Mandolin · Level 6 · Intermediate
Diminished passing chords in A♭ major on Mandolin
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A diminished seventh chord a half step above I connects it smoothly to ii. It is a staple of jazz, gospel and old-time songs.
A♭
Notes: A♭ · C · E♭
Adim7
Notes: A · C · E♭ · G♭
B♭m7
Notes: B♭ · D♭ · F · A♭
E♭7
Notes: E♭ · G · B♭ · D♭
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: A♭, Adim7, B♭m7 and E♭7. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Mandolin frets are close together, so reach with the fingertips and press each pair of strings evenly.
- Set the tempo to 63 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Move the bass up by a half step each time and keep the shapes close together.
- Strum down on every beat, then try the bluegrass “chop”: a short, muted strum on beats two and four.
- Raise the tempo to 84 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for a chromatic climb from I to ii in the bass.
Listen for
Aim for a chromatic climb from I to ii in the bass. A common mistake is holding the diminished chord too long so it sounds unresolved.
Why it works
♯i°7 works like a V7♭9 of ii without its root, so it resolves naturally to ii.
A♭ major has 4 flats; its relative minor key is F minor.
Questions
What are the chords in I–♯i°7–ii7–V7 in A♭ major?
In A♭ major the progression is A♭ | Adim7 | B♭m7 | E♭7.
What is the key signature of A♭ major?
A♭ major has 4 flats. Its relative minor is F minor.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 6 lesson (intermediate). If it feels too hard, start with “Secondary dominants”.
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