Jazz Scale Suggester System Lite

Improvisation is a huge part of jazz music. In fact, the artist’s ability to improvise in a jazz session is what the audience is looking forward to; and although learning the relationship between scales and chords is for some a job best completed with the help of a teacher, some prefer self-education for better understanding the entire process.

Jazz Scale Suggester System (JSSS) may be the digital tool some enthusiasts could turn to in order to learn the subtle harmonics of jazz improvisation all by themselves. However, make no mistake, the developer warns that the program does not replace a real teacher.

Technical Specifications:

• Price: Free


• Publisher: Michael P. Archbold


• File: Jssszip.exe

Key Features:

• Simple interface for learning jazz improvisation


• Educational tool for understanding scales and chords


• Allows for the input of chords to suggest fitting scales

For users not accustomed to chord charts and musical terminology, a simple gander to the interface may be enough to make them realize the program’s not for them.

A set of eight boxes is available in the main view but this can be extended to shelter more chords by simply adding a new page.

On the right-hand side, there is the legend of all the symbols present in the interface, explaining the purpose of some of the buttons and offering shortcuts for some actions.

You don’t have to start from scratch with this program because it includes a few chord charts examples that can be loaded and analyzed to understand how scales and chords affect each other.

Things can be done from square one, too, because you can punch in the chords and instruct it to provide a fitting scale suggestion; selecting a scale or another is not random and relies on common methods employed by jazz musicians.

Starting from the examples provided by the developer, a less experienced user can start fiddling around by specifying keys for the tune and watch the changes that ensue in the chart. Jazz Scale Suggester System does not replace a teacher but it could make for a good starting point for a jazz aficionado keen on learning more about improvisation.