Turnarounds
With
Tim RichardsWith Tim Richards, learn how blues and jazz turnarounds work, using the I-VI-II-V sequence to send you back to the top of a 12-bar.
What's in the course
25 lessons (1h 20m) · 1 free
Lesson transcript
Lesson on Turnarounds
In this lesson, we're going to look at turnarounds.
What is a Turnaround?
A turnaround is a little section of a tune, normally at the end, in the last two bars, which has the function of sending you back to the beginning to start again or do a solo.
For instance, in a traditional blues, you've all heard phrases like this:
"That's a very basic turnaround."
It's often played in quite a cliched way. You've probably heard this kind of figuration as well.
Basic Function
So, it has different forms, but basically it takes you from the I to the V, and the V chord sends you back to the beginning of the 12-bar sequence.
Turnarounds in Jazz
Now, in jazz, that V chord is often approached in a slightly different way.
For instance, it might be:
- C
- A minor 7
- D minor 7
- G7
This is called a 1, 6, 2, 5 sequence. It's a really common type of turnaround.
Practical Application
If we play chords in the right hand, here's the bass line:
- C major
- A minor
- D minor
- G7
So, try playing this in time and just looping it so you get used to these changes which are coming at you quite fast.
Usage in Tunes
We'll be using this turnaround in several tunes, including the next tune, Leaping In. It's really, really common, not only in turnarounds.
Some tunes are based almost throughout on this 1625 sequence.
For example:
- I Can't Get Started
- Long Ago and Far Away
- Blue Moon
- Ain't Misbehaving
They all feature this 1625 sequence very heavily, right from the start in some cases.
25 lessons
1h 20m of structured video lessons
Advanced video features
Slow down, loop a passage, follow along
Mobile, tablet & desktop
Practise wherever you are
100% satisfaction guarantee
30-day money-back guarantee
Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Critically acclaimed jazz pianist and composer Tim Richards is one of Britain’s most experienced jazz educators, teaching piano privately for over 30 years, as well as at Morley College, Goldsmiths College, the University of Surrey, Premises Studios and other venues in the UK and abroad. He has produced numerous titles for Schott Music, including the best-selling two-volume Exploring Jazz Piano, Blues, Boogie & Gospel Collection and the acclaimed Improvising Blues Piano. He is also co-author, with John Crawford, of Exploring Latin Piano and Brazilian Piano Collection.
More recently Schott have published Jazz, Latin & Modern Collection (15 pieces for solo piano), comprising Tim Richards originals alongside pieces by Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk, and the two volume set Beginning Jazz Piano (now a two-part MusicGurus course).
“The real joy of Tim’s music… is that it is both hugely educational but also such great fun to play. Anyone with the slightest interest in learning to play or teach jazz piano should really acquire a set of Tim’s books.” PianoDao
As a performer Tim has been a presence on the UK jazz scene since the 1980s, also playing the blues with UK and US legends such as Otis Grand, Earl Green, Dana Gillespie, Larry Garner, Joe Louis Walker and Mojo Buford. He has released over a dozen albums as a leader (featuring many of London’s best jazz musicians including Pete King, Gilad Atzmon, Tony Kofi, Jason Yarde, Seb Rochford, Ed Jones, Dick Pearce and many others), and toured all over Europe with line-ups ranging from duo to nine-piece. His latest recording, the album ‘Telegraph Hill’ by the six-piece Hextet, was described in The Observer as "A true joy from beginning to end".
More info can be found on his website www.timrichards.ndo.co.uk
