Lesson: Introducing Turnarounds

In this lesson, I'm going to introduce you to the turnaround, which is another way to expand your chord sequence and to create momentum in an otherwise static section of music.

What is a Turnaround?

• Turnarounds usually happen at the end of an A section in a tune.
• They help to transition back to the main part of the song.

Listening Exercise

I'm going to play you two versions of a song called Take the Express Train, inspired by Duke Ellington's Take the A Train.

Listen for the Turnaround

• Just have a listen to what happens in the last two bars when the melody resolves and the chord has two bars to get back to the A section.

First Version:
1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4.

Second Version (with a turnaround at the end of the first section):
1, 2, 1, 3.

Observations

If you listen to what the rhythm section is doing, particularly the bass, in those last two bars:

• Instead of sitting on my I chord on A, the bass player is playing what we call a turnaround.

Notes Played

The notes are:

• 1, 6, 2, 5, and then back to 1.

A bass player, instead of playing two notes on each, might join them up in a walking style.

This creates momentum in the chord sequence and gives the illusion of movement without any essential digression from the main key.

Key Points

• We start in A and we end in A.
• There are two variations on a turnaround:
  1. I VI 2, 5 (the first one I played).
  2. Starts on 3 (a subtle difference).

Practicing Turnarounds

You might hear from the bass player.

• You could practice these turnarounds to get used to sounding like a bass player.
• It's a great exercise to sit and listen to what the other instruments in your band are doing, as well as opening up your ears to these turnarounds.