
Applying Pitch Class Set Course
Applying Pitch Class Set Course Reorganization
I’ve written a lot of books on Pitch Class Set Improvisation, 32 books to be exact. It was time to organize these books into groups to help people see understand each type of book in the series. The Pitch Class Set Improvisation Series has been divided up into four different types of books:
- Applying Pitch Class Set Course
- Pitch Class Set Improvisation Études Courses
- Pitch Class Set Theory Courses
- Pitch Class Set Theory and Practice Courses
I’ll write about each type in different blog posts. This post will talk about the Applying Pitch Class Set Courses.
Who Uses Pitch Class Set Improvisation?
One question I get about pitch class set improvisation is “who is using this stuff?” Recent research into the late recordings of John Coltrane is showing that he used the 013 pitch class set in abundance. 013 would be a three note grouping and would contain a 1/2 step and a minor 3rd. It’s not surprising to me that Coltrane gravitated to 013. 013 is the most flexible pitch class set, it can be substituted for any chord type which can’t be said of any of the other 11 three note possibilities.
I’ve written over 30 compositions using 013, it kinda gets under your skin after you start working with it. An excellent way to dabble with 013 and some of the other pitch class sets that I find the most useful is to work with the Applying Pitch Class Set Courses. These four books don’t require that you know anything about Pitch Class Sets. These books just give you application directly to real music. This is an excellent way to see how to use these sounds and then later you can dig deeper into understanding Pitch Class Sets at a deeper level.
How To Get Started With Pitch Class Sets
If you were just starting out with Pitch Class Set Improvisation I don’t know if I’d recommend starting with 013 unless you are a pretty advanced musician. Pitch Class Sets like 027, 015 or 016 would be much easier to apply right off the bat. For instance, if you take a easy three chord folk tune that uses major and minor chords and change the chords to an 015s you will have a super cool sounding progression. If it’s a G chord play the chord voicing F#, G and D. Then let’s say you have a D major chord make that into C#, D, A and finally an A minor chord make that B, C, G. Now you have 3 chords that are all 015’s and check it out, they sound beautiful, rich and fresh.
Applying Pitch Class Set Course Work
This is the type of work you will do with the Applying Pitch Class Set Course Bundle. It contains four courses that work with simple chord progressions, Jazz Standards, 013 and finally how to move pitch class set chords chromatically. Since these four books work with three note chords they are probably more useful to a guitarist, pianist or composer BUT if you arpeggiate any of these chords in any of those books you are going to have some pretty hip melodic lines. I use them all the time!
Check Out These Links for Applying Pitch Class Set Course
Check out the videos and audio files found at the links below to see examples of how these four courses can give you a lot of new sounds and new applications of harmonic and through arpeggiation new melodic lines.
- Applying Pitch Class Set Chord Voicings to Traditional Harmony
- Applying 013 Chord Voicings
- Modal Pitch Class Set Chord Voicings
- Modal Chromatic Pitch Class Set Chord Voicings
I hope this little glimpse into the Applying Pitch Class Set Course Bundle helps you to understand that Pitch Class Sets aren’t some hard thing to understand and use. Take little chunks of the ideas presented and you can enrich your melodic and harmonic palette instantly.

Bruce Arnold Music Education Genealogy Chart
You might enjoy checking out the “Music Education Genealogy Chart” located on my artist’s site. You will clearly see the historic progression of pedagogy that is the basis for Muse Eek Publishing Products. Great musicians throughout history have been studying the ideas presented by Muse-eek.com which derives its content from a a lineage that stretches back to Scarlatti!