“I practiced your intro lesson on triad pairs; loved it! I find that I enjoy the theoretical aspects of learning music as much as the actual music itself. That said, your explanation of triad pairs as melodic and improvisational tools is the most concise, clear and straightforward I have seen. Also the examples of triadic pairs and inversions, linear structure of the pairs, etc., etc. is fantastic! I look forward to practicing and learning more. I have always thought that one of the obstacles of learning music is finding a “teacher” that speaks the language in such a way that you can truly understand the concepts deeply. Reading the intros to your courses made so much sense to me! And not that I didn’t understand those concepts before, but your explanations I “heard” deeply. So excited to continue my passion. Thank you!”

-Ira James, keyboards, trumpet, Oakland, California

“I just bought your latest book, Encyclopedia of Triad Pairs, and have looked it over and played through some of the exercises. One of the things I love about all your books is how you take a simple concept and show how it can be developed in so many ways. This one hits the mark! Can’t wait to explore it further! Thanks!

–Bryan Peterson, saxophone, Chicago, Illinois

Triads have been a part of the jazz language from the very beginning. They possess a clear and direct tonal quality that lends itself immediately to making melodies. And triad pairs (i.e., the combination of two triads that share no common tones) are a staple of the modern jazz language. Working regularly with triad pairs will help you develop fluency and flexibility as an improviser. There are virtually endless possiblities to be found by combing and altering triad pair shapes.

In Encyclopedia of Triad Pairs: A Playable Reference, I offer a comprehensive entry point into forming triad pairs and applying them over dominant to tonic chord movement. By combining major, minor, augmented and diminished triads that are organized and presented systematically from smallest intervallic difference (a half step) between them onward, I’ve come up with 20 basic possibilities.

With each of these possibilities I offer five different brief exercises: The first presents the triad pair in all its basic inversions. The second organizes the triad pair into a six-tone mode. The third demonstrates how the triad pair is applied over a dominant chord (and how it resolves to tonic). The fourth offers a way to use the triad pair with chromatic passing tones, and the fifth demonstrates a a possibility of using the triad pair on a completely different dominant chord. All five exercises are presented in all 12 Keys.

The book is composed with the intermediate to advanced improviser in mind. Whether you are new to using triad pairs, or have been working with them for some time, you’ll have a practical, methodical reference at your finger tips. With this book, you will:

• Broaden your understanding of how triad pairs are used in improvisation to form melodic content

• Gain greater skills organizing triad pairs into modes that can be applied to a variety of improvisational genres

• Learn to hear and imagine more melodic and harmonic possiblities moving from dominant to tonic chords

• Discover lots of new ways to form melodic material over standard jazz songs and compositions.

• Improve your technical skills and improvisational fluency

• Expand your understanding and application of jazz harmony

• Give yourself more tools with which to explore and develop your own personal language as an improviser

For all treble clef instruments. Downloadable in pdf format, 130 pages. Price $15.00.

Click the link below for a pdf SAMPLE EXERCISE from the book.

If you’d like to gain more of an idea about the concept, format, benefits and practice guidelines found in the book, click the link below for a pdf copy of the INTRODUCTION CHAPTER:

If you have any questions about the material in this book, or are having problems downloading the pdf, please contact me. I’ll get back to you promptly. Thanks! And please know that when you place your order (through PayPal), you should immediately receive the link for the actual download from WordPress (not PayPal). So check your spam folder, etc., if you don’t seem to be able to find it. And again, if you have any problems at all, let me know!