Dominant 7 - Cycle of 5ths using 3rs and 7ths
Lesson time: (2min 16sec)
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Exploring Jazz Saxophone: Part 2 - Soloing on Songs and Chord Sequences
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Exploring Chromatic Scales in Chord Progressions
In this lesson, we'll dive into the idea of descending chromatic scales and how they interact within the cycle of fifths.
Understanding the Basics
- Initial Sequence:
2, 1, 2, 3, 4.
In this sequence, we have effectively played two descending chromatic scales.
An Interesting Coincidence
There's a beautiful coincidence within the cycle of fifths:
- The sevenths and thirds swap places with each other by moving down in semitones.
Chord Progression Example
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First Chord: C7
- Third: E
- Seventh: Bb
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Next Chord: F7
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Move both notes down a semitone:
- E → Eb (becoming the third on the bottom)
- Bb → A (becoming the seventh on the top)
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So it shifts again, with Bb swapping places.
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The Importance of Thirds and Sevenths
- Being able to swap your thirds and sevenths creates descending chromatic lines.
- This technique is a useful way to add color and capture the essence of the chords.
Final Thoughts
Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the need to play lots of different chord tones, remember:
- Your thirds and sevenths will carry the most information.
About the instructor
Since graduating from the Leeds College of Music (BA Hons) and the Guildhall School of Music (Post Graduate Diploma in Performance), Ollie has built a busy and varied career in music. As a saxophonist he has performed in live and studio settings with artists as diverse as Amy Winehouse, Tim Minchin, Bonobo, Frank Turner, the London Jazz Orchestra, the Hackney Colliery Band, the Ambient Jazz Ensemble and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. He is also the co-leader of the jazz quartet 'Time Is Of The Essence', and composes and arranges material for this and other ensembles. Ollie is active in music education, currently as course leader for the jazz department at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (junior school), where he runs jazz ensembles, big band and theory classes. He has written a series of 'Exploring Jazz' books for Schott Music that are published worldwide and feature on exam syllabuses in the UK. Ollie has also run workshops for Oxford University, Pro Corda Strings and BABSWE, as well as the Guildhall School of Music summer schools. In his Exploring Jazz Saxophone courses, Ollie takes you from getting started right through to soloing confidently over songs and chord sequences, building the improvising skills that put a real jazz player's vocabulary at your fingertips. read more