I often do this for soft music while people are talking. I'm practicing while folk are talking and or praying!!!! I'll play the ii for 2 beats, the V7 for 2 beats, and then do a little chord-strike, roll, and arpeggio on the Imaj7 chord w/a little fill-in. Sounds like I'm really playing, and what I'm doing is practicing!!

Here it is in, starting w/ii, V, I in the key of C and descending by whole steps in the flat keys.

Practicing ii, V, I

LHRH
Key=C
Dm7 = D D / F A C (2 beats)
G7= G D / F G B (2 beats)
Cmaj7 = C C / E G B (4 beats....hit it, roll it/arpeggio)

Key=Bb
(SEE how the I chord from the above key of C now becomes ii minor chord for the next key!!)
Cm7 = C C / Eb G Bb
F7 = FC / Eb F A
Bbmaj7 = Bb Bb / D F A

Key=Ab
Bbm7 = BbBb / Db F Ab
Eb7 = EbBb / Db Eb G
Abmaj7 = AbAb / C Eb G

Key=Gb
Abm7 = AbAb / B Eb Gb
Db7 = DbAb / B Db F
Gbmaj7 = GbGb / Bb Db F

VOICINGS ARE GETTING TOO LOW AND "MUDDY" SOUNDING, SO PICK UP YOUR HANDS AND AND LET'S DO Eb BACK UP W/YOUR R.H. STARTING ON THE F JUST ABOVE MIDDLE C

KEY=Eb
Fm7 = F F / Ab C Eb
Bb7 = Bb F / Ab Bb D
Ebmaj7 = Eb Eb / G Bb D

Key=Db
Ebm7 = Eb Eb / Gb Bb Db
Ab7 = Ab Eb / Gb Ab C
Dbmaj7 = Db Db / F Ab C


For now, work on these and then try doing them in other inversions. For instance, start your ii chord in the key of C like this:

Dm7 = DC D F A
G7 = GB D F G
Cmaj7 = CB C E G

Notice how you're dropping different fingers in this inversion of it. However, this really helps you to examine the chords and the sounds and the notes that make them up.

Then, there's playing them as Dm9, G9, and Cmaj6/9, making sharp 9's, etc. but that's down the road. As they are written as 7ths and maj7 is a great start for beginners moving from 3 Note Triads to 4 notes in the R.H.

I hope this helps someone!!!

HOMEWORK: If you're serious about this, not try working on these with the SHARP keys, B E A D and G. Type out the ii, V, I voicings in B E A D and G, and send them to me to be checked!!!


God's Blessings!

Originally posted by TheKeynote