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Music Lesson: Understanding Chord Progressions and Pedal Points

Introduction

Now, because this is the hard bit, is where the chord transitions occur. This part is really challenging.

Chord Transitions

We're going to move between:

• C Major
• A Minor

We're going to use a 2-5-1 progression to transition from C Major to A Minor, which would be:

• B half diminished (adding an E natural in the melody, giving us an 11th)
• B minor 7 flat 5, add 11 (a bit of a mouthful)
• E7 into A minor

Joe's cleverly modulating into E Major, leading into this A minor over G, which gives a sort of Stairway to Heaven moment transitioning into F# minor 7 flat 5, then to E7, and finally to E add 9 and G sus, the most holy of all chords.

The Beauty of the Transition

The way in which he does it is beautiful. He creates the illusion of everything happening at once when it's not.

Let me demonstrate it for you:

• Slow tempo:

  • 1, 2, 3, 4.

• Faster tempo:

  • 1, 2, 3, 4.

As you see, we then move seamlessly out of time.

Repeating the Phrase

We repeat our first phrase, arpeggiating the C Major moving into a 2-5-1 into D here, adding a phrasal bar melody. Then, we have these little movements here.

Joe loved those wide voicings, very pianistic.

Understanding Pedal Point

This is what we call pedal point.

• Definition:
  • Pedal point is usually associated with a bass player, such as a double bass player holding a note (let's say an E).
  • Over the top of that E, you play A minor and then you play E7.
  • The bass player holds the E, and you play A minor again while the bass player continues holding the E. You're changing your chord between shifts.

Then, the pedal point resolves.

Inverted Pedal Point

What Joe Pass was a master of was inverted pedal point.

• The pedal no longer sits in the bass but in the melody.
• You get the C pedal on the top while the chords move beneath it.
• I would always have a C on top of my voicing, but Joe would move these little two-note voicings around underneath it.

It's really beautiful and creates the feeling of "the swan on the water."

• The swan appears calm while underneath it's paddling like crazy.
• This C on top creates a stillness and beauty, which is a hallmark of Joe's playing.
• These inverted pedal points allow you to imagine the chords underneath, moving through G, F, E minor, D minor, while he's just using these little two-note voicings to give the impression that all of that is happening.

Mastering Tempo Rubato

Like I say, Joe is moving in and out of time so effortlessly. That's an important art to master in jazz known as tempo rubato.

Definition of Rubato:

• Rubato is an Italian word meaning "stolen tempo."
• It's a good way to think about playing out of time.

Concept:

• You're stealing rhythm from the next bar and putting it into the bar that you're currently in, which means you may lose some time to the next bar.
• That's the art of playing rubato: it's about stealing time.

Conclusion

To finish, I could put it all together and play a complete version for you.