A friend of mine, another late bloomer musician, was talking about chord changes for a solo in an upcoming gig and he pointed to his homework site. It’s Pete Thomas’ Saxophone instruction site.

When it comes to Cm13 or C13 #11, how the heck do you remember those on the fly. And why 13 but not a 6th? I am so not there yet. I’m still using the beginner’s crutch of hitting the wrong note and getting off it as fast as I can. It’s called a moving note that introduces tension and then resolves to a fundamental tone.  ;o)

(JB, pay attention here) Pete sez: It is almost impossible to provide a complete set of rules regarding what sounds good or bad. The following are conventionally considered to be wrong notes (sometimes called avoid notes), unless used as passing notes.

• A 4th over any major chord (unless it is an 11th or sus 4 see ex. 4e)
• A major 3rd on a minor chord
• A minor 3rd (#9th) or minor 7th on a major 7th chord
• A root note as a sustained note over a major 7th chord
• A b9th on a major 7 or minor chord
• A b6th on a major 7 or minor chord
• A major 7th on a minor 7th or (dominant) 7th chord

Pete Thomas just released his Mr Lucky CD which you can hear on YouTube at the Voodoo Chill preview. What a haunting song and although there is a tenor in the picture, that ain’t a tenor sax. Can you tell what it is?