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In this lesson I cover the diminished chord and the three main approaches I rely on when playing single-note lines.

The Three Applications:

Using the diminished chord as a dominant sound when ascending by a half step.
Treating the bIIIo7 melodically when descending (my most frequent usage).
Substituting the IoMaj7 sound onstage, emphasizing the major triad a half step below the root of the original major 7th chord.

I demonstrate these techniques using the tunes "It Could Happen to You," "Witchcraft," and "Out of Nowhere" so you can see exactly how they sound and feel in real musical situations.
The lesson keeps the focus on practical line playing with clear explanations and examples you can apply right away.
The included PDF has over 20 examples with tab and notation so you can work through the ideas at your own pace and incorporate them into standards you already know.
Available now in the BGVL library. Let me know how it works for you once you’ve gone through it.