JAZZ VOICINGS, RUNS and LICKS

Hey Fellow Jazz Lovers,

If you're truly serious about taking your jazz piano and keyboard playing to new heights (...learning new jazz voicings, incorporating various "runs" and "licks" into your playing, learning the ins and outs of improvisation, etc.), I definitely recommend you check out this new jazz resource...

http://www.HearandPlay.com/441295/jazz201.html



http://www.LadyDpiano.com

Getting Started with 2- 5- 1 Chord Progression

If you listen to music, you've definitely heard a "2-5-1" progression. They are found in just about any type of music --- regardless of style, genre, or rhythmical pattern. It is commonly the series of chords that end a song or phrase. In this chord progression, the 2 chord leads to the 5 chord which in turn, produces a strong pull towards the ending chord (which is usually the 1st major chord of the scale).

Let me start by showing you what chords correspond to each tone of a major scale:

1 tone - Major
2 tone - minor
3 tone - minor
4 tone - Major
5 tone - Major (dominant)
6 tone - minor
7 tone - Half Diminished

To understand the chart above, you must understand that each tone of a major scale has a chord that goes along with it. For example, the following is a C major scale:

(C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- A -- B -- C)

Each tone above has a matching chord. Simply add the endings of the chart above to the scale as shown below:

>C MAJOR<
>D MINOR<
>E MINOR<
>F MAJOR<
>G MAJOR / DOM<
>A MINOR<
>B HALF-DIMINISHED<

To further understand progressions, lets number each chord:

1 = C Major
2 = D minor
3 = E minor
4 = F Major
5 = G dominant
6 = A minor
7 = B half - diminished
8 = C Major

Now, to create a "2-5-1" chord progression (or any numbered chord progression), simply take the 2, 5, and 1 chord out of the entire series of chords above. That is, we would not use the 3,4, 6, or 7th chord.

The 2 chord is D minor; the 5 chord is G dominant; and the 1 chord is C Major.

Here is the most basic "2-5-1" chord progression:

Dmin --- Gdom --- Cmaj

min = minor
dom = dominant
Maj = major


D minor chord = (D) + (F) + (A)
G dominant chord = (G) + (B) + (D) + (F)
C Major chord = (C) + (E) + (G)

Example: To play a D minor chord simply play all three of the notes shown above at the same time (D+F+A)





http://www.LadyDpiano.com

The Natural Minor Scale

The Natural Minor Scale
The natural minor scale begins on the 6th degree of the major scale. Also, the natural minor scale uses the same notes that are in relative major scale. So, if you want to find the relative minor of a major key, you go to the 6th scale degree, or count down 1 1/2 steps. The formula for building a Natural Minor Scale is:
W - H - W - W - H - W – W

Here is a list of all the relative minor scales:
A minor = A B C D E F G A
A# minor = A# B# C# D# E# F# G# A#
Bb minor = Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb
B minor scale = B C# D E F# G A B
C minor scale = C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
C# minor scale = C# D# E F# G# A B C#
D minor scale = D E F G A Bb C D
D# minor scale = D# E# F# G# A# B C# D#
Eb minor scale = Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb
E minor scale = E F# G A B C D E
F minor scale = F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F
F# minor scale = F# G# A B C# D E F#
G minor scale = G A Bb C D Eb F G
G# minor scale = G# A# B C# D# E F# G#
Ab minor scale = Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab

There are four types of minor scales: natural, harmonic, melodic ascending, melodic descending. Just the one scale is covered here.
Gospel music is closely associated with the minor scale. If a song ends with a lot of 7-3-6s, then you are most likely in a minor key.
http://www.giftedplayer.com/gospelweeklytip-42506.php
As far as chords and progressions, the minor key uses the same notes and progressions as the major key. The only difference is 6 becomes your 1. You can tell from the sound of the song if it's in a major or minor key. Songs written in minor keys can be sad, mysterious, and ominous. But not all minor key songs are sad sounding. An example of this is Santana's "Oye Como Va".

A few good examples:

* Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day

* Faceless Man by Creed
* Bring Me To Life by Evanescence
∑ Are You Happy Now? by Michelle Branch
∑ Hotel California by the Eagles

Fingering for Scales: http://www.robertkelleyphd.com/scalfing.htm
http://homepage.mac.com/barrieb/technique/patterns.html#bbandeb

Why Learn the Natural Minor Scale?

Much like the major scale, the notes of the natural minor scale serve as basis for many, many songs. When a song is in a minor key, the notes making up the song’s chords, melody and bass line mostly come from the natural minor scale.


http://www.LadyDpiano.com