Jazz Chord Progression Practice Plan

Genre and Style Guitar Course from Austin Filingo

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So you want to dip your toes into the sand that is Jazz. The question is, where do you start? Between the chord knowledge, crazy naming conventions, altered and substituted chords, it can feel a little intimidating. Let Austin Filingo demystify the Jazz genre for you by providing a proper foundation to build on. By the end of this course, you'll have practical knowledge of Jazz chord construction, naming conventions, and progressions.

27 Lessons

Complete course with step-by-step lessons and practice examples.

Multi-Camera

Course filmed with 6 cameras for the perfect angles.

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Full Course Breakdown

Austin Filingo will detail how Jazz chords are named and constructed. After testing your chordal knowledge, Austin provides and guides practice for the most popular chord progressions in the Jazz genre. With the basic chord knowledge in your tool chest, and a working vocabulary of chord progressions, you can build on this foundation later by adding comping and soloing chops to your repertoire.

Begin the Course
1

Jazz Chord Progression Practice Plan: Introduction

If the Jazz genre has piqued your interest, one of the first steps to becoming a competent player is learning the core progression ideas that are appropriate in the genre. Starting slowly, Austin will provide some insight into chord structure and naming that is prevalent in the genre, then move on to the practical application of common chord progressions. He will touch on common ideas like chord substitutions and alterations without going too deep into the theory side of those concepts. This course is designed for an early to middle intermediate player but will be accessible to late beginners who have a solid grasp of the instrument.

1:11 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

2

How to Build Jazz Chords

To start off the series, Austin discusses how Jazz chords are built. This basic foundational approach will underpin the series going forward.

6:06 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

3

How to Build Jazz Chords - Quiz

Now let's take the chord building concepts from the previous lesson and quiz ourselves to see how well we understand the material.

6:25 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

4

Diatonic Chord Scale or Harmonized Chord Scale

Now that you understand how Jazz chords are constructed, let's take that concept and apply it to a harmonized major scale.

5:31 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

5

Diatonic Chord Scale or Harmonized Chord Scale - Practice Session

Let's take the harmonization concepts you learned in the previous lesson and apply them practically, with practice.

5:40 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

6

Secondary Dominant Chords

We're now entering the world of re-harmonization. In Jazz specifically, it will be common to substitute or "alter" the diatonic harmonized scale for other chord types. Austin goes over the concept of the secondary dominant substitution, what it sounds like and how it's used.

3:42 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

7

Secondary Dominant Chords - Quiz

Now let's put our knowledge of secondary dominant chords to the test and quiz ourselves to identify deviations from a harmonized diatonic scale.

8:00 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

8

The ii V7 I Progression

Now that you've got some basic concepts and ear training under your belt, let's start by taking a look at one of the most common Jazz chord progressions. Austin will cover the progression and also provide insight into the types of chord grips that are stylistically appropriate.

4:42 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

9

The ii V7 I Progression: Practice Session

Now it's time to practice the I VI ii V progression you learned in the previous lesson. You'll practice it at three different tempos.

9:17 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

10

The Minor ii V i Progression

Now on to the next progression, the minor ii V i. Austin discusses thinking about this progression in terms of a major scale of a different key.

5:01 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

11

The Minor ii V i Progression: Practice Session

Now let's practice the minor ii V i progression. Once again, you'll practice it at three different tempos.

9:04 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

12

I vi ii V Progression

Next up is a more in-depth progression that is popular in both Jazz and various Pop genres.

4:24 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

13

I vi ii V Progression: Practice Session

Now let's practice the I vi ii V Progression. You'll be practicing it at 60, 90 and 120 beats per minute.

9:58 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

14

I VI ii V Progression

Progressions are now starting to get a little bit more complicated. In lesson 14, Austin shows you the I VI ii V progression.

4:01 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

15

I VI ii V Progression: Practice Session

Now that you understand the construction of the I VI ii V progression, let's practice it at three different tempos.

10:07 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

16

I #Idim ii V Progression

In lesson 16, Austin is spicing it up further with a progression that uses diminished substitution. He discusses the concept, then breaks down the progression.

7:48 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

17

I #Idim ii V Progression: Practice Session

Now let's practice the progression you learned in the last lesson.

10:14 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

18

Texas Style Changes

We're getting more harmonically complicated yet again. Lesson 18 is all about the funky pairings found in the Texas changes.

6:56 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

View this Lesson
19

Texas Style Changes: Practice Session

Now it's your turn to practice the Texas-style changes. Austin will guide you through the track, at three different tempos.

9:40 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

20

III VI II V Progression

Keeping with the theme of making progressions more complex, Austin offers up a longer progression that makes use of secondary dominant chords. He also discusses this progression as being typical of a bridge section.

8:07 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

21

III VI II V Progression: Practice Session

Now let's practice the III VI II V progression you learned in the previous lesson.

10:01 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

22

I7 IV II V Progression

Like the previous progression you learned the Dominant I IV II V progression is best used in a bridge section and also contains secondary dominant chords.

5:37 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

23

I7 IV II V Progression: Practice Session

Now let's practice the I7 IV II V progression you learned in the previous lesson.

9:49 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

24

The v- I7 IV Chord Progression

Once again you're thinking about a 2-5 progression to a IV chord in this progression. This one is a bit longer and again is increasing in complexity. Austin discusses how the progression works, then shows you how.

7:32 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

25

The v- I7 IV Chord Progression: Practice Session

Now let's practice the progression you learned in the last lesson. You'll once again practice at three different tempos.

10:11 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

26

The IV iv Progression

You've made it to the final chord progression of the series! This one is the longest of the progressions taught and unlike most of the other progressions you've learned, this one doesn't start on the tonic.

9:04 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

27

The IV iv Progression: Practice Session

You've made it to the final practice session of the series. You'll be practicing the progression from the previous lesson with a track at 60, 90 and 120 bpm.

18:31 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

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Austin Filingo

40
  • Playing since 1995
  • 143 lessons at JamPlay
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Reviews & Feedback 100/100 with 40 ratings
wjgrover

Great idea for a course. Looking forward to the lessons.

cacamiel

More courses from Austin!

LukaB

This is really helping a lot. I had no real guidance until now. There are tons of information online, but really one cannot find a head or a tail of the beast. This makes a lot of sense and has a great approach for us just starting with jazz.