Chord Progression Study: ii V I VI7

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Learn Jazz Standards.com focuses on helping  jazz musicians expand their repertoire.  Jazz musicians are required to know jazz standards for working gigs and playing at jam sessions.   However, it’s also very important to practice soloing over chord progressions, such as the ii-V-I-VI7 progression.  This progression will show up time and time again in many tunes, and so practicing improvising over these changes will pay HUGE dividends when you approach the standards.  Some of our readers are more experienced jazz musicians and will appreciate having this chord progression study as a resource for learning new licks and honing their skills.  Other readers visiting this site may be new to jazz and improvised music. This chord progression study will be useful for everyone from the beginning improviser to the professional.

Some budding jazz musicians might look at jazz standards up on our website and think, “Great! But how do I improvise over this stuff!?”. That’s a great question, but the question is not easily answered. If you talk to any seasoned, experienced jazz musician they will tell you that this music requires a life time of study. That means if you are looking for some secret formula or easy way out…there isn’t one!  However, here are a few tips that may help you in your quest to improve your solo chops:

Music is a language. To understand it we have to listen to it, read it, talk with others that speak it and be willing to take the risk of speaking it ourselves. Like everything we want to learn in life we have to have a starting point.

In this Chord Progression Study we are studying a progression that is very common in jazz standards and other popular music: the ii V I. But we will add to this the dominant altered VI7 chord which often serves as a “leading” chord or “turn-around” chord into the ii. So now we are dealing with a ii V I VI7 chord progression.

Example: Dm7 G7 Cmaj7 A7alt is a ii V I VI7 in the key of C Major.

To learn a tune that uses the ii V I check out: All the Things You Are

For a great video by Vic Juris about how to approach this progression, check out: Cool and Unusual Applications of the Minor Pentatonic Scale

There is no limit to what you can play over the ii V I VI7 progression. However it should be mentioned that Bebop is one of the fundamental languages of modern jazz. Something that most all of today’s best modern jazz musicians have in common is the understanding of the bebop language. It’s imperative to have a grasp on the bebop vocabulary so you can move on from there.

To learn more about the Bebop Era check out: Bebop-Jazz Styles Series

HOW TO PRACTICE THE ii V I VI7:

  • Listen to lots of records that deal with this harmony. Check out records by Clifford Brown, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, Art Farmer, Lester Young, Wynton Kelly, Bill Evans, Dizzy Gillespie, Jim Hall, Bud Powell and earlier John Coltrane just to name a few.  Also, check out modern examples so you know how players currently on the scene approach the music.  Always be listening, and always be ready if another jazz musician asks “What have you been listening to?”  Never underestimate listening to music, it is a huge part of your practice.
  • Practice the progression with the play-along’s provided below.  This will give your ear the opportunity to hear what the chord progression sounds like.  Practice the progression in all 12 keys as provided for you going in order of the Circle of 4ths.
  • Learn some licks or phrases from some of your favorite players that deal with this progression and take them through all 12 keys.  If you find a solo you especially enjoy, consider learning the entire thing.
  • Practice the progression with only yourself and a metronome.  This is very important. Never depend entirely on play-along’s to practice.  The tracks provided for you on Learn Jazz Standards.com are not meant to be a crutch for practicing tunes but rather one tool through which to practice.  You should be able to feel the time and hear the changes on your own.  In addition to playing along with the tracks, try practicing playing the changes on your own, unaccompanied, with the metronome on beats 2 and 4.  You should be able to hear the changes in your solo even WITHOUT the harmony present!

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TAKE YOUR JAZZ PLAYING TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

We help musicians of all instruments start improvising confidently over jazz standards in just 30 days without mind-numbing hours of practice or the overwhelm.

TAKE YOUR JAZZ PLAYING TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

We help musicians of all instruments start improvising confidently over jazz standards in as little as 30 days without mind-numbing hours of practice or the overwhelm.

“Jazz music is the power of now. There is no script. It’s conversation. The emotion is given to you by musicians as they make split-second decisions to fulfill what they feel the moment requires.”
WYNTON MARSALIS

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Thanks, and enjoy LearnJazzStandards.com!

Return Policy for Products

Refund Policy

For play-alongs and eBooks:

Because these are digital downloads, and not returnable, we have a strict no refund policy. All purchases are final and cannot be reversed. Please be sure that you fully understand the product you are purchasing and what is and what is not included. Of course, if you ever have any questions about a product feel free to contact usor visit our FAQ page.

For 30 Days to Better Jazz Playing eCourse

Please make sure you completely understand the product you are buying before purchasing.

14 Day 100% Money Back Guarantee

  • This guarantee lasts 14 days, which completely covers almost half of the course, enough for you to observe its’ effectiveness.
  • We can’t guarantee you will be Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, or John Coltrane in 2 weeks. We’d be suspicious of anyone who could promise that. Becoming a better jazz musician is a process and it requires work.
  • If you’re not happy with the quality of this program…send us an email and showing you did the work. We’ll refund 100% of your money (We’ll even eat the credit-card processing fees) and we’ll part as friends. We believe in the power of this course and so we’ll take responsibility for it.

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Get our FREE "Chord Progression Study: ii V I VI7" chord chart and our entire library of 200+ jazz standards!

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DOWNLOAD THIS CHORD CHART

Get our FREE "Chord Progression Study: ii V I VI7" chord chart and our entire library of 200+ jazz standards!

Chord Chart