Modal Jazz

Modes are useful for maneuvering through an improvisation. Modes are simply different starting points for a Major scale. Here is what they look like:

As you can see, the modes correspond to each of the scale degrees in the major scale. If we expand this concept to each of the chords that is built on the scale degrees, you get this pattern:

CMaj7 - Dm7 - Em7 - FMaj7 - G7 - Am7 - Bm7b5

In John Coltrane's song Impressions, improvisation is front and center. The piece moves between two tonal centers: Dm and Ebm. I would encourage you to explore the dorian mode for each of these chords. D Dorian: D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D and Eb Dorian: Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb.