Jazz School: Major 2-5-1 Chord Progression: ii9-V7,b9-IM9 Chord Voicings

music notation showing chord voicings for a major 2 5 1 chord progression

Lesson Goal: To add the V7,b9 chord to your ii7-V7-IM7 voicing repertoire in all keys…

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

  • Dm7 (D F A C) + E (“the 9”) = Dm9
  • G7 (G B D F) +Ab (“the b9”) = G7,b9
  • CM7 (C E G B) + D (“the 9”) = CM9

Chord Voicing Variation #1

In the key of C Major (notice that all the roots are dropped from the right hand)…

piano-ology-jazz-school-major-two-five-one-progression-etude-9-flat9-9-chord-voicings-variation-1-notation
piano-ology-jazz-school-major-two-five-one-progression-etude-9-flat9-9-chord-voicings-variation-1-keyboard

Rootless Left Hand Voicing #1

Now play the right hand above as a rootless left-hand voicing, leaving your right hand free to play the melody or improvise…

piano-ology-jazz-school-major-two-five-one-progression-etude-9-flat9-9-chord-voicings-variation-1-rootless-keyboard

Chord Voicing Variation #2

In the key of C Major (notice that all the roots have been dropped in the right hand)…

piano-ology-jazz-school-major-two-five-one-progression-etude-9-flat9-9-chord-voicings-variation-2-notation
piano-ology-jazz-school-major-two-five-one-progression-etude-9-flat9-9-chord-voicings-variation-2-keyboard

Rootless Left Hand Voicing #2

Now play the right hand above as a rootless left-hand voicing, leaving your right hand free to play the melody or improvise…

piano-ology-jazz-school-major-two-five-one-progression-etude-9-flat9-9-chord-voicings-variation-2-rootless-keyboard

Using your knowledge of the major scales and chord structure (and your ears of course), play this pattern in all keys around the cycle of dominants: C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, B, E, A D, G.

Aside: Is anybody interested in the notation for all keys?

Learning by doing in this manner will build an enormous scale and chord vocabulary that integrates visio-spatial keyboard awareness, ear training, technique, and rhythm… and lays a solid foundation for fluent improvisation.

learn more… Major 2-5-1 Chord Progression: ii9-V7,b9,13-IM9 Chord Voicings

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