LESSON 2

Ok, so in the first lesson you will recall we started to learn about the 2 5 1 concept. To recap, you learnt the single notes that outline a 2 5 1 progression and we also learnt the harmonic structure or chords that make up the 2 5 1 progression. In the key of C, those chords were D minor (D F A), G major (G B D) and C major (C E G). These chords are known as triads (3 notes). In this lesson we are going to learn how to extend these chords further.

Take a look at the table above and see if you can work out what I have done….

If you didnt pick it up dont worry. All I have done is to stack the notes of the C major scale on top of each other. This table now sets out the triads you learnt earlier but with the 7th added. So, the D minor triad (D F A) now becomes D minor 7 (D-7) or (II-7), the G major triad (G B D) becomes G7 (G B D F) (G7) or (V7) and C Major becomes C Maj 7 (C E G B) (1 Maj 7).

Note: you will see that the chords have also been notated using roman numerals. There’s a reason for this - remember in the first lesson I said a lot of players learn tunes by numbers. When you go on your first gig as a jazz musician the leader of the band may well have a “real” “fake” book with the chord progressions to hundreds of tunes contained in it for you to use. Super helpful right? Yes, except if he/she is an advanced player the book will probably be just full of song names and roman numerals representing the chords. This is because they may want to play a song in any of the 12 keys available and having that written out in musical notation is just not practical. By the time you are on the stand with these players you will know what the II, the V and the I of every key is.

Now the other thing that the table above has given you are the scale notes that you can play over each chord! Let me explain.

When you see this symbol II-7 or D min 7 all you have to do is play the C scale starting on the 2nd note ie D E F G A B C D; and

When you see this symbol V7 or G7 all you have to do is play the C scale starting on the 5th note ie G A B C D E F G; and

When you see this symbol I Maj 7 or C Maj 7 all you have to do is play the scale starting on the I note ie C D E F G A B C.

I told you this jazz stuff was easy.

Exercise 1. Spend some time playing these scales in order (II, V, I) and keep listening to how they want to resolve. Check the video demonstration above.

Exercise 2. Spend some time playing through the chords you have learnt - Dminor7 (D F A C), G7 (G B D F) and C Major 7 (C E G B). Remember keep listening out for the chords to resolve. Also, try playing the chords in as many different ways as possible. For example, using Dminor 7 try these combinations - D F A C, D F C A, D A F C, D C A F. Take the same approach to the notes that comprise G7 and CMajor 7.

Exercise 3. Play the following exercises:

1. D F A C - G B D F - C E G B

2. D F A C - F D B G - C E G B

3. C A F D - G B D F - B G E C

4. D C A F - G F D B - C B G E

5. A F D C - B G F D - C E G B.

6. D F C A - B F D G - C E G B.

I’ll bet you are now hearing exactly how the progression wants to resolve.

Spend some time on this lesson making sure you are completely familiar with the material before moving on to the next lesson. For those of you wanting to use the material from the first two lessons and apply it to other keys besides C, the table below will help you.

Remember any questions, please reach out.

NB. If youre not familiar with roman numerals they are as follows: I =1, II = 2, III = 3, IV = 4, V = 5, VI = 6, and VII = 7.