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In jazz theory, an avoid note is a scale degree which is considered especially dissonant relative to the harmony implied by the root chord, and is thus better avoided.. In major-key tonality the avoid note is the fourth diatonic scale step, or 11th, which is a minor ninth above the 3rd of the chord, and thus very harsh. [1]
An avoid note is a note in a jazz scale that is considered, in jazz theory and practice, too dissonant to be emphasised against the underlying chord, and so is either avoided, used as a passing tone or chromatically altered. [3]
In contrast, in the chord-scale system, a different scale is used for each chord in the progression (for example mixolydian scales on A, E, and D for chords A 7, E 7, and D 7, respectively). [5] Improvisation approaches may be mixed, such as using "the blues approach" for a section of a progression and using the chord-scale system for the rest. [6]
"The number of the notes that make up a scale as well as the quality of the intervals between successive notes of the scale help to give the music of a culture area its peculiar sound quality." [6] "The pitch distances or intervals among the notes of a scale tell us more about the sound of the music than does the mere number of tones." [7]
Example 1: Below, a common voicing used by jazz pianists is given for the chord C 7 ♯ 9 (C major chord with a minor 7th, and extended with an augmented 9th). In the lower stave the notes E ♮ and B ♭ are given. These form a tritone which defines the dominant sound, and are the major 3rd and minor 7th of the C 7 ♯ 9 chord.
As it contains the notes and alterations (I, ♭ 9, m3/ ♯ 9, M3, ♭ 5/ ♯ 11, ♭ 13, m7), it is particularly important in the jazz harmonic idiom, notably as a V chord in a minor key. For our example key of C-minor, the V chord is G7, so the improviser would draw upon the G7 altered scale (mode VII of the A ♭ melodic minor). A complete ...
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The bebop major scale is derived from the Ionian mode (major scale) and has a chromatic passing note added (a ♯ 5) between the 5th and 6th degrees of the major scale. Adding the ♯ 5 note to the seven-note major scale allows the chord tones 1, 3, 5 and 6 (a major 6th chord) to land on on-beats when the scale is played sequentially.