There's a lot of theory/advice around re improvisation along the lines of : 'play x over y'.
Well, I'm a joiner as well as a musician, so the idea of an 'offset' is something I'm very comfortable with.

A lot of said advice is expressed by means of the modes.
E.g. "over G7 play from G myxolidian but avoid the 4th".
Now, the modes at not at my fingertips, but if I work this out, it seems to mean:
"over G7, improvise from/in C major, but avoid C itself";
or more generally: "over a (dominant) 7th, improvise a line in the key one step down the (key-)cycle, but avoid its tonic."

If that's how I express it to myself, am I missing something ?
Is the reference to the mode essential ?
Is there any implication (for instance) that the modal tonic (G in the case cited) should often be the go-to (or go-from?) note in the line ?

Sincerely

Ian G.

Late-developing enthusiast for jazz / blues. Principally pianist