In this guitar lesson we will learn how to use 9th chord arpeggio patterns to create a guitar solo over the jazz standard Autumn Leaves in the key of G minor. For this tune it’s the last chord and not the first which is actually C minor.

The chord progression in G minor includes the following chords C minor 7, F7, Bb major 7, Eb major 7, A minor 7 flat (AKA half diminished), D7 and G minor 7. There’s also a shorter chord sequence at the end of the tune which includes the chords G minor 7, C7, F minor 7 and Bb7.

With the tune in the key of G minor you can play a solo over the entire tune using G natural minor scale (AKA G Aeolian mode). While this will sound fine it won’t outline the chord changes. Using arpeggios that outline the chord progression in a solo will allow listeners to hear the harmony of the tune even if there are no chords being played behind the solo.

The arpeggios used in the exercise and solo will be extended by adding the 9^th note to the 7^th chords. 9^th chords are used in jazz to add interest, colour and sophistication.

For example a C minor 9 chord contains the notes C (root), Eb (minor 3^rd), G (5^th), Bb (7^th) and D (9^th).

The other 9^th chord arpeggios used are:

F 9 containing the notes F (root), A (3^rd), C (5^th), Eb (7^th) and G (9^th).

Bb Major 9 containing the notes Bb (root), D (3^rd), F (5^th), A (7^th) and C (9^th).

Eb Major 9 containing the notes Eb (root), G (3^rd), Bb (5^th), D (7^th) and F (9^th).

A Minor 7 b5 b9 containing the notes A (root), C (minor 3^rd), Eb (5^th), G (7^th) and Bb (b9^th)

D 7 b9 containing the notes D (root), F# (3^rd), A (5^th), C (7^th) and Eb (b9^th).

G Minor 9 containing the notes G (root), Bb (minor 3^rd), D (5^th), F (7^th) and A (9^th)

For the Gm7, C7, Fm7 and Bb7 sequence these chords are only played for half a bar so there’s only time to play 7^th arpeggios. So the other 7^th chord arpeggios used are:

G Minor 7 containing the notes G (root), Bb (minor 3^rd), D (5^th) and F (7^th) C 7 containing the notes C (root), E (3^rd), G (5^th) and Bb (7^th)

F Minor 7 containing the notes F (root), Ab (minor 3^rd), C (5^th) and Eb (7^th) Bb 7 containing the notes Bb (root), D (3^rd), F (5^th) and Ab (7^th)

In the exercise these arpeggios will be played up and down all over the guitar neck in various positions. Practicing and learning these shapes are essential for improvising in jazz. I like to think of working on these arpeggios as similar to the wax on/wax off exercises given to Daniel by Mr Miyagi in Karate Kid.

Practice 8 bar sections slowly mastering them first before moving onto the next 8 bars. Once you’ve mastered the entire exercise move onto the solo exercise below.

To turn the arpeggios into something more musical vary the rhythms and the order of the notes so that they simply aren’t running up and down the patterns. Below is an example of the arpeggios modified this way to create a solo that outlines the chord changes or harmony of the song.

The next step is to try this exercise with other jazz tunes/standards such as:

– All Of Me
– Blue Bossa
– Billies Bounce
– Song For My Father
– Summertime

The more these jazz standards you play the more you will see the chord patterns and how similar they can be. Try and see how creative you can be using arpeggios in your solos to outline the harmony of these tunes.