Jazzity

Blues

Jazz Blues in Ab

The blues as jazz musicians usually play it: a #iv°7 passing chord in bar 6, VI7 leading to a ii-V in bars 9 and 10, and a I-VI-ii-V turnaround in the last two bars.

120 BPM
Practice in all 12 keys
  1. A♭7 I7
  2. D♭7 IV7
  3. A♭7 I7
  5. D♭7 IV7
  6. Ddim7 ♯iv°7
  7. A♭7 I7
  8. F7 VI7
  9. B♭m7 ii7
  10. E♭7 V7
  11. A♭7 I7 F7 VI7
  12. B♭m7 ii7 E♭7 V7

Four-note rootless voicings in their two forms, with the 3rd or the 7th on the bottom, played over the root.

Customize each chord
Meter
4/4
Form
A-B-C
Bars
12
Usual key
F

The quick change to IV, the diminished chord that pushes bar 6 back to I, and the VI7 that makes bar 8 the dominant of ii are the sound of the swing and bebop blues. Most blues heads played at sessions fit these changes. Practice it first with guide tones, then mix the blues scale with the chord tones, so your lines sound bluesy and still make the changes.

Reharmonize Analyze these changes

Variations