{"id":12617,"date":"2023-03-17T12:05:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-17T19:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=12617"},"modified":"2023-06-09T11:58:51","modified_gmt":"2023-06-09T18:58:51","slug":"top-3-jazz-progressions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/top-3-jazz-progressions\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 3 Jazz Progressions for Piano"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Want to play jazz piano? Then you need to get familiar with these three essential jazz progressions! Jazz piano is all about progressions, harmony, and how we get creative within that space. Start with these basic progressions and build a foundation of vocabulary you can then use to go further in your jazz piano journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this lesson:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#rhythm-changes\">Rhythm Changes<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#descending-m9s\">Descending Minor 9ths<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#251\">2-5-1 Cycle<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#free-download\">Free Download<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>To get the most out of this lesson, you should already be familiar with 7th chords, inversions, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/diatonic-chords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">diatonic chords<\/a>, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/the-number-system\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">number system<\/a>. If this lesson feels too advanced for you, check out these related foundational lessons first:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/all-piano-chords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Play ALL Piano Chords: Major, Minor, 7ths, Extensions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/piano-chord-inversions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Piano Chord Inversions, Explained<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/piano-chord-progressions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">All About Piano Chord Progressions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/251-chord-progression\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The 2-5-1 Progression: Beginner\u2019s Guide<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h2 style=\"font-size:22px\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 Your Go-To Place for All Things Piano<\/b><\/h2><p>Subscribe to <i>The Note<\/i> for exclusive interviews, fascinating articles, and inspiring lessons delivered straight to your inbox. Unsubscribe at any time.<\/p><iframe class=\"email-form-include\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/center><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rhythm-changes\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Rhythm Changes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Our first progression is named after George Gershwin\u2019s \u201cI Got Rhythm.\u201d You can also find it in <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rhythm_changes#Examples\">popular jazz standards<\/a> like \u201cRhythm-A-Ning\u201d (Thelonious Monk), \u201cAnthropology\u201d (Charlie Parker\/Dizzy Gillespie), and \u201cCotton Tail\u201d (Duke Ellington).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, the original Rhythm Changes is 32 measures long because it has several repeated parts. Over the years, many variations of this progression have appeared. But at its core, Rhythm Changes consists of the following A section and B section progressions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Section A:<\/strong><br>I<sup>7<\/sup> &#8211; vi<sup>7<\/sup> &#8211; ii<sup>7<\/sup> &#8211; V<sup>7<\/sup><br>In C major: Cmaj7 &#8211; Am7 &#8211; Dm7 &#8211; G7<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Section B:<\/strong><br>iii<sup>7<\/sup> &#8211; V<sup>7<\/sup>\/ii &#8211; ii<sup>7<\/sup> &#8211; V<sup>7<\/sup><br>In C major: Em7 &#8211; A7 &#8211; Dm7 &#8211; G7<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In standard notation, the progression looks like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/17090203\/rhythm-changes-copy-1024x333.png\" alt=\"Rhythm changes progression in standard notation half notes with Roman numeral chord symbols.\" class=\"wp-image-12696\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/17090203\/rhythm-changes-copy-1024x333.png 1024w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/17090203\/rhythm-changes-copy-300x98.png 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/17090203\/rhythm-changes-copy-768x250.png 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/17090203\/rhythm-changes-copy-1536x499.png 1536w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/17090203\/rhythm-changes-copy-2048x666.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Section B is basically the Circle of Fifths progression. If you look carefully, it\u2019s a pattern of descending fifths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may notice that we use A7 instead of Am7 (C major\u2019s diatonic vi chord) in Section B. This is called a <strong>secondary dominant<\/strong> (V<sup>7<\/sup>\/ii). The A7 is the dominant 7th chord of the <em>next <\/em>chord (Dm7) and has a stronger pull towards that chord.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to get a feel of how this sounds, check out our friend and Pianote Coach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/sangah-noona-podcast\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sangah Noona<\/a> jamming to \u201cI Got Rhythm\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:80%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"I Got Rhythm (George Gershwin) Piano by Sangah Noona\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/l4giiwXZ0K8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Ready for to take things to the next level? Try playing this progression in a syncopated comping pattern with a chromatic walking bass line. Here\u2019s one example of what you can do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"283\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/17090600\/rhythm-changes-comping-copy-1024x283.png\" alt=\"Rhythm changes progression comping pattern in standard notation with Roman numeral chord symbols.