Mandolin · Level 10 · Expert
Rhythm changes (A section) in F♯ major on Mandolin
Don’t just read about Rhythm changes (A section) in F♯ major. Play it.
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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.
F♯maj7
Notes: F♯ · A♯ · C♯ · E♯
D♯m7
Notes: D♯ · F♯ · A♯ · C♯
G♯m7
Notes: G♯ · B · D♯ · F♯
C♯7
Notes: C♯ · E♯ · G♯ · B
A♯m7
Notes: A♯ · C♯ · E♯ · G♯
D♯7
Notes: D♯ · F𝄪 · A♯ · C♯
F♯7
Notes: F♯ · A♯ · C♯ · E
Bmaj7
Notes: B · D♯ · F♯ · A♯
Bm7
Notes: B · D · F♯ · A
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: F♯maj7, D♯m7, G♯m7, C♯7, A♯m7, D♯7, F♯7, Bmaj7 and Bm7. 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 81 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Practise each pair of bars slowly with a metronome, then link them.
- Strum down on every beat, then try the bluegrass “chop”: a short, muted strum on beats two and four.
- 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 6 sharps; 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 F♯maj7 D♯m7 | G♯m7 C♯7 | A♯m7 D♯7 | G♯m7 C♯7 | F♯maj7 F♯7 | Bmaj7 Bm7 | A♯m7 D♯7 | G♯m7 C♯7.
What is the key signature of F♯ major?
F♯ major has 6 sharps. 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.
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