 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ~jerry
Date: 2001-08-30 00:33
"Eighty percent of all jazz standards are comprised of the II-V-I progression, a succession of chords."
Kenny Werner made this statement in his book, "Effortless Mastery" (pg. 60). Can anyone explain this in lay terms?
~ jerry
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2001-08-30 00:52
A good introduction to the II-V7-I progression is the booklet and play-along CD of the same name by Jamie Aebersold. The Aebersold series is available from WW/BW.
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Author: Meri
Date: 2001-08-30 00:58
I'll do my best:
Consider the notes of any major scale. (let's pick C major) Each of those notes has a Roman numeral, I-VII. So:
C=I
D=II
E=III
F=IV
G=V
A=VI
B=7
From each of those notes, you build chords. To build triads (three-part chords), you add one note the line or space above the original note (in the case of the C, you would add the E) and one note two lines or spaces above the original note (in the case of C, you would add a G) So that becomes C-E-G. In the case of D, it's D-F-A.
So the II-V-I progression, in C major, would be the D chord, the G chord, and the C chord.
To see if you really understand it, figure it out with other scales, like F major, G major, Ab major, and E major.
Hope this helps!
Meri
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-08-30 01:00
The I chord is built on the 1st note of the scale. For example in the key of C, the I chord is C-E-G. In the key of F, the I chord is F-A-C.
The II chord is built on the second note of the scale. In the key of C, that would be D-F-A. In the key of F, that would be G-Bb-D.
The V chord is built on the fifth note of the scale. In the key of C, that would be G-B-D. In the key of F, it would be C-E-G.
A chord "progression" is simply playing the chords in sequence. In this case, the II chord is played, then the V chord, then the I chord.
By using Roman numerals for the chords rather than note names, the author can talk about chords and progressions without having to tie it to a given key signature. This can make it easier to discuss music theory once you are familiar with the system. For example, many works will end with the V chord followed by the I chord. So they can be described as a group as ending the "same way" even though they are in different keys and the actual note values played would be different. The chord structure is the same. The harmonies will sound the same pattern to a listener although they will of course be at an overall higher or lower pitch depending on the key.
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Author: allencole
Date: 2001-08-30 06:33
The ii-V-I (Dm7-G7-C in the key of C) Is a cadence in which the I chord is the tonal center. Kenny Werner's comment addresses the tendency of many jazz songs to modulate from tonal center to tonal center, in a seemingly endless stream of ii-V-I's. If you listen to a song called Giant Steps by John Coltrane, you can hear a series of these sequences in the second half of the song form.
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Author: 2
Date: 2001-08-30 12:12
Dominant of the dominant, leading to the dominant, to the tonic.
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Author: John Gould
Date: 2001-08-31 15:39
Simplistic explanation: II-V-I is like the first 3 bars of the MASH theme. Or "Killing Me Softly".
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Author: Kim L
Date: 2001-08-31 19:02
If you look at a piano, you notice that CEG forms a triad. Now go up the keyboard with DFA, EGB, FAC, GBD, ACE, BDF, and CEG. These triads are the first three notes that form the chords, CM, dm, em, FM, GM, am, bm, and CM. The Roman numeral names for these are I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii, and I.
All music is made up of these chords which form progressions, or a sequence. Two of the most common sequences are the I-IV-I-V7-I and I-V7-I progressions. These progressions are played throughout entire pieces of music to make the music more interesting. The ii-V-I progression means that DFAC,GBDF,and CEGC would be played one at a time in a certain number of measures (e.g. the MASH theme).
Hope this helps.
Kim L.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2001-08-31 20:08
Kim L....your expanation was fine, except that the triad built on the 7th degree of a major scale is a diminished triad. In the example of the C major scale that you gave, this triad would be B diminished (b, d, f,) ...not B minor...
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