Table of Contents
How to Use This Book Most Efficiently …………………………………………. 5
Intervals and Triads
Intervals ………………………………………………………………………………………… 6
Interval Identification …………………………………………………………………….. 8
Building Chords – by interval groupings ……………………………………………. 9
Building Chords – by scale degrees ………………………………………………….. 10
Roman Numerals – explained …………………………………………………………. 12
Tonic, Subdominant, Dominant Discussion …………………………………….. 15
Diatonic Triads built on Major Scale ……………………………………………….. 16
Inversions of Triads ………………………………………………………………………. 18
I IV V I Progression (4 exercises) ………………………………………………… 20
I IV V I Salsa ……………………………………………………………………………… 24
Form Discussion …………………………………………………………………………… 26
Triad Tune – voice triads below lead notes ………………………………………. 28
Reggae I VI IV V I A version ……………………………………………………. 30
Reggae I VI IV V I B version ……………………………………………………. 32
Cycle of Fifths – explained ……………………………………………………………… 34
Cycle/Circle V Chart ……………………………………………………………………… 35
Cycle V Triad Game ………………………………………………………………………. 36
Seventh Chords
Diatonic Seventh Chords built on Major Scale …………………………………. 38
Inversions of Seventh Chords – fill in blanks based on models …………… 40
Simple II V I IV progression – use model to write in other keys ……… 42
I VI II V Progression A – use of diatonic chord tones ……………………… 44
Practice Suggestion – 50’s 12/8 rock and roll style ……………………………. 46
Secondary Dominant 7th Chords – explained …………………………………… 47
I V7/II II V Progression B – adds a secondary dominant ………………… 48
Seventh Chord Tune – 4 note harmonization training ……………………….. 50
Minor Chords
Diatonic Triads built on Minor Scale ………………………………………………. 52
Minor Analysis Tune – A and B sections ………………………………………….. 54
Line Cliche Examples – two versions ………………………………………………. 55
Diatonic Minor Seventh Chords …………………………………………………….. 56
Minor Key Simple II V I – voice leading chord tones …………………….. 58
Minor/Major Tune 1A – chord tone harmonize and label …………………. 60
Minor/Major Tune 2A – chord tone harmonize and label …………………. 61
Sophisticated Chords
Suspended 4th Chords …………………………………………………………………. 62
Drop 3 Voicings – drop third voice from top …………………………………… 64
Drop 3 Ballad – classic gospel style example …………………………………… 66
Diatonic Modal Scales – write out modal scales for every key …………… 68
Dominant 9th Chords ……………..…………………………………………………… 72
Complex II V I voice leading – adds tension notes ……………………….. 74
Complex II V I Sequence – interesting training pattern ………………… 76
I VI II V Progression C – adds tension notes ……………………………….. 78
Add 9 Chords, Clusters and Fragments …………………………………………. 80
Slash Chords ………………………………………………………………………………. 82
Dominant 13th Voicings – Cycle V sequence …………………………………… 84
Minor Key Complex II V I – voice leading including tensions ……….. 86
I VI II V Progression D – VI chord w/flat tensions ……………………… 88
Minor Key Analysis – w/complex chords ……………………………………….. 90
Major/Minor Tune 1B – harmonize to include tensions …………………… 91
Major/Minor Tune 2B – harmonize w/tensions ……………………………… 92
Substitute Dominant 7th Chords – explained …………………………………. 93
Specialty Dominant 7th Chords – explained …………………………………… 94
Wrap Up – analysis test of material covered so far ………………………….. 95
Complex Minor Scales – explained ………………………………………………… 96
Dominant 7th (b9) Scale – write in other keys ………………………………… 97
Diminished Chords – explained ……………………………………………………. 98
Diminished Example – analyze A and B section ……………………………… 99
Diminished Relation to Dominant 7th (b9) chords ……………………….. 100
Diminished Chord Scales ……………………………………………………………. 101
Low Interval Limits – explained …………………………………………………… 103
“Old Times” Directions ……………………………………………………………….. 104
“Old Times” Progression 1 …………………………………………………………… 105
“Old Times” Progression 2 ..………………………………………………………… 106
Berklee’s Altered Chord ……………………………………………………………… 108
Altered Chord Vamp 1 ………………………………………………………………… 110
Minor Key Complex II V I – adding altered chord ………………………. 112
13th/Altered Chord Sequence ……………………………………………………… 114
Hip Walk-Up – gospel with a sophisticated upgrade ………………………. 117
I VI II V Progression E – adds VI 7 altered chord ………………………. 118
Altered Chord Vamp 2 ……………………………………………………………….. 120
Blues and Beyond
Blues – history plus examples ……………………………………………………… 122
Blues Scale – explained ………………………………………………………………. 124
Blues Scale – write in other keys ………………………………………………….. 127
Major Blues scale – Happy Blues example ……………………………………. 128
Minor Blues – plain and fancy examples ……………………………………….. 129
Augmented Chords – discussion of possible scales ………………………… 130
I VI II V Progression F – adds contemporary sophistication ……….. 132
Rhythm Changes – based on Gershwin’s original tune …………………… 134
Dominant 7th b9 & natural 13 chord – explained ………………………….. 137
“Outer Limits” – training with stacked diminished chord harmony….. 138
Jumpstarters 1 to 26 ……… Pages 140 to 194
Jazz Harmony Express is available at all three locally owned music stores in Anchorage, Alaska – Mammoth Music, the Music Man, and the Horn Doctor. The list price is $35. I’ve included a generous number of page excerpts in this web site, but it’s still a small fraction of the total contents. If you buy the whole book and work your way through it you will be amazed at how much your understanding of harmony will improve, and hopefully, your skill to play and write jazz too.