S.P.I.T. or sometimes simply called SPIT is a methodology developed by Mark and Jane Shellhammer, is a specific way of learning
musical improvisation
Musical improvisation (also known as musical extemporization) is the creative activity of immediate ("in the moment") musical composition, which combines performance with communication of Emotion, emotions and Musical technique, instrumental techn ...
. The letters S.P.I.T. is an
acronym
An acronym is a type of abbreviation consisting of a phrase whose only pronounced elements are the initial letters or initial sounds of words inside that phrase. Acronyms are often spelled with the initial Letter (alphabet), letter of each wor ...
for ''scale'', ''pattern'', ''inversion'', and ''triad'' and usually pertains to the first four chord types which include major 7, dominant 7, minor 7, and half-diminished expressed in all twelve
key signatures
In Western musical notation, a key signature is a set of sharp (), flat (), or rarely, natural () symbols placed on the staff at the beginning of a section of music. The initial key signature in a piece is placed immediately after the clef ...
. The use of S.P.I.T. methodology involves matching the scale, pattern, inversion, and triad to the key signature of the song that requires improvisation. The methodology allows the musician to scan the S.P.I.T. page that matches the key signature of the song for improvisational embellishments that can be applied during rests or whole notes in the melody.
"Conquering Giant Steps, Master Coltrane Harmony by Deconstructing One of the Most Revered and Feared Standards In jazz History" by Cory Christiansen
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References
{{Musical improvisation, date=January 2008
Music education
Musical techniques