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Common Jazz Chord Progressions
Common Jazz Chord Progressions - there's a lot more common between songs than you might think. This lessons show some common progressions and the jazz standards that use them.
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II V I and unresolved II V
Too numerous to actually list songs with this progression. The V to I, Dominant to Tonic chord movement IS the most common progression in western music. Occurs either major or minor. Examples: Dm7 G7 Cmaj7 (Major), Dm7b5 G7 Cm7 (Minor)
A great song to show a lot of II V movements is
I VI II V
- I Got Rhythm ( A section )
- Blue Moon
- You Send Me
Backdoor Changes
Road Map: I ↑P4 ur(II V) kc I
Based on the minor third substitution principle, a bVII7 is a substitute for a V chord. The II (IVm7 or IVm6) of the bVII is typical A quasi II V Used to return to the key center after a IV chord. Can also be used unresolved.
Returning to a I after a IV chord
- A Foggy Day
- All The Things You Are
- Blue for Alice
- Confirmation
- Cherokee
- Donna Lee
- I've Grown Accustomed to Her face
- Just Friends
- Just The Way You Are
- Lil' Darlin
- Meditation
- Misty
- Moon River
- One Note Samba
- Seven Steps to Heaven
- There Will Never Be Another You
- Wave
Sub for V or II V
- Darn That Dream
- Days of Wine and Roses
- Embraceable You
- Four
- Groovin' High
- On Green Dolphin Street
- Over the Rainbow
- Shadow of Your Smile (The)
- Stardust
- Summer Samba
- Tenderly
- When Sunny Gets Blue
Unresolved
- Desafinado
- Four On Six
- Joy Spring
- How High The Moon
- Ornithology (same changes as How High the Moon)
- Lady Bird
- Valse Hot
I II7 II V
Road Map: I ↑ M2 7th prime II V I
V of II Secondary Dominant
- Desafinado
- Jersey Bounce
- Take the 'A' Train
- The Girl From Ipanema
- Watch What Happens
Descending Whole Step Modulations
Road Map: II V I prime' II V I prime' II V ...
- Afternoon in Paris
- Alone Together
- Bluesette
- Call Me
- Cherokee (bridge)
- How High The Moon
- Invitation (bridge)
- Once I Loved
- One Note Samba (bridge)
- Recorda-Me
- Solar
- Tune Up
- Watch What Happens (bridge)
- Wave
- What Is This Thing Called Love
I I7 IV, I (II V of IV) IV, cadence to IV
Road Map: I ↑ P5 II V I - V of IV Secondary Dominant
- I Got Ryhthm
- Misty
- Scrapple the Apple
- Stompin' At The Savoy
- Sweet Georgia Brown
- The Flintstones Theme
Satin Doll Bridge
Road Map: ↑ P5 II V I ↑ M3 ur(II V) turnnback to key center
Wave Bridge
Road Map: ↑ P5 II V I prime' II V I turnnback to key center
- Love Man
- One Note Samba
- Tune Up
- Wave
Piardy Third
Road Map: IIm7b5 V minor II V resolving to a major I
- Bluesette
- How High The Moon
- What's New
Rhythm Changes
Road Map: I ↑ P5 II V I
- Oleo
- Scrapple the Apple
- I Got Ryhthm
- Stompin' At The Savoy
- Sweet Georgia Brown
- The Flintstones Theme
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End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!
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