Piano · Level 9 · Expert
The jazz blues in A♭ major on Piano
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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.
- Keep the right hand curved over the keys and move it as one unit between chords.
- 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.
- Play the left-hand bass note on beat one and the right-hand chord on every beat.
- 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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