Improvising in B Flat Major

Modal Improvisation - Bb Major

 Modes generated by the Bb Major Scale - 2b's (Bb, Eb)  

Note:

The Ionian is also called the Major.

The Mixolydian is also called the Dominant.

Dissonant notes and "pretty" notes. 

In the Ionian mode the 1st and 4th scale steps are dissonant.

In the Phrygian mode the b2nd and b6th scale steps are dissonant.

In the Lydian mode the 1st scale step is dissonant.

In the Mixolydian mode the 4th scale step is dissonant.

In the Aeolian mode the b6th scale step is dissonant.

In the Locrian mode the b2nd scale step is dissonant.

There are only two dissonant notes, the 1st(Bb) and the 4th(Eb) of the Ionian mode.

These are the notes that are also dissonant in the other modes if they are not chord tones.

Dissonant notes does not mean you can't use them, you just can't emphasize them (don't rest on them.)

The non-scale tones may also be used, but like the dissonant tones, do not rest on them.

The non-scale tones are b9(Cb), #9(C#), b5(Fb), #5(F#), b7(Ab)

These are the shapes of the tetrachords of the modes generated by Bb Major.

Let us name each tetrachord after its first note. 

You may start your run on any of these tetrachords for any chord.

Mix in some scale runs and chord tones and you will have some very interesting patterns to work with. 

If you don't write music you can use these shapes to write down your musical ideas.

Use solid lines for chords and broken lines for melody.