Sunday, February 3, 2013

Introduction

Welcome to my new blog. This will be replacing my Tumblr as a repository for my articles. 

Tumblr has become much more of a place to store photos, links, etc., versus actual writing. I like the Blogger layout better anyways.

I'll still link there, and have it host my videos and photos. 


Anyways, on to the name. I'm sure you're wondering what "octatonic" means.

The octatonic, or diminished scale, is a completely artificial jazz construct. While most scales have 7-tones, the octatonic has 8 (hence "octa"). 

There are only three octatonic scales, and they're played over either Vdim7 chords or V7b9. In the case of the Vdim7 chord, the scale starts on the root and the next note will be a whole tone away. For example:

Cdim7: C D Eb F Gb Ab A B.

In the case of a V7b9 chord, the scale starts on the root and the next note will be a semitone away. For example:

C7b9: C Db Eb E Gb G A Bb.

Already, we have two of the three octatonic scales. Start one on G (to play over G7b9), and we've got our third:

G Ab Bb Cb Db D E F.

Anyway's, they're fun and can replace almost any mixolydian, lydian dominant, whole-tone, or altered dominant scale.

Enjoy my new blog.

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