Hi Bob
Sorry to disagree, but we seem to have a difference of definition regarding passing tones. My definition of a passing tone is a non chord tone situated between two chord tones often separated by a third - much more commonly than just a whole step. And I think that definition also conforms to how Kirk uses the term too.
Anyway, as you said "If you have one chord like Ami for instance, do you play F of F#? How about B or Bb?"
That's what I would like to hear from Kirk - how he decides - or your good self Bob, or anyone else in a position to give a meaningful answer.
As for me, most of my improvising is acoustic fingerstyle so I'm always playing the chords too - and usually I let my ear remind me which key I'm in, rather than being constantly conscious of it, especially if it modulates. But I also keep an eye on any mode that the song might be written in. The A minor example going to F or F# is good. A lot of local folk music that I play here is in the Dorian mode (of A) - so I often have to play F# and G natural, F natural would sound wrong in a lot of those dorian mode melodies, despite it being the more 'natural' choice for songs in the key of A minor
I know this is a different concept from lead soloing with modes within a major or minor key. A lot of the music I play is modal in origin and uses modal chord progressions, such as with dorian mode songs, always playing D major in the key of A minor rather than D minor.
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