TrueFire - Jazz Comping Survival Guide (2011)

SWF(FLV1), data-dvd, ~870 kbps| 640x360, 25 fps | MP3, 44 kHz, 128 kbps | English | ~ 3 hours | 1.5 Gb

Let's get two things straight right off the bat; don't use modes to play bebop (see the Bebop Improv Survival Guide if that's your calling); and secondly, you won't find any Greek references in Fareed's teachings. "When's the last time you saw or heard a toga-wearing ancient Greek jazz musician?"

Throughout the Modal Improv Survival Guide, Fareed demonstrates how to use the notes in each mode to build chords and melodies to create moods. "Early jazz and bebop players used a chromatic, arpeggio-based approach to build melodies, while the more modern players used modes to limit their note choices and set a mood for their improvisations."

Good news; you will grasp the concept of modal playing very quickly, especially under Fareed's tutelage. There's no complicated chord changes to solo over; often times you're improvising over simple one and two-chord vamps. Plus, if you already know the major scale, you already know all the modes. The challenge with modes is making your improvisations dynamic and interesting. Fareed's got you covered there as well.

In the first section, Fareed introduces you to the modes of the major scale and then shows you how to easily build chords and scales from those modes. You then get a little ear training experience as Fareed performs several examples to help you tune into the modal sound.

Next up, Fareed generously passes on his widely respected Fretboard Mastery System, an intuitive approach for developing your ability to move from key to key, mode to mode, effortlessly and seamlessly (this is BIG!).

In the next series of lessons, Fareed takes you through a truckload of one and two-octave modal workouts and playalongs, across a variety of keys. This is where and how you'll start developing your modal improvisation chops, developing your own fingerings, sound and fretboard awareness along the way. The perpetual motion workouts in this section further hone your skills.

In the last section, you bring it all together and improvise over a full modal arrangement, working out the modes and lines for each section of the arrangement, and then playing along with Fareed trading measures. This last series of lessons completes your modal training and qualifies you to take on any modal setting.