gibolson
07-16-2009, 06:24 PM
I have not seen this particular routine posted anywhere so I thought I might share it here.
Using a diminished chord plus a turnaround to smoothly change keys...
Since most of my playing occurs in church, it requires special sensitivity, particularly when playing in the background during the time some one is speaking or during prayer.
Most church music is written in major keys. This can be somewhat limiting when thinking in terms of jazz style playing.
A while ago I discovered a way to change from a key to ANY other key smoothly during a vamp so that the change would not be abrupt and would seem to move as if it were written.
I use a related diminished chord along and then the circle of 5ths.
When playing, say in the key of F, and the next song requires the key of Eb, a smooth way of making the change is to use the following...
First think of the {2}-{5}-{1} of Db before you start.
The {2} of Db is Ebm, which progresses to Ab7 {5} then to Db {1}
(in the circle of 5ths.)
Now think about the key you are presently in.
You can move smoothly to two diminished chords from F.
The first chord would be F diminished (Ab-B-D-F).
The other is Gb diminished (A-C-Eb-Gb).
Now think about the {2} chord of the key you are going to.
That would be Ebm...
One of those diminished chords will naturally flow into Ebm.
The common chord between F and Ebm that makes this natural flow is F diminished.
Note that this diminished chord DOES NOT contain the root Eb.
(Somehow this is key to making this work.)
The chord progression then would be F - F° - Ebm - Ab7 - Db
A couple of other examples...
C-Eb... (C#°-Fm-Bb7-Eb)
D-Bb... (D°-Cm-F7-Bb) and so on
To review... think of the {2} of the key you wish to go to... play the related diminished chord of the key you are in that DOES NOT contain the root of the {2} you are going to, then play the {2} and complete the transition.
I trust this is not too confusing...
NI am sure there are quite a number of OTHER ways of manipulating progressions and key changes when playing vamps.
I am looking forward to maybe a session on this from Willie.
TNX
Gib:cool:
Using a diminished chord plus a turnaround to smoothly change keys...
Since most of my playing occurs in church, it requires special sensitivity, particularly when playing in the background during the time some one is speaking or during prayer.
Most church music is written in major keys. This can be somewhat limiting when thinking in terms of jazz style playing.
A while ago I discovered a way to change from a key to ANY other key smoothly during a vamp so that the change would not be abrupt and would seem to move as if it were written.
I use a related diminished chord along and then the circle of 5ths.
When playing, say in the key of F, and the next song requires the key of Eb, a smooth way of making the change is to use the following...
First think of the {2}-{5}-{1} of Db before you start.
The {2} of Db is Ebm, which progresses to Ab7 {5} then to Db {1}
(in the circle of 5ths.)
Now think about the key you are presently in.
You can move smoothly to two diminished chords from F.
The first chord would be F diminished (Ab-B-D-F).
The other is Gb diminished (A-C-Eb-Gb).
Now think about the {2} chord of the key you are going to.
That would be Ebm...
One of those diminished chords will naturally flow into Ebm.
The common chord between F and Ebm that makes this natural flow is F diminished.
Note that this diminished chord DOES NOT contain the root Eb.
(Somehow this is key to making this work.)
The chord progression then would be F - F° - Ebm - Ab7 - Db
A couple of other examples...
C-Eb... (C#°-Fm-Bb7-Eb)
D-Bb... (D°-Cm-F7-Bb) and so on
To review... think of the {2} of the key you wish to go to... play the related diminished chord of the key you are in that DOES NOT contain the root of the {2} you are going to, then play the {2} and complete the transition.
I trust this is not too confusing...
NI am sure there are quite a number of OTHER ways of manipulating progressions and key changes when playing vamps.
I am looking forward to maybe a session on this from Willie.
TNX
Gib:cool: