In our previous best jazz exercises video, we showed you how to use the sus2 chord to
master tensions in a 2-5-1 in major. Many of you asked if there's a similar approach for
2-5's in minor, so here we are! Let me show you a very cool perspective to
learn your tensions on a 2-5 in minor, and definitely stick around to the end
of the video, where we'll show you how to get access to awesome supplemental
material, that'll help you master these techniques and use them in your playing...
This is going to be a seven step process that you can practice every day. We'll start with
consecutive two fives in minor. So, the two is going to be a m7b5
chord, and the five will have a 7b13, with either a b9 or a #9. These are the
most inside tensions for the V chord in minor. On the last steps, we'll practice over
an entire standard like "Stella By Starlight". "If you're new to mDecks Music, we create music books
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Step one: start by practicing over consecutive two fives in minor using the sus2 chord on the b3
of the ii chord and then, moving that sus2 chord down a whole step -- when you move to the V chord.
These two sus2 chords are great, because on the two iim7b5 we get two guide tones --
the b3 and the b7 -- and the best tension for my m7b5 chords -- the
11th -- which is always guaranteed to work. And then, on the V chord, we get one of the guide tones -- the
b7 -- and two tensions -- the b13 and the #9. Perfect for a V chord in minor.
Notice how, if you use this modulation pattern, the next iim7b5
uses the same sus2 as the previous V chord.
Step two: we start with the same sus2 chord but now, we move the sus2 up a minor third on the V chord.
So now, we get both the b9 and the #9, and of course the b13.
Step three :let's add the target to those 2-5's, which is a im6 chord.
So here, we're going to use the same sus2 chords as in step 2. But now, for the im6
we're going to move the sus2 -- we used on the V chord -- down a half-step.
This gives us two essential notes for our m6 chords: the 6th and the 9th.
Step four: let's do the same thing we did in step 1, only this time,
we're gonna move the sus2 on the V chord a minor third down. So now, we
have the root, the 9th, and the 5th of the im6 chord.
Step 5: If instead of moving a minor third down, we move a half-step down -- like in step 3 --
we can target major with our 2-5 in minor. This is a very common technique,
the 2-5 in minor that resolves to a major target, like in "Stella By Starlight"
Now it's time to practice over a jazz standard. So in Stella By Starlight, we have quite a few
2-5's that target minor. As you'll see, today's technique works great on major 2-5's
because our sus2 chords on the m7b5's don't make use of the b5. And for
the dominant chords, we showed you how you can always alter them in a major 2-5.
Step six: so let's do the sus2 on the b3 of the ii chords, move your sus2 voicing down a
whole-step, for the V chord. If it resolves to a minor target: move your sus2 down a minor third.
And if it resolves to a major target, just move down a half-step. For the dominant chords that don't
belong to a 2-5, we can just play the sus2 voicing on the 5th degree of those chords.
Step 7: (last step) let's do the other variation -- up a minor third then down a half-step.
So how'd you do? Of course you can practice these seven steps every day. It's a great way
of learning all your tensions and 2-5's in major and in minor. And now it's time for
"free play". Never forget to add "free play" at the end of every practice session. Play whatever
you want. Improvise over "Stella By Starlight" without any restrictions. Don't overthink it.
You'll see all these colors and tensions -- that you've practiced -- come out in your playing right
away. Thanks again for joining us. As always, all of our members are going to receive a
PDF of material that will help you better understand and implement today's techniques.
If you're not a member yet, go ahead and click on the join button or the link down below. For more
content, stick around and watch one of these two videos here. Thanks again for watching