some progression and theory questions

[JazzDude]

I am trying to find out if there are good songs that are good to practice over for learning chord progressions, or to just know the chord progression and be able to follow it through and find the chord tones on the guitar for each... anybody has any helpful info it would be much appreciated!

Blues will work for this kind of practice, it would be nice if you use a progression with both dominant and minor chords thrown in.


You can also use a slow song like Europa, on Santana's Moonflower album. The progression is really nice - it goes like this:

|: Fm7 | Bb7 | Ebmaj7 | Abmaj7 |
| Dm7b5 | G7b9 | Cm | Cm :|

I forget if the last chords are Cm6 or Cm7 on that album, so you can try both and see which fits. Pay attention to the Dm7b5 and G7b9 - the chord tones CAN include the b5, #5, b9, and #9 of the G7. Just remember, you don't have to fit them all in!

There are some jazzier versions by other artists, which are in a different key - the progression above is in Cm, and the other versions play it in Gm, so you should transpose the chords accordingly.

This is also part of the progression to Autumn Leaves, which is a standard which every jazz player learns early on. Check out the version on Cannonball Adderly's 'Somethin Else' album.

[Roy]

Originally posted by cotten


Sorry, Roy, just string some Major 7ths together to make your headache go away: Dmaj7 Cmaj7 Fmaj7 Amaj7..... See, all better!

...you're right...maj7 is my favorite chord.