BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
3698 / 18210 · Workshop 19 — “On Green Dolphin Street”: Modal Vamps, Pedal Points, Functional Harmony, and Switching Between Two Different Ways of Thinking← prev⊞ allnext →

19.1Two harmonic worlds

Think of the tune as containing two fundamentally different situations.

World A — static/modal

The bass may stay on one note or pedal.

Harmony changes color above it.

There may be no urgent need to resolve.

World B — functional

ii–V–I movement.

Secondary dominants.

Clear destinations.

Your improvisational strategy should change accordingly.