Posts Tagged ‘2-5-1’

    In this video I will show you how jazz standards are actually much easier that most people think. I bring as an example the famous standard 'Autumn leaves'. You'll notice right away that this is mostly made up by two 2-5-1 progressions one in major, the other one in minor. I have already show you previously how to approach those two progressions and what to use to solo over them. So now all you should do is learn the chords and record a backing track for yourself to solo over.

Printable PDF: Lead Sheet

Just some examples on the 2-5-1 (to be ‘proper’ I should write II-V-I ) progression in C major, using only notes from the major scale. Remember the harmonic rhythm concept: strong notes on strong beats. I definitely advice recording yourself and criticize your playing in a positive way. There is no point in saying ‘that was horrible’. Istead say ‘ why does that not sound as it should?’. Am I playing too many wrong notes? Is my timing off? Are my melodies not strong enough? Try again and fix what you think is wrong.

Again you can find the 2-5-1 all keys Printable PDF >Here<

2-5-1 Progression.

The 2-5-1 Progression (or to be ‘proper’ I should write II-V-I) is quite a  popular progression of chords that you will find in abundance in jazz standards and all kind of tunes. You should have figured out by now that it is made up by the second, fifth, and first chord of the harmonized major scale. In C major it would be: Dm7 G7 Cmaj7.

A good way to underline the progression in a solo is to understand what are the important notes and how they move from a chord to the next one. So let’s see two important concepts:

1. Harmonic Rhythm

The harmonic rhythm is nothing but ‘when’ certain notes happen in the rhythmic flow. Let’s say as a generic rule that important notes (root, 3rd, 5th, 7th) will make your melody sound stronger if they fall on the strong beats of the bar (the 1st and 3rd beat in a 4/4 bar).

2. Voice Leading

Voice leading is nothing but ‘how’ notes move from a chord to the other. There are ‘more advisable’ ways to move these notes, and in the traditional theory rules can be quite strict. A good rule to keep in mind in the 2-5-1 progression is the 7th in the IIm7 chord resolving to the 3rd of the V chord. Also the 3rd of the IIm7 chord  stays and turns into the 7th of the V chord. Furthermore the 7th of the V chord resolves down to the major 3rd of the I chord. The 3rd of the V chord stays the same turning into the maj7th of the I chord. In C major this would look something like this:

Dm7        G7         Cmaj7
C ——–>B -stays- B
F -stays-  F———>E
D              G              C

Listen to some examples in the next video. You can download a chart of all 2-5-1 in all keys >here< print it, learn how to play all the chords, record a track for yourself to solo over, and good luck!!