Milky Way

These four chords look more difficult that they are. The progression has a nice feel to it, and the notes within a C natural minor scale is all that is needed (C to C in three flats).

The C minor pentatonic also works well throughout the four chords. Just be aware of how the Eb sounds against the G7.

You do, however, need to be listening to the context for those scale tones since only four of them fit within all four chords as shown in the “common tones.” As with all common tones lists, they are in the order in which they most easily fit. So, for example, be careful with F since it does not lay comfortably within the C minor chord without a melodic context that resolves it into the next chord. 

The concert notation is below. Click here for Bb instruments and here for Eb instruments. Once open on a desktop computer, click the pop-up and a second time to expand the image.

Milky Way

Rhythm Track

Listen to Michael Lake improvise briefly over the track…

Milky Way

ML Solo

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *