Solar emphasizes a minor sound, so the first step is building real vocabulary over minor chords. By studying players like Clifford Brown, you begin to develop simple, melodic ideas that create clear statements and give you something concrete to use as you move through the progression.

The form moves quickly, so you need flexibility in your minor language. Working on small ideas in all keys helps you build a vocabulary you can access instantly, allowing you to respond to the harmony in real time instead of searching for notes.

Solar is filled with ii–V movement that connects its shifting key centers. Hearing and navigating these progressions clearly allows you to link phrases across the form and maintain forward motion instead of stopping at each chord.

Working on the movement between major and parallel minor will help you connect the chords across the tune. Hearing this relationship allows you to move beyond isolated ii–V’s and follow the larger harmonic motion, giving your lines more continuity and direction.

With a strong foundation in place, you can begin to explore how to move outside of the harmony. Studying players like Brad Mehldau playing over Solar will show you how to balance consonance and dissonance, helping you expand your melodic concept while remaining connected to the changes.