Mandolin · Level 9 · Expert
The jazz blues in A♭ major on Mandolin
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The jazz blues dresses the 12-bar form with ii–Vs, a passing diminished chord and a turnaround. It is the first form most jazz players learn to solo over.
A♭7
Notes: A♭ · C · E♭ · G♭
D♭7
Notes: D♭ · F · A♭ · C♭
Ddim7
Notes: D · F · A♭ · C♭
F7
Notes: F · A · C · E♭
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♭7, D♭7, Ddim7, F7, 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 75 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Learn it four bars at a time, then connect the sections at tempo.
- Strum down on every beat, then try the bluegrass “chop”: a short, muted strum on beats two and four.
- Raise the tempo to 100 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for how each new chord leads into the next by step or by fifth.
Listen for
Aim for how each new chord leads into the next by step or by fifth. A common mistake is dropping the two-chord bars at the end of the form.
Why it works
Bars 8–10 form a chain of dominant resolutions: VI7 → ii7 → V7, borrowed from the circle of fifths.
A♭ major has 4 flats; its relative minor key is F minor.
Questions
What are the chords in I7–IV7–I7–VI7–ii7–V7 in A♭ major?
In A♭ major the progression is A♭7 | D♭7 | A♭7 | A♭7 | D♭7 | Ddim7 | A♭7 | F7 | B♭m7 | E♭7 | A♭7 F7 | 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 9 lesson (expert). If it feels too hard, start with “Tritone substitution”.
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