Eddie Harris Intervallistic Concept Pdf Better -
Instead of playing a C major triad as C-E-G, Harris might organize the structure intervallically, forcing wide leaps like C to high E, dropping to G, and then leaping to a sharp eleven (#11). He applies this logic to major, minor, diminished, and augmented structures. 3. The Altissimo Integration
: Utilizing symmetrical intervals to break free from the constraints of standard major/minor tonality.
An "intervallistic concept" in the context of jazz saxophone typically refers to the improvisational and technical approach popularized by legendary multi-instrumentalist Eddie Harris, characterized by wide interval leaps (like fourths, fifths, and sevenths) played at high speeds.
To integrate the Eddie Harris sound into your playing, you must practice moving cleanly between wide intervals. Here is a foundational exercise structure modeled after his concept: Step 1: The Fourth Stack (Quartal Harmony)
For players looking for a more portable technical routine, Harris also published a streamlined, highly specialized companion book titled . eddie harris intervallistic concept pdf
Systematic patterns that move through all 12 keys, forcing the player to internalize wide leaps (4ths, 5ths, 7ths) as fluently as scales.
Eddie Harris (1934–1996) was a legendary jazz saxophonist known for his electric saxophone, slap-tonguing, and deep harmonic innovation. Beyond his popular hits like Freedom Jazz Dance , he developed a unique theoretical system called the
The Ultimate Guide to Eddie Harris’s Intervallistic Concept
: Harris designed the series to teach instrumentalists how to play and improvise using wide, non-standard interval jumps, which became his signature sound. Related Material: "Skips" Instead of playing a C major triad as
The Intervallistic Concept is a comprehensive instructional series by legendary jazz saxophonist and innovator Eddie Harris
If you are waiting to get your hands on a copy of the text, you can begin implementing Eddie Harris's philosophy into your practice routine immediately with these steps. Step 1: Break the Stepwise Habit
Harris's masterwork, The Intervallistic Concept , formalizes this angular style. Rather than treating intervals as passing tones within a scale, Harris highlights intervals as the primary building blocks of composition and soloing. His exercises force the player’s fingers and mind to execute large physical skips across the instrument, drastically altering the geometric contours of a jazz solo. Key Modules in Eddie Harris's Method Books
Eddie Harris challenged this linear status quo. He is perhaps most famously known as the composer of "Freedom Jazz Dance"—a landmark composition later immortalized by Miles Davis on Miles Smiles —which relies heavily on consecutive Perfect 4th (P4th) intervals. Here is a foundational exercise structure modeled after
The book is "packed with hundreds of studies" that challenge conventional playing styles. Key areas include:
altered sound. Because these shapes are practiced as broken intervallistic arpeggios rather than scales, the resulting lines sound highly modern and unpredictable. 3. Rhythmic Syncopation and Modulations
Eddie Harris was one of the most innovative and versatile figures in jazz history. Known for his soulful playing, his hit record Freedom Jazz Dance , and his pioneering use of the amplified saxophone, Harris also left behind a profound academic legacy. At the core of his pedagogical contribution is , a unique approach to improvisation that breaks away from traditional scalar and chord-appreggio thinking.