4/4 Time
This lick is at the end of the melody with a strong lead in back to the D, which takes you back to the top of the melody. You can change the rhythm and phrasing of the lick to put it into your solos. I have heard it played in different situations.
Calvin Comer says
What does the D-7b5 G7b9 mean
Neal says
Those are the chord changes. If you just saw D-7 and G 7, would you know what those meant?
Calvin Comer says
No !?
Neal says
All right, so let’s start there. The – sign indicates a minor chord. The 7 means it’s a seventh chord, so one more note than a triad.
A D-7 chord has the notes of the C major scale. D F A C. It’s a minor chord because the third is a minor third above the root.
A G7 is a G dominant seventh chord. It uses the notes of the C major scale and starts on G. G B D F.
You might have noticed that both of those chords use the notes of C major. They are both connected, this would be the ii V of a ii V I progression. So if you know the C major scale, that will help you understand these chords. Knowing all the major scales helps to be able to play all of these chords.
The other parts for the Horace Silver lick are alterations to the chord, but I would learn how the chords work without alterations first.
So getting all the major scales would be helpful.
I also wrote a book about chords, http://saxstation.com/navigating-chord-changes