Recently I started to study four-note numeric patterns from Jerry Bergonzi's first book of the "Inside improvisationseries". It's a simple concept based on pentatonics(actually it starts with triads with added note). For major and dom7 chords we have a 1-2-3-5 pattern and for minor chords he suggest to play 1-3-4-5(or it's possible to use 1-2-3-5 also, but for further application of the concept 1-3-4-5 is better). These grouppings also are known as numeric patterns or tetrachords and are not very new thing. What's new to my opinion is that we can invert any pattern and have 24 combinations and use edition( ommit notes or use different rhythmic variations instead of eight notes. The next stage is to take this idea further and use upper structures i.e. 5-6-7-9 or5-7-8-9 or 9-13 patterns. In practice the patterns remain the same, but they start on other chord tones.
These patterns work better in tunes with two chords in a bar, but i try to use them in all the songs i play. Sometimes i add passing tones and enclosures. I find this concept very helpfull because it gives me a good choice what to play on any chord. I like to play with inverted patterns because of hip sounds i got:). Unfortunately, i have not seen much information on this volume studies in the internet. The second volume is more popular( The pentatonics book), but i feel that it's a good way to learn basic things( actually one will finally know TRIADS and to be creative with just four notes.
