POP AND JAZZ CHORD PROGRESSIONS #1

PREREQUISITE: Intermediate/Advanced: Knowledge of the 'Scale-Tone Seventh Chords'  This will be a series of posts.

CHORD PROGRESSION(S):

If I have to give it a definition, I would say that a chord progression is a series, or sequence of harmonic (chord & root/bass line) movement in a particular order that "feels and/or sounds right"—a system of movement (voice leading) that seems to make sense to our innate understanding of western music.

It is something that every aspiring pianist (musician) should be skilled in - that is, the understanding of, creating of, and even altering of existing chord progressions (movements) to create new ones. Once again, this is not about HOW the chords are voiced (chord quality) but, how they move and attract to one another.

Randy Halberstadt, is a top flight multi-dimensional pianist who has been a major figure on the Pacific Northwest jazz scene for many years. In his very popular book, ‘Metaphors for the Musician’ Randy explains chord movement through the use of his ‘Solar System’ metaphor. I think it’s ingenious and have asked Randy for permission to borrow parts of his system to incorporate in my teaching of the subject. RANDY’S WEBSITE

I have put some twists on it though. I haven’t made it better, that would be impossible. I’m just putting a few twists and turns on it for my purpose. I highly recommend this book for intermediate and even advanced jazz players. I’m envious of Randy’s amazing and creative mind that has approached the wide spectrum of modern piano playing with such creativity, clarity and innovation.

Put those other books down for a while and dig into this amazing approach. There will be many surprises not seen even in the other industry standard publications. I will be doing a complete and thorough review of Randy’s book very shortly.

Below is a picture of the complete ‘C major Solar System’. I will break it into smaller pieces using it many different ways, then, building it back up to its complete form step by step.

So take a peek at it, but don’t try to decipher or make any conclusions about it yet. I will take you on this fantastic journey slowly. Here’s a PDF DOWNLOAD of the chart.

For the time being, if you have to, you can associate the I chord (the sun) to the key of ‘C. It is the center of our C major solar system—which is only one of the twelve planetary systems in the harmonic galaxy. The planets, (green) that surround the sun,

are pulled

(gravitate)

toward it. These are the ‘Scale-Tone 7th Chords’. But let’s start at the beginning when first there was the sun—and the planet with the strongest gravitational pull towards it… the (V) planet. (G7)

First Steps In Learning (Understanding) Chord Progressions

In order to create, understand, and use chord movement/progressions to sound great or create your own sound, the first step in my opinion is to know the two most important notes (scale-tones) of any chord—and they would be the 3rd and 7th scale-tones of all chords. They are the two most important tones for chord recognition.

When you play a tune with the proper sequence of chord progressions, chord movement, (and good phrasing), a natural flow/pull is created - you take your listener on a journey with you. They get caught up in the flow, the pull toward other chords. They might demonstrate this by singing, humming, clapping, snapping fingers, tapping a toe, dancing, laughing or crying.

Tension and Release

Many times the feelings created in others while listening to music is caused by 'TENSION and RELEASE'. The beginnings of creating 'tension and release' in your music is knowing how one chord/planet naturally moves/gravitates to one another using the 3rd and 7th intervals.

There is NO RELEASE without first TENSION.

Tension and release is found in every part of our everyday life - physically and mentally. In nature, a beautiful warm sunny day (release) feels even more magnificent after a long dark, loud, rainy storm. (tension)

How much better do you feel (release) when the headache (tension) is gone? (release) Why does making up with a loved feel so fantastic (release) after a disagreement? (tension) When watching a frightening scene (tension) in a movie, how do you feel when is done with? A big sigh of relief? (release) There are thousands of tension and release mechanisms that exist.

The Five to One Chord Progression

One of the most common and important examples of tension and release in music is the V - I chord progression/movement. The (V) chord/planet has the strongest gravitational pull to the C Major (Sun) key center. We will discuss why when I post about the ‘Cycle of Fifths’.

G7 (V) to Cmaj (I). Let’s take a look at why and how this works. It is essential to know every V to I progression/movement in every major key center. (solar system)... There are (12) of course.

Look at the graphic below. In Bar 3, notice the 3rd and 7th scale-tones of the G7. (B-F) Play just the B-F in the right hand and notice how un-settled, un-final it sounds by itself. Not until it is resolved to the Root and third scale-tones (C-E) of the (I) chord does the tension release.

From B to F is precisely 3 whole steps in its scale. In a Dominant 7th chord, this is known as a ‘Tri-tone interval.

Looking at the Tri-tone and resolution in reverse.

The 'Tri-Tone' Interval, the B and F tones are exactly one half step away from (they surround) the Root and 3rd of the (I) chord tightly—which is a 'Major Third' interval.

So, ALL of the above is simply about how the 3rd & 7th scale-tones of a V chord, (tri-tone-tension) resolve smoothly to the R & 3 scale-tones of a I chord (major 3rd-release).

So, to summarize…

1. The V chord has the strongest gravitational pull to the key center (the sun). The V to I chord progression.

2. Why? because of the tri-tone contained within the V chord closely surrounds the R & 3 of the I chord… or key center (the sun).

Here’s part of a PDF download I made for you to practice this around the Cycle of Fifths. Download it and take it for a spin.

The next post in this series discusses the Cycle of Fifths