Theory & Voicings

12 articles

• How to Build Jazz Piano Voicings with Chord Tensions

  Learn how to build jazz piano voicings by identifying chord tones, choosing available tensions, avoiding clashes, and applying a diatonic practice formula.

• Jazz Chord Tensions Explained: 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths

  Understand jazz chord tensions, including natural and altered 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths, available tensions, avoid notes, and practical piano examples.

• Jazz Piano Block Chords: Passing Diminished Chords and Drop 2 Voicings

  Learn jazz piano block chords with locked hands, passing diminished chords, bebop scale harmonization, Drop 2 voicings, and practical song examples.

• Jazz Piano Chords for Beginners: What to Learn First

  Learn jazz piano chords for beginners in a practical order: intervals, triads, essential seventh chords, inversions, ii-V-I progressions, and chord practice.

• Jazz Piano Left-Hand Voicings: Diatonic 7th Chords with Tensions

  Learn jazz piano left-hand voicings for diatonic seventh chords, including rootless shapes with 9ths and 13ths, voice leading, and transposition practice.

• Music Intervals for Piano Beginners: A Practical Guide

  Learn music intervals for piano with simple keyboard exercises. Count note names correctly, handle sharps and flats, and practice intervals above and below.

• Secondary Dominant Chords: How They Work in Jazz

  Learn how secondary dominant chords temporarily tonicize diatonic targets, how to label V7 of V and other dominants, and how to find them in jazz.

• The Altered Scale for Jazz Piano: Notes, Chords, and Practical Uses

  Learn the altered scale for jazz piano: its notes, Super Locrian and melodic minor connections, altered V7 uses, and tritone-substitute applications.

• The ii–V–I Progression: A Jazz Piano Beginner’s Guide

  Learn how the ii V I progression works in jazz, build it in major keys, recognize temporary key changes, and practice it on piano in all twelve keys.

• The Seven Jazz Modes on Piano: A Practical Guide

  Learn the seven jazz modes for piano with interval formulas, parent major scales, keyboard examples, chord connections, and a practical modal routine.

• Two-Handed Jazz Piano Voicings: Tension and Resolution

  Learn two-handed jazz piano voicings with Drop 2 shapes, top-note choices, altered dominant colors, tension and resolution, and progression exercises.

• Type A and Type B Rootless Voicings for Jazz Piano

  Learn Type A and Type B rootless voicings for jazz piano, choose between 3-5-7-9 and 7-9-3-5 shapes, and connect ii-V-I chords smoothly.