16.3Target the 3rd

The 3rd is one of the most useful improvisational targets.

For:

Dm7 → G7 → Cmaj7

3rds are:

F → B → E

Play only those.

Then decorate them.

For example:

over Dm7:

D-E-F

over G7:

A-B

over Cmaj7:

D-E

Now the line becomes:

D-E-F | A-B | D-E

Simple, but it follows the harmony.