisited
• Thirds and Triads

Praise for Randy Vincent:

“What a great book! This is so practical and so rare! Thanks, Randy!”
— Jim Hall

"Randy Vincent is an amazing musician who has given us another great book!”
— Mike Stern

Randy Vincent is a seasoned jazz guitarist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he balances performing and teaching. He has collaborated with a wide array of musicians, from Joe Henderson to Dizzy Gillespie, and performed at major jazz festivals like Monterey and San Francisco Jazz Festivals. Vincent has been teaching jazz guitar at Sonoma State University since 1981 and also instructs at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Notable among his students are Julian Lage, who has toured with the Gary Burton Quartet, and Dave McNab, who has appeared on national television shows. Randy has also conducted clinics across the U.S. and taught internationally. Check out his full collection of books, and learn more at https://randyvincent.com