Jazz Piano Lesson: Major 2 5 1 Four-Note Cells

Multimedia learn-by-doing lessons that will add commonly used Major 2 5 1 Four-Note Cells to your bag!

Table of Contents

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Prerequisites

Basic music reading skills… the LOVE of music… and the discipline to study and practice.

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Lesson Goal

To quickly internalize commonly used Major 2 5 1 Four-Note Cells in all keys… by ear, intellect, eye, and muscle.

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Why Internalize these Major 2 5 1 Four-Note Cells?

1. You will expand your ability to recognize a major 2 5 1 chord progression by ear.
2. You will see how scales and chords are inseparable, interrelated views of the same musical stuff.
3. You will really “know your way around the piano”.
4. You will learn how to “speak” the major 2 5 1 chord progression in a wide variety of contexts.

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About these Four-Note Cells

Recognizing five noteworthy aspects of these cells will help you to internalize them deeply.

Notice that each cell…

1. Consists of four notes per chord.
2. Outlines the harmony for each chord in one way or another.
3. Suits the size and shape of the human hand exquisitely.
4. Forms a digital (finger) pattern that’s easy to visualize and remember.
5. Creates a sequence that makes musical sense… both logically and artistically.

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Major 2 5 1 Four-Note Cells: Seventh Chord Arpeggios

Seventh Chord Arpeggios in C

The ii7-V7-IM7 chord progression in the key of C Major…

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Seventh Chord Arpeggios, All Keys

Using your knowledge of scales and chord structure (and your ears, of course) play this is all keys: C > Db > D > Eb > E > F > Gb > G > Ab > A > Bb > B > C.

Any interest in a score and play along MP3s?

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Major 2 5 1 Four-Note Cells: Ninth Chord Arpeggios

Ninth Chord Arpeggios in C

The pattern for each four-note group is 3-5-7-9…

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Ninth Chord Arpeggios, All Keys

Using your knowledge of scales and chord structure (and your ears, of course) play this is all keys: C > Db > D > Eb > E > F > Gb > G > Ab > A > Bb > B > C.

Any interest in a score and play along MP3s?

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Major 2 5 1 Four-Note Cells: Scalewise Descending Root to Root

Scalewise Descending Root to Root in C

First, in one line in the same direction… then with octave displacement…

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Scalewise Descending Root to Root, All Keys

Using your knowledge of scales and chord structure (and your ears, of course) play this is all keys: C > Db > D > Eb > E > F > Gb > G > Ab > A > Bb > B > C.

Any interest in a score and play along MP3s?

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Major 2 5 1 Four-Note Cells: Scalewise Descending 3rd to 3rd

Scalewise Descending 3rd to 3rd in C

First, in one line in the same direction… then with octave displacement…

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Scalewise Descending 3rd to 3rd, All Keys

Using your knowledge of scales and chord structure (and your ears, of course) play this is all keys: C > Db > D > Eb > E > F > Gb > G > Ab > A > Bb > B > C.

Any interest in a score and play along MP3s?

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Major 2 5 1 Four-Note Cells: Scalewise Ascending

Scalewise Ascending in C

Notice how the chromatic notes “fill in” each cell in order to provide smooth voice-leading.

Frank is considering break this up into three parts. Any thoughts out there?

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Scalewise Ascending, All Keys

Using your knowledge of scales and chord structure (and your ears, of course) play this is all keys: C > Db > D > Eb > E > F > Gb > G > Ab > A > Bb > B > C.

Any interest in a score and play along MP3s?

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Major 2 5 1 Four-Note Cells: “1-2-3-5”

“1-2-3-5” in C

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“1-2-3-5”, All Keys

Using your knowledge of scales and chord structure (and your ears, of course) play this is all keys: C > Db > D > Eb > E > F > Gb > G > Ab > A > Bb > B > C.

Any interest in a score and play along MP3s?

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Major 2 5 1 Four-Note Cells: “3-4-5-7”

“3-4-5-7” in C

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“3-4-5-7”, All Keys

Using your knowledge of scales and chord structure (and your ears, of course) play this is all keys: C > Db > D > Eb > E > F > Gb > G > Ab > A > Bb > B > C.

Any interest in a score and play along MP3s?

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Major 2 5 1 Four-Note Cells: “5-6-7-9”

“5-6-7-9” in C

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“5-6-7-9”, All Keys

Using your knowledge of scales and chord structure (and your ears, of course) play this is all keys: C > Db > D > Eb > E > F > Gb > G > Ab > A > Bb > B > C.

Any interest in a score and play along MP3s?

back to… Table of Contents

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learn more… Major 2 5 1: Walking Bass Lines