Upper Structures vs. Pentatonics – mDecks Music
A practical comparison of Miles Davis’s upper-structure triads and John Coltrane’s pentatonic substructures with listening examples and hands-on exercises to apply both approaches.
Explore how Miles uses major triad upper structures over Dorian harmony while Coltrane employs shifting minor pentatonic substructures to craft lines. The lesson breaks down Bill Evans–style pentatonic voicings, demonstrates solo excerpts, and explains how two minor pentatonics a whole step apart create a Dorian sound. Practice suggestions include playing minor pentatonics by skips, building two‑hand voicings (two notes left, three notes right), using flat‑7 major triads over minor 7 chords, and working with add9 upper structures. A downloadable PDF with examples and diagrams accompanies the lesson for easy practice.
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