Flute · Level 10 · Expert
Rhythm changes (A section) in F major on Flute
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Rhythm changes is the second most important jazz form after the blues. The A section packs two chords into every bar at a lively tempo.
Fmaj7
Notes: F · A · C · E
Dm7
Notes: D · F · A · C
Gm7
Notes: G · B♭ · D · F
C7
Notes: C · E · G · B♭
Am7
Notes: A · C · E · G
D7
Notes: D · F♯ · A · C
F7
Notes: F · A · C · E♭
B♭maj7
Notes: B♭ · D · F · A
B♭m7
Notes: B♭ · D♭ · F · A♭
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord as an arpeggio, one note at a time: Fmaj7, Dm7, Gm7, C7, Am7, D7, F7, B♭maj7 and B♭m7. Press play on the card, then match each note.
- Keep a steady air stream between notes; for the higher notes, aim the air a little higher instead of blowing harder.
- Set the tempo to 81 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Practise each pair of bars slowly with a metronome, then link them.
- Play the chord tones one at a time, one note per beat, tonguing each note lightly (“too”).
- Raise the tempo to 108 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for even, unhurried changes on beats one and three.
Listen for
Aim for even, unhurried changes on beats one and three. A common mistake is slowing down on the busier bars five and six.
Why it works
Bar five's I7 is a secondary dominant of IV, and bar six borrows the minor iv from the parallel minor.
F major has 1 flat; its relative minor key is D minor.
Questions
What are the chords in I–vi–ii–V–iii–VI7–ii–V in F major?
In F major the progression is Fmaj7 Dm7 | Gm7 C7 | Am7 D7 | Gm7 C7 | Fmaj7 F7 | B♭maj7 B♭m7 | Am7 D7 | Gm7 C7.
What is the key signature of F major?
F major has 1 flat. Its relative minor is D minor.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 10 lesson (expert). If it feels too hard, start with “A neo-soul chord loop”.
Your hands learn faster than your eyes.
Reading a chord chart is step one. Play it to a metronome, record it, and hear yourself get better, all in one app.
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