jazz theory

There is just one circle of fifths. it is also often called the circle of fourths when you go the other way round the circle, which is more relevant to jazz.

Chord structures in jazz often consist of chords going up fourths, because it is a satisfying progression. Take the simple and popular 2- 5 -1-4 progression for example. Here is is in Cmajor:

Dminor7-G7-Cmajor7-Fmajor7

The D chord goes up a fourth to the G, then it goes up a fourth to the C, Then up a fourth again to the F.

And...

The Circle of 5th's and the ii-V-I are also connected this way.

Try this...start anywhere in the Circle of 5th's and make that note the Root of a m7 chord, then from there step one note backwards in the Cycle and make that the Root of a Dom7 chord, then from there step one more note backwards in the Cycle and make that note the Root of a maj7 chord...

You've just created a ii7-V7-Imaj7. The key it would be in is the Note Name of the Root of Imaj7 chord.

So, for instance in the Cycle...

Start with D, make it Dm7...now go counter clockwise one note to G, make that a G7, now go counter clockwise one more note to C, make that a Cmaj7. There you go: Dm7-G7-Cmaj7 the ii-V7-Imaj7 in the Key of C.

Another example:

Start with Bb, make it Bbm7...now go counter clockwise one note to Eb, make that a Eb7, now go counter clockwise one more note to Ab, make that a Abmaj7. There you go: Bbm7-Eb7-Abmaj7 the ii-V7-Imaj7 in the Key of Ab.

You can look at this way...

Say you know the Key but need to find the ii and the V. Find the Note Name of you Key in the Cycle, then the note clockwise from it is the V and one more note clockwise is the ii.

Both of these work everytime, flawlessly.

Also try reading up on diatonic harmony - it'll help you understand why music 'works', and also links scales & chords. It also explains modes.

:cool:

Originally Posted by: zreynoldspAlso try reading up on diatonic harmony - it'll help you understand why music 'works', and also links scales & chords. It also explains modes.

:cool:

Here's my document I'm writing about Diatonic Theory.

http://lessons.mikedodge.com/lessons/MusicTheory/Diatonic/DiatonicAll.htm

And yes, it's deals with chords, scales, modes, progressions, concepts, etc...

It's still in the works, but still useful.

Part 2 is also in the works, it's related to playing over changes.

wow gennation - there's loads of information on that link.... Anyone who doesn't know about diatonic harmony and needs a decent foundation in theory, get yer asses over to that site! :cool:

Originally Posted by: zreynoldspwow gennation - there's loads of information on that link.... Anyone who doesn't know about diatonic harmony and needs a decent foundation in theory, get yer asses over to that site! :cool:

Thx zreynoldsp!

I just updated my lesson site with a bunch more lessons...and one of them is..

"Learn some common sounds found in Jazz"

Check it out, it's a pretty comprehensive ground up approach that should help some people get that sound under their belt.

http://lessons.mikedodge.com

this is sweet...

Originally Posted by: lifeis@songis there anyone out there who can tell me how to form jazz chords or knows anything about jazz type theory? anything ya know would be appriciated

E-mail me [email]Kelley3498@bellsouth.net[/email]. I'll give you some examples, In C :)