- a study in a very
common chord progression
Over the last couple of weeks, I
have gotten a lot of emails asking what the II-V-I
progression is all about. There are some chord
progressions that are more used than others. The progression
called "II-V-I" is such a very common chord progression. You
can here it very often in Gospel and Jazz music. You get the chords if
you play a four-note chord on the second, fifth and first
step in a major scale. In C-major it gives us the chords
shown in "ex1".
Right Hand: D-F-A-C / G-B-D-F / C-E-G-B
Midi Link
We often add extra tension notes. In C-major
it will be "Dm9, G13 and Cmaj9". See ex2!
Left Hand: D Right Hand:
F-A-C-E
Left Hand: G Right Hand:
F-A-B-E
Left Hand: C Right Hand:
E-G-B-D
Midi Link
Now we use a voicing that sounds pretty good. An individual
line in a chord takes a very small step to the next chord.
In "ex2" we find the ninth on top in the first chord (Dm9).
If we turn the chord and put the fifth on top we get a
different, but also very good sounding, voicing. You can see
it in "ex3".
Midi Link
The voicings above also works fine for the left hand. When
you play a solo, you can play the chords with the left hand
so you are free to improvise with your right hand.
If you play the cords with your left hand they will look and
sound as shown in "ex4".
Midi Link
In "ex4" there are two "II-V-I"-progressions. One in C-major
and one in F-major.
If you want to get really in to the use of this progression,
you have to practice it in all keys. If you start playing in
C-major (the first chord is a Dm9) you can play through all
the keys as shown in "ex5, but watch up for this:
If we go on as in "ex5" we will end up in C-major again
after just six keys. To solve this problem we brake the
system when we have played the D-major progression. Go on
playing from a Db-major progression (starting on a Ebm9
chord). This happens in the middle of the example (when the
bass begins to play walking).
Midi Link
After the first half I play the chords more freely. I try to
put a variation into it and play the chords in different
ways - with different voicings.
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