In this lesson, we'll look at a couple of different ways to use a Dmin7(9) chord and how you can employ the D blues scale to play some nice solos over the top of these progressions. The second page of this lesson shows this concept in a funk style, while a Latin style is shown in page 3. The truth of the matter is that you can use the blues scale to play over a lot of different chords and in a lot of different styles, but for this lesson, we'll just cover using it on the min7(9). The notes for a Dmin7(9) are as follows:
The E is the 9th of the chord and hence how it gets its name. The A is the 5th of the chord and is in parentheses because it's optional in the Dmin7(9). You can include it in your voicing, but it's not necessary. In fact, in our featured voicing, we don't use it.
In deciding what to play over the Dmin7(9), we have a couple of different options. D dorian or D aeolian spring to mind because they contain the 5 notes shown above. However, we can also use the D blues scale as well. The notes for a D blues scale are as follows:
- D Blues Scale:D F G Ab · A C
The characteristic note of this scale is the Ab (also called the flatted 5th or the "blue note") and this is partly what gives the blues scale its flavor. Listen to how it sounds over the Dmin7(9) chord below:
