Here are some thoughts on the minor chord/scale use.
1. Minor Chord Functioning as tonic minor, i, or as vi, in major key
Use Aeolian (Mode 6 of Major Scale)/Natural Minor
Reason: b6 wants to resolve to 5 giving a very stable tonic minor sound.
e.g D Aeolian = D–E-F-G-A-Bb-C
1-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7
Chord tones derived from scale = 1-b3-5-b7-9-11-b13
2. Minor Chord functioning as supertonic, ii, in a major key.
Use Dorian (Mode 2 of Major Scale)
e,g. D Dorian = D-E-F-G-A-B-C
1-2-b3-4-5-6-b7 (9-11-13)
Chord tones derived from scale = 1-b3-5-b7-9-11-13
3. Minor b5 Chord functioning as a ii, in a minor key
Use Locrian (Mode 7 or major scale)
e.g. D Locrian = D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C
1-b2-b3-4-b5-b6-b7
Chord tones derived from scale = 1-b3-b5-b7-b9-11-b13
Note contains b9
eg Dm7b5
Eb = b9 (dissonant)
4. Minor b5 Chord functioning as sustained chord
Use Locrian #2 (Mode 6 of Melodic Minor)
e.g. D Locrian #2 = D-E-F-G-Ab-Bb-C
1-2-b3-4-b5-b6-b7
Chord tones derived from scale = 1-b3-b5-b7-9-11-b13
Alisdair MacRae Birch
Jazz Guitarist
alisdair@...
