In most tunes at some point you will find yourself improvising over the chord VI (or VI7) - the chord based on the sixth note of the key in which the tune is played.
So, for example, if the key is G, the sixth is E (or more frequently E7).
In about 90% of cases, this VI will be followed by the II, as this is the natural development in the 'Circle of Fifths'.
You will find it specially effective in this situation if, while improvising over this VI chord, you highlight the THIRD note in the scale of that chord. So if the chord is E7, the third note would be G#. Get it?
Let's say we are playing in G and have two bars to play on E7. Here's the sort of improvisation I would recommend. I have highlighted the G# notes in green.
The main reason why this is so effective is that the G# slides you smoothly into A, which is likely to be the root of the chord in the following bar.
Listen on YouTube to some fine improvisers (such as James Evans and Chloe Feoranzo) and study the notes they play over VI chords. You will find them frequently prodding that 3rd.
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The book 'Playing Traditional Jazz' by Pops Coffee is available from Amazon.
