The II-V-I progression is commonly used in all types of music. In this lesson you will not only become familiar with the II-V-I progression but also:

• Learn how to voice each chord by moving 1 or two fingers
• Replacing the tonic note (1) of each chord with the 9

In the mode section we learned that the II chord is always a minor 7, the V chord is a dominant 7 and the I chord is a major 7.

In the key of C the II chord is D minor 7(D-7), the V chord is G dominant 7 (G7) and the I chord is C major 7. In a chord chart it might look like this:

|| D- G7 |Cmaj7 ||

Lets take a look, go ahead and play these chords as written.

Play the 1-3-5-7 of each chord with your right hand. In your left hand, play the tonic note for each chord. Notice how you need to lift your right hand off the keyboard to play each chord.

There are a number of things here that can be improved on:

• Voicing the chords in a way that you could play through them without lifting your hands off the keyboard
• Not doubling-up on the tonic note when playing each chord (tonic note in the bass and tonic note in the chord).

How can this be done? First we need to approch building chords in a different way than always building them up from the tonic note.

Remember in the chord lesson we defined what notes in a chord where most important. They were the 3rd and the 7th. Both of these intervals define the chord as major or minor. The tonic (or root) completes the chord.

Let's simplify each of the II-V-I chords to 3 notes using the 1, 3rd and 7th. In the following example, play the tonic note of each chord with your left hand while playing the written notes with your right hand.

3 note voicing (includes the root of the chord) Here we have the 3rd on the bottom of the II chord. Note: The chord symbol above each chord is where you find the root to play with your left hand.>

First let's play the II chord (D-7). With your left hand, play the root of the chord. That would be D. In your right hand, play the 3rd and 7th of the chord with the 3rd on the bottom. That would be F and C.

>Now the V chord (G7). With your left hand, play the root of the chord. That would be G. In your right hand simply move the 7th of the II chord down 1/2 step. (Notice how the 7th of the II chord becomes the 3rd of the 5 chord.)

Finally the I chord. With your left hand, play the root of the chord. That would be C. In your right hand simply move the 7th of the V chord down 1/2 step. (Notice how the 7th of the V chord becomes the 3rd of the 1 chord.)

Boom you did it! You're on your way to playing hipped chords with minimal finger movement.
What's cool here is that you're right hand only needed to move the 7th of each chord down a ½ step to play all three chords.

Now let's reverse the voicing on the II chord and do the same thing. Instead of the 3rd on the bottom of the II chord put the 7th on the bottom.

3 note voicing Here we have the 7th on the bottom of the II chord. Again in your right hand, simply move the 7th of each chord down 1/2 step.

You know what to do. Same as above except we begin with the 7th on the bottom of the II chord.

Building a chord with the 3rd on the bottom then building the same chord with the 7th on the bottom is called an inversion. Inversions can be very handy when playing in the middle of the keyboard. Chords near or below middle C can sound very muddy as they have to much bass. By inverting the chord upward from middle C, the chord becomes brighter and nicer sounding.

Question: How many inversions can a triad have? That would be three.

Ok now lets add a few notes beginning with the II Chord. Building up from the 3rd, include the 5th. Now since the 1 of the chord is being played with the left hand in the bass, adding it to the right hand would be redundant at least wouldn't you say? You're right, boring, un-hip! Instead of playing the 1 in your chords we will play the 9 from here on. So in your right hand we now have a four note chord with the tonic being played with your left hand.

5 note voicing (includes the root of the chord) 3rd on the bottom of the II chord. The 5th and the 9 has been added to the II chord. The 9 substitutes for the 1.

As far as playing the chords not too much has changed here. Remember to play the root of each chord with your left hand. From the II chord the 7th goes down one 1/2 step to become the V chord. From there the 7th of the V chord goes down 1/2 half step to become the 1 chord. So as not to play two of the same notes in the I chord, the 6th of the V chords comes down 1 whole step becoming the 9 of the 1 chord.

Sweet eh? Let's now invert the II chord with the 7 on the bottom. The same as the above applys as you play through each chord.

5 note voicing 7th on the bottom of the II chord.

One more thing, as you play through each chord add a 7th above your root in your left hand. This will help spred out your chord voicings while creating an even more solid sound.

Write out and play these changes in all the keys. Also note and memorize each voicing for future use. In other words, you shouldn't have to play a minor chord first to figure out the dominant 7 chord.

When you're comfortable with these chords shift playing the chords with your right hand and begin playing them with you're left hand. These chords become the chords you comp with in your left hand while soloing with your right.

Speaking about soloing, let's get a few tips on how to do just that. Solo

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