\" class=\"wp-image-12699\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/17090600\/rhythm-changes-comping-copy-1024x283.png 1024w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/17090600\/rhythm-changes-comping-copy-300x83.png 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/17090600\/rhythm-changes-comping-copy-768x212.png 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/17090600\/rhythm-changes-comping-copy-1536x424.png 1536w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/17090600\/rhythm-changes-comping-copy-2048x566.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"descending-m9s\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Descending Minor 9ths<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Next up we have a <em>beautiful <\/em>minor chord progression. This progression sounds gorgeous because of two things: 1) a chromatically descending bassline; and 2) minor 9th voicings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/13153743\/descending-minor-9ths-1-1024x308.png\" alt=\"Standard notation of descending minor 9th chords: Em9-Ebm9-Dm9-Db13-Cmaj9.\" class=\"wp-image-12631\" width=\"840\" height=\"252\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/13153743\/descending-minor-9ths-1-1024x308.png 1024w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/13153743\/descending-minor-9ths-1-300x90.png 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/13153743\/descending-minor-9ths-1-768x231.png 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/13153743\/descending-minor-9ths-1-1536x462.png 1536w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/13153743\/descending-minor-9ths-1-2048x616.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When we talk about 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths, these are called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/all-piano-chords\/#extensions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">chord extensions<\/a>. You can think of them as extending the chord more than an octave. The 9th interval sounds so nice because, by being further from the root, it adds <em>just <\/em>the right amount of tension without being too dissonant.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can hear this progression at a transitional point in the B section of the jazz standard \u201cAutumn Leaves.\u201d Hear Sangah Noona play it <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/bCSQB_beCSA?t=59\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"251\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>2-5-1 Cycle<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, we have the building block of jazz: the 2-5-1 progression. You\u2019ll find this little progression everywhere, and not just in jazz. Maroon 5\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-play-sunday-morning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cSunday Morning\u201d<\/a> is also a cycle of repeating 2-5-1s!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s important to know your 2-5-1s in every key so that you can throw them into improvisation at will. In the lesson video, I\u2019ll go over a voicing pattern that\u2019s easy to transition through. Basically, on our right hand, we play a root position ii<sup>7<\/sup> chord, a second inversion V<sup>7<\/sup> chord, and a root position I<sup>7<\/sup> chord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"353\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/13153602\/251-cycle-1024x353.png\" alt=\"Standard notation of 2-5-1 progression in C major and B-flat major.\" class=\"wp-image-12630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/13153602\/251-cycle-1024x353.png 1024w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/13153602\/251-cycle-300x103.png 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/13153602\/251-cycle-768x264.png 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/13153602\/251-cycle-1536x529.png 1536w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/13153602\/251-cycle-2048x705.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For a more in-depth discussion on the 2-5-1, how to practice it, and how to use it in your jazz improvisations, check out our lesson and Bench episode <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/251-chord-progression\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>. We\u2019ve also included a cycle of descending 2-5-1s you can practice in the free resource below. This practice lists 2-5-1s in six keys. To find the 2-5-1s in the remaining six keys, start the cycle a semitone higher (Ebm7-Ab7-Dbmaj7).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"free-download\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Free Download<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For an easy reference to these chord progressions in C major, download our sheet music resource for free:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/d1923uyy6spedc.cloudfront.net\/3-Essential-Jazz-Progressions-1678402724.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DOWNLOAD SHEET MUSIC RESOURCE<\/a><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Pianote Members can also use the Practice-Along feature in the Members Area to loop these progressions. That\u2019s the best way to learn how to play jazz\u2014loop a progression and solo over it! If you\u2019re not a Member yet, here\u2019s a free trial, just for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<center><span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h3 style=\"font-size:22px;\"><b>Master the Piano YOUR Way \ud83d\udd25<\/b><\/h3><p>As a Pianote Member, you\u2019ll get access to our 10-step Method, song library, and growing community of piano players just like you. Plus: get coached by world-class pianists and learn whenever you  want, wherever you want, and whatever you want.<\/p><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TRY PIANOTE FOR 7 DAYS<\/a><\/center><br><\/span><\/center>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rhythm changes. 2-5-1 cycle. Descending minor 9ths. 3 jazz progressions you should know plus practice resources.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":63,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1104,507],"tags":[1134],"class_list":["post-12617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chord-progressions","category-chord-theory","tag-easy-chords"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12617","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/63"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12617"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12617\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14112,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12617\/revisions\/14112"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}