Horizontal Improvisation and diatonic chords

Music Lesson: Understanding Chords in the Key of C

The five chords you just played are all on the same note. In other words, they're in different keys.

Chords in a Single Key

Now we're going to look at how these chords function in a single key. Taking the key of C, which consists of all white notes, let's identify the chords played on each note:

1. I Chord: C major 7
2. II Chord: D minor 7
3. III Chord: D minor 7 (This chord also contains minor thirds.)
4. IV Chord: F major 7
5. V Chord: G7 (This includes a flattened seventh; otherwise, it would have an F sharp in it. This is the only one so far that has had a flattened seventh.)
6. VII Chord: B half diminished

Key Relationships

• The I and IV chords are always going to be major sevenths in any major key.
• The II, III, and VI chords, as we just saw, are all minor sevenths.
• The V is a dominant seventh (in this case, G7).
• The VII chord is a half diminished seventh.

These two chords ? the dominant on V and the half diminished seventh on VII ? are unique in traditional harmony.

Focusing on Chords I, II, and III

Now we're going to focus on the first three chords in that series:

• C major
• D minor
• E minor

Practicing the Chords

We'll loop those chords, and the first thing I recommend is to try a scale in the right hand. We could do a scale loop; in the left hand, play those three chords like this:

• Get used to that.
• Feel free to try it in other keys.
• Find the I, II, and III of the key and play the scale in your right hand.

Exploring the Pentatonic Scale

Another great practice exercise across the same chords is the pentatonic scale, which misses out F and B. Here's the loop we will use, played in swing quavers.

Off Beat Chords

You'll notice that I'm currently playing all the chords in the left hand on the beat. This is not a very jazzy way to accompany yourself when improvising.

• I expect you to play some off beat chords as well, like we did in part one of the course.
• You should already be accustomed to playing off chords.

Metronome Practice

Let's do this with the metronome. I will play the D minor off the beat on two, using just the first two chords with a five-finger position in the right hand.

Count: 1, 2, 3, 4.

• Notice the first chord is short.
• The second chord is played with the F in the right hand and held over the middle of the bar due to the tie.
• This results in a short, long dynamic.

Backwards Practice

Now, let's do it again, maybe backwards. This time we'll include the III chord, pushing the D minor and the E minor.

Count: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Additional Resources

Have a look at the PDF that comes with this lesson. There are other examples of little routines that you can try, including various types of on/off chords and right-hand figures.

Horizontal Improvisation

Improvising over several chords like this with a single scale is called horizontal improvisation. This technique is effective when you're in one single key, for instance, with the chords I, II, and III.

Check out the PDF for additional routines, rhythms to play, and loops that you might enjoy!