Steve's Spinal Column #15

The Full Sticktet

Yes, I that is my bowling average. Been practicing a lot.
No, that's not what this column is about. It's about ii - V - I.

Chord progressions that sound good are usually not random (Nirvana tunes excluded). There is a science to voice leading within a series of chords that follows the laws of nature and all the harmonic sound waves that keep our planet on its axis. Without these laws, the earth would probably split into pieces. There is speculation that this is what happened to Krypton.

Chords tend to descend by FIVE. This is true for Baroque music, as well as pop and jazz. Bach descended by five as often as he could. Mainstream jazz tunes wouldn't exist without these progressions.

Assume the key you're in is designated as the "I" chord. It sounds resolved and at peace. The chord that leads to this the best is the V7. It has notes that sound unresolved and must eventually lead to the "I". The chord that precedes the V7 is usually the ii minor7.

So we have I iim7 I V7 I I(Maj7) I I(Maj7) I
Here is this progression in the 12 different keys:

(iim7 V7 IMaj7 IMaj7)

I Dm7 I G7 I CMaj7 I CMaj7 I

I Em7 I A7 I D Maj7 I DMaj7 I

I F#m7 I B7 I EMaj7 I EMaj7 I

I Gm7 I C7 I FMaj7 I FMaj7 I

I Am7 I D7 I GMaj7 I GMaj7 I

I Bm7 I E7 I A Maj7 I AMaj7 I

I C#m7 I F#7 I BMaj7 I BMaj7 I

I Cm7 I F7 I BbMaj7 I BbMaj7 I

I Ebm7 I Ab7 I DbMaj7 I DbMaj7 I

I Fm7 I Bb7 I EbMaj7 I EbMaj7 I

I Abm7 I Db7 I GbMaj7 I GbMaj7 I

I Bbm7 I Eb7 I AbMaj7 I AbMaj7 I

Jazz tunes like the standards that are in the famous and now legal "Real Book" (not to be confused with the film journal, "The Reel Book") are chock full of ii V I's.

Most of these songs change keys regularly (modulation). The reason why Jazzers choose to play these tunes is because of the obstacle course the key changes create within these tunes. Hence the challenge to make a cohesive interesting solo.

"Tune Up " by Miles Davis is one such tune. It goes through 3 different key changes. First line is in D. Second line is in C. Third line is in Bb. Fourth line is a little funny but easy to figure out.

I Em7 I A7 I DMaj7 I DMaj7 I
I Dm7 I G7 I CMaj7 I CMaj7 I
I Cm7 I F7 I BbMaj7 I EbMaj7 I (EbMaj7 is the IV of Bb continuing down by five)
I Em7 I A7 I BbMaj7 I Em7 A7 I

Look through the Real Book. See all the ii V I's. Better yet, hear the ii V I's.

Then check "The Reel Book Vol. 2" (The art of fishing